Emigration is leaving the country of residence, while immigration is arriving and settling in another country. Both terms describe the same movement of people, only from opposite sides of the border: a Pole moving to Ireland is considered an emigrant from the Polish point of view, and an immigrant from the Irish point of view.
To sum it up
- Emigration = leaving the country; emigrant - this is the one who is leaving.
- Immigration = arrival in the country; immigrant - this is the one who arrives.
- The same person can be both an emigrant and an immigrant at the same time – it depends on the point of view from which we look at it.
- Cheat sheet: Latin e-/ex- means "from the outside, outside", and in-/im- means "inside, within.".
Emigration – what is it?
Emigration — is the act of leaving one's country for permanent or long-term residence in another country. The word comes from Latin emigrant , which means "to move, to wander", where is the prefix e- denotes movement "from" some place.
We speak of emigration in terms of the country a person is leaving. This is where expressions like "emigration from Poland," "economic emigration," or "political emigration" come from. The Great Emigration The departure of thousands of participants in the November Uprising and their families, mostly to France, after its suppression, occupies a special place in Polish history.
Immigration – what is it?
Immigration — is the arrival in a foreign country and permanent residence there or for an extended period. The word comes from Latin immigrants , which means "to move, to travel", with the prefix in- , which became before "m" im- .
We discuss immigration from the host country's perspective: "immigration to Poland," "immigrants in Germany," "immigration policy." An immigrant is a foreigner in a new country until they obtain citizenship.
Emigration and immigration - a comparative table
| Characteristic | Emigration | Immigration |
|---|---|---|
| Direction | Leaving the country | Arrival in the country |
| Perspective | The Country That Was Abandoned | host country |
| Human | Emigrant | Immigrant |
| Origin of the word | Latin emigrant – to leave | Latin immigrants – move |
| Typical connections | «"emigration from Poland", "emigrate to..."» | «"immigration to Poland", "immigrants in..."» |
| Impact on the country's population | This reduces it | This strengthens it. |
| Related concept | Re-emigration is the return of an emigrant. | Integration is the entry of an immigrant into a new society. |
How to remember the difference and not confuse the words?
- E stands for exit« — the emigrant leaves the country. I stands for "entrance"« — an immigrant enters the country.
- Check the preposition: emigrates from one country (and в another), but the word "immigration" is used in relation to the country of destination: "immigrant в Canada", "immigration в "Canada.".
- Ask the question: "Whose country are we talking about?"« — If the text describes the country people are leaving, use the word "emigration"; if the country they are arriving in, use the word "immigration".
Example: "After Poland joined the European Union, many Poles emigrated to the UK" – we're looking at the situation from a Polish perspective. "The UK accepted many immigrants from Poland" – we're looking at the situation from a British perspective. We're describing the same people.
Causes and consequences of emigration and immigration
In geography lessons, the causes of migration are usually divided into push factors (valid in the country of departure) and attraction factors (in the destination country). Push factors include unemployment, low wages, war, persecution, and natural disasters. Pull factors include higher wages, employment, security, educational opportunities, and the presence of relatives already living abroad.
The consequences for both countries are the same. The emigration country loses residents, often young and educated (this is called the "brain drain"), but can benefit from remittances from emigrants. The immigration country gains workers and taxpayers, while simultaneously facing the challenge of integrating newcomers—language acquisition, access to education, and the labor market.
Migration, re-emigration, refugees are concepts related to this.
- Migration – a general term for the movement of people combined with a change of residence; it includes both emigration and immigration, as well as movements within a country (for example, from a village to a city).
- Re-emigration - the return of emigrants to their country of origin.
- Repatriation – a return to the homeland or the country of ancestors, often organized by the state.
- Refugee – a person who has left his or her country because of a well-founded fear of persecution; his or her status is determined by the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (the so-called Geneva Convention).
- Net migration – the difference between the number of people arriving in a given region and the number of people leaving it.
Statistics also classify migration by duration. In accordance with UN recommendations, the Central Statistical Office (CSO) defines long-term migration as a period of at least 12 months, and short-term migration as a period of 3 to 12 months.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to be both an emigrant and an immigrant at the same time?
Yes, and every migrant is an emigrant. For the country they left behind, they are emigrants, and for the country they arrived in, they are immigrants.
In Germany, is a Pole considered an emigrant or an immigrant?
From a Polish perspective, this is an emigrant; from a German perspective, an immigrant. In Polish texts about Poles abroad, the word "emigrant" is usually used.
How to remember the difference between emigration and immigration?
E stands for "exit"—emigration means departure. And "input"—immigration means arrival. This corresponds to the Latin prefixes e-/ex- and in-/im-.
What is re-emigration?
This is the return of emigrants to the country they left. A person who returns is called a repatriate.
What is the difference between an immigrant and a refugee?
An immigrant is generally considered to be someone who has arrived in another country for any reason. A refugee, on the other hand, has left their country due to a well-founded fear of persecution and is entitled to special protection under international law.
See also
- What is the difference between a state and a nation?
- How is Great Britain different from England?
- What is the difference between a national minority and an ethnic minority?
- What is the difference between a country and a state?