The Nature and Patterns of International Migration of Ethiopia

Abstract

International migration of Ethiopia is as old as the country itself. However, it only gained momentum in the last quarter of the twentieth century. The forceful overthrow of the long-lasting monarch in 1974 by a socialist military junta led to the emigration of hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians in the late 1970s and 1980s, mainly to neighboring countries. The emigration during the post-socialist regimes is dominated by economic emigrants due to political stability, a rise in the volume of the labor force, and declining livelihood opportunities in the country. The recent shift from refugee-led to economic emigration shows its momentum to create new emigration destinations in Africa, such as South Africa and Middle East countries, including Israel and Saudi Arabia. Unlike international migration in Sub-Saharan Africa and at the global level, the emigration of Ethiopia is dominated by women migrants. Women outnumber international migrants originating from Ethiopia in the Middle East, North America, and Europe. Ethiopian international migration is characterized by irregular migration to several destinations via eastern, southern, and northern migration routes. On the other hand, immigration in Ethiopia is dominated by refugees from neighboring countries which makes the country one of the largest refugee-hosting countries in Africa. Gambella, Somali, and Tigray are the regions that host three fourth of refugees living in Ethiopia.