Demographic and socio-economic dynamics of out-migration of the rural vulnerable in Southern Ethiopia: analysis of decisions to migrate

Tsigereda Beyene, South Regional Government Economic and Finance Office, Ethiopia
Nigatu R. Geda, Hawassa University and University of Saskatchwan

This study was intended to examine the nature of migration decisions and characterize migrant sending households in Southern Ethiopia based on the data from 11162 randomly selected households,in 16 zone of the region. The results indicated that large number of households (1032 households) sent at least one person to urban areas during the reference period mainly because of economic reasons and demographic pressures. Children, women and youth account for more than a quarter of the total volume of out migration during the reference period. The regression analysis depicted that some variables such as gender, dependent member of household, family type, land size and asset ownership affect the nature of migration decision. The study concluded that migration in the region is more household (group) decision, and is shaped by gender and certain household demography.