Exercise 9.2 – Spatial Visualization: Origins and Destinations of the World’s Migrants

Follow the link and explore the interactive map. Then answer the following questions.

Spatial Visualization: Origins and Destinations of the World’s Migrants, from 1990-2015 by Pew Research Center

Below is the updated link.

http://www.pewglobal.org/2018/02/28/global-migrant-stocks/?country=US&date=2017

Important Note: This web-based visualization may require up-to-date Adobe Flash Player browser plugin. Make sure to take note of any pop-ups or requests to download updates. Accordingly, be prepared to wait for video and interactive feature load times, which will depend on Internet connection speeds and other factors.

In this spatial module, you will explore the country-to-country numbers of international migrants. In Chapter 9, The Geography of Population, you were introduced to the movement of populations, namely over international borders. You learned how there are a variety of complex factors that may prompt a migrant to leave her country. Using the data provided in the interactive map you can explore these patterns for traces of the factors that prompted so many to arrive or leave a country.

Following the link above will take you directly to the main interactive world map. You have several ways to explore the data. You can change the data year by selecting one of the year buttons at the bottom of the map. Further, you can select a country and toggle between the total number of migrants with the buttons labelled “out of” or “into” at the bottom of the map. Further down on the right-hand side of the page is a table for the selected country to specify further the origin or destination of those international migrants. Click around and familiarize yourself with those features and the data changes that result.

To begin the activity, read the description for the interactive. Then use this information to answer the next questions.

1. What is the data used in the map based on?
   1. annual rate of migration
   2. current flows of migration
   3. total number of migrants
   4. total number of illegal migrants

1. What is an international migrant?
   1. a person traveling outside the country they were born
   2. a person living outside their home country for one year or more
   3. a person employed as overseas military personnel or foreign-aid workers
   4. all of these

1. What group is NOT considered an international migrant?
   1. international business travelers
   2. refugee’s descendants
   3. international students
   4. refugees

Select the United States. Compare the Out Of and Into patterns for 2017.

1. What is the main origin country for international migrants in the United States?
   1. China
   2. India
   3. Mexico
   4. Canada

1. Of the leading origin country identified in the last question, how many more international migrants are from the second leading country?
   1. 10,000,000
   2. 5,000,000
   3. 2,000,000
   4. 1,000,000

1. What world region represents the least number of international migrants residing the United States?
   1. Europe
   2. Asia
   3. Africa
   4. South America

1. What is NOT one of the destination countries that between 100,000 and 240,000 international migrants left the United States for?
   1. Germany
   2. France
   3. Canada
   4. Australia

Select Into and then click through each year of data for the United States.

1. What is true about the changes in origin and number of international migrants in the United States between 1990 and 2015?
   1. each year the number of international migrants of any origin increased in total
   2. each year the international migrants from Mexico increased by the same total
   3. each year the number of international migrants of any origin decreased in total
   4. each year the international migrants from China grew faster than other countries

Select each of America’s neighbors. Compare the Into data for 2017.

1. In 2017, ______ had more people from ______ living there than from the United States.
   1. Mexico; Canada
   2. Canada; Mexico
   3. Mexico; China
   4. Canada; China

1. In 2017, _____ were found in small numbers in the _____ world region.
   1. Canadians; South America
   2. Mexicans; Africa
   3. Canadians; East Asia
   4. Mexicans; Europe

1. When comparing the origin of international migrants residing in Canada with those residing in Mexico, what statement is most accurate?
   1. Canada’s migrants had traveled short, overland distances to reach their destination.
   2. Mexico’s migrants are likely to be less affluent and migrate for temporary work.
   3. Canada’s migrants are likely to more affluent and migrate for permanent work.
   4. Mexico’s migrants had traveled long, oversea distances to reach their destination.

Select China. Compare the Into and Out Of data for 2017.

1. What is true about international migrants into and out of China in 2017?
   1. Chinese migrants outside China are more numerous than non-Chinese inside China.
   2. Two largest migrant groups into China are not from the same Asian world region.
   3. Non-Chinese migrants inside China are more numerous than Chinese outside China.
   4. Two largest groups of Chinese international migrants live in other Asian countries.

1. What country had the most international migrants residing in China?
   1. Canada
   2. India
   3. Russia
   4. Peru

Select Syria. Compare the Into and Out Of data for 2017. Then click through each year of data.

1. What international migrant group in Syria has remained at roughly the same total across all four decades of data?
   1. Palestinians
   2. Iraqis
   3. Somalians
   4. Iranians

1. What statement best describes why the number of Syrians residing outside Syria increased by 4,000,000 from 2010 to 2017?
   1. A military invasion by Saudi Arabia occurred in 2010.
   2. Syria is a destination for Palestinian refugees.
   3. A civil war has afflicted Syria since 2011.
   4. Syrians have migrated for jobs to Saudi Arabia.