Migration does not only change the size of a population but also alters its composition in terms of age, sex, education, occupation, and cultural characteristics. These demographic shifts influence both the place of origin and the place of destination.

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1. Age Composition

• Migrants are usually young adults in the 15–35 age group, since they are the most mobile section of the population.
• Origin: Loss of young people leads to an ageing population in rural or underdeveloped areas.
• Destination: Influx of youth increases the proportion of working-age population, boosting the labor force.

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2. Sex Composition

• Migration often shows a gender imbalance, depending on its type:
  • Male-dominated migration: Labor migration (construction, industries, international jobs in Gulf countries).
  • Female-dominated migration: Often linked to marriage or domestic work.
• This alters the sex ratio:
  • Origin: Male out-migration increases the proportion of females in rural areas.
  • Destination: Male-dominated inflows skew sex ratio in cities or host countries.

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3. Occupational Composition

• Migrants are generally economically active, moving for employment opportunities.
• Origin: Loss of skilled workers may cause brain drain or shortage of professionals.
• Destination: Migrants contribute to labor markets, often taking up jobs locals avoid (e.g., construction, agriculture, services).

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4. Educational Composition

• Highly educated individuals often migrate for higher studies or specialized jobs, leading to a concentration of skilled labor in developed regions.
• Origin: Depletion of educated youth creates knowledge gaps.
• Destination: Gain in human capital, innovation, and productivity.

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5. Cultural / Ethnic Composition

• Migration introduces new languages, traditions, and religions in the receiving areas.
• Origin: Out-migration sometimes reduces cultural diversity.
• Destination: Creates multicultural societies, but can also lead to ethnic tensions or integration challenges.

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6. Family and Household Composition

• Migration reshapes household structures:
  • Origin areas may see left-behind families, children, and elderly dependents.
  • Destination areas may experience increase in nuclear households formed by migrants.

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Conclusion

Migration profoundly influences the demographic composition of both sending and receiving regions. While it often strengthens the working-age population and enhances cultural diversity in destination areas, it may cause ageing, gender imbalances, and brain drain in origin regions. Thus, migration is not only a movement of people but also a powerful force reshaping the social and demographic fabric of societies.