Migration

Most inhabitants of the British Isles can trace their origins elsewhere, as can many people living in other parts of the world. British culture and society is the result of centuries of interactions between different groups who migrated and settled here.

Asian woman asks for a room to rent
Introduction
Most inhabitants of the British Isles can trace their origins elsewhere, as can many people living in other parts of the world. British culture and society is the result of centuries of interactions between different groups who migrated and settled here.

A history of migration

For centuries, humans have migrated to escape poverty, political repression, to find new economic opportunities, to trade and to travel. This section presents the history of international migration from the 16th century to the present.

Understanding migration

Migration has profoundly shaped the nature of the world we live in and continues to do so today. This section presents different approaches that have been used to understand people's migration decisions.

Types of migrants

This section looks at the main categories of migrants and the types of migration in the contemporary world. Migrants tend to move across different categories as their circumstances and that of their home countries change.