Forced and refugee migration in Asia

The world has experienced large population movements, both voluntary and forced, within and between continents. In recent years, forced migrations originating from some of the countries in Asia have contributed significantly to the global scale and complexity of international population movements. This chapter illustrates comparative demographic analysis in relationship to the levels and patterns of forced migration in Asia within the context of social demographic perspectives and data sources on migration. The characteristics of migration patterns in Asia as compared to other regions are described. Critical consideration is given to the driving forces behind refugee and forced migration in the region and, finally, to the implications for the priorities for demographic research and training in Asia .