Exploring the Socio-Economic and Environmental Determinants of International Migration Flows in Mongolia

Abstract

During the socialist period, Mongolian citizens had limited rights to settle and travel abroad. The migration of the population was carried out only under the strict control of the state and for specific purposes. Since 1990, Mongolia has undergone significant political and socio-economic reforms, marking the beginning of a transition to a market economy with a free and democratic system. As a result, citizens of Mongolia have the opportunity to freely choose their place of residence; consequently, the number of Mongolian citizens moving abroad is not decreasing.. Instead, international migration flows are significantly increasing year by year. Over the past thirty years, thousands of Mongolian citizens have left their native homeland for foreign countries seeking better lives.. The mass migration of young people of labor-force age to foreign countries, who are an integral part of the country's social resources, has become a sensitive and pressing problem facing Mongolian society. This research is focused on large numbers of international migrants who have migrated to foreign countries and the reasons why people want to leave their homeland. This study illustrates how and why increasing international migration from Mongolia is occurring, and what social, economic, and environmental factors influence the flow of international migration. Factors such as economic instability, high unemployment and poverty rates, and environmental pollution are key drivers of their decision to migrate from Mongolia.