International Migration in the Russian Arctic: Scale, Structure and Influence of the Pandemic

Abstract

The authors consider international migration in the Russian Arctic. The presence of a large-scale mining industry, a complex history of settlement and development, spatial and climatic features affect the migration processes in the Arctic. The study aims to assess the scale and structure of the international migration movement in the Arctic territories, as well as to identify changes caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The analysis is based on the results of population censuses, data from regional and municipal statistics, as well as information from digital databases on the incidence of coronavirus and migration. The article assesses the scale of international migration in the Arctic regions in the 20th – early 21st century. The genesis composition of the population showed that the significance of international migration is especially great for the Arctic territories in Western Siberia. The authors identified changes in the migration mobility of the population under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic. An analysis of the age and sex composition of migrants and the main migration flows showed that by the end of 2020, the intensity of international migration in the Russian Arctic decreased insignificantly, and in the most remote parts it even increased. Municipal statistics made it possible to identify the most attractive destinations for international migration before and during the pandemic. In 2021, a larger decline in international migratory mobility can be expected. The results obtained can be used to conduct socio-demographic policy and build demographic forecasts for the Arctic territories. Future research should focus on examining the long-term effects of the pandemic on international migration.