Attraction and Detraction: Migration Drivers in Bhutan

Abstract

While migration in Bhutan has often been characterized as predominantly rural-urban movement, the 2017 Population and Housing Census of Bhutan (PHCB) recently recognized rural-rural movement as the second largest migration trend in the country. With the census identifying family and employment moves as the two largest motivators for migration within the country, where are migrants most likely to migrate to in order to find opportunities? Obvious hubs of employment are the capital city of Thimphu, as the seat of government, and Paro, with the nation’s only international airport, both located in the more populous western part of the country. Other employment opportunities stem from the nation’s rich natural resources and the harnessing of those natural resources. The census in 2017 combined with variety of data sources is examined to identify some rationale in migration patterns. This research will seek to identify these migration drivers, as well as to identify the less obvious migration drivers throughout the country and their spatial patterns to help account for the nuanced migration patterns in this geographically diverse country.