What do we know about the age distribution of rural-urban migrants?

Hania Zlotnik, United Nations

Data on the distribution by age and sex of migrants, whether internal or international, are scarce. The United Nations Population Division has compiled the most complete set of data, primarily from censuses, allowing an analysis of the estimated age distribution of rural-urban migrants in over 70 developing countries. The estimates obtained permit a comparative analysis of rural-urban migration trends by age and sex.The paper will present the methodology used to derive the estimates, discuss it strengths and limitations, and provide an analysis of the selectivity of rural-urban migration by sex and age in relation to urbanization and the demographic transition.