Extent of domestic migration

ದೇಶೀಯ ವಲಸೆಯ ವಿಸ್ತಾರ

Dēśīya valaseya vistāra

Shortly prior to the onset of Covid, there were an estimated 11.1 crore migrant workers in urban India (as of 2017-18). These workers are a mix of short-term seasonal (4.4 crores) and long-term/ semi-permanent (6.7 crores) workers who are also occupationally vulnerable. A little less than half of these 11.1 crore workers i.e., 5.2 crores were interstate migrant workers in 2018.

States that primarily contribute to short-duration out-migration for employment are Bihar (32%), Uttar Pradesh (19%) and West Bengal (10%), Madhya Pradesh (8%), Jharkhand (7%) and Rajasthan (6%). These states also had the highest shares in interstate outmigrants reflecting their low levels of income. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar also have more than 50% share in long-term out-migration.