Migration is part and parcel of the history of humankind and accompanies the evolution of societies. Human mobility has always been part of the process of economic, social and human development. As societies undergo transformation, people inevitably move within and between countries in search of better
opportunities. In fact, migration is recognized inthe UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)as one of the means to reduce inequality within and among countries.

Migration from, to and between rural areas is an important component of both international and internal migration. The reallocation of labour from less productive to more productive sectors of the economy is an integral component of economic development. Migration from rural areas is thus part of the process of structural transformation of economies in which the importance of agriculture for income and employment generation declines relative to other sectors.