Internal Migration in Cambodia

Abstract

With a population of 16 million, Cambodia experienced political and social upheaval during the twentieth century, which impacted the intensity and pattern of internal migration. Internal migration data have been collected systematically since 1998 through decennial censuses, with questions on lifetime migration, last move, duration of residence and reasons for move. Census data show that Cambodian mobility is close to the Asian average, with an ACMI approaching 16.1% in 2008, down from 18.4% in 1998. Data on duration of residence suggest that migration intensity has varied over time in response to conflict, political events and economic reforms. Cambodians display early migration profiles, with intensities peaking at age 22 for inter-provincial migrants and age 23 for intra-provincial migrants, with employment a significant driver. High levels of migration effectiveness, coupled with moderate intensities underpin substantial population redistribution, with 3.8% of Cambodians redistributed between districts in the five years to 2008. While flows to Phnom Penh are significant, there are large flows to less populated rural upland regions. Indeed, flows to rural areas are a dominant feature of migration in Cambodia, underscoring the limitations of the urban transition as the sole lens for migration analysis in Asia.