Internal versus International Migration in Egypt

Abstract

This chapter documents the evolution and patterns of internal migration over time and examines the relationship between internal, international, and return migration in Egypt. Using the Egypt Labor Market Panel Survey (ELMPS), we examine patterns and trends of international and return migration over the period 1980-2018, as well as the characteristics of recent international and return migrants. We then investigate the relationship between internal and international migration. We find evidence that internal migration has been rather low in Egypt, thus potentially explaining the country’s low urbanization rate. However, international migration rates have been rather high and prominent across all educational groups. Suggestive evidence indicates that individuals tend to engage in one type of migration only and that few engage in both internal and international migration.