New publication: “Migration as a Lifeline: Rethinking Urban–Rural Divides in Europe”
2025 August 20
How can migration help reduce the growing divide between Europe’s thriving metropolitan centres and its declining rural regions? A new PREMIUM_EU publication takes on this pressing question.
In their article Reducing urban–rural population inequalities: The divergent roles of internal and international migration, Leo van Wissen and Becky Arnold (NIDI) show that population change across Europe is increasingly driven by migration rather than natural growth. Their analysis highlights how different types of migration play contrasting roles in shaping regional futures.
Key findings
Metropolitan growth, rural decline: Most major cities continue to grow, while many rural and non-metropolitan regions face persistent population loss.
Internal vs. international migration: Internal migration mainly flows from rural to urban areas, deepening demographic inequalities. International migration, however, is spread more evenly across urban, intermediate, and rural regions.
Opportunities for rural areas: Between 2015 and 2020, nearly three-quarters of Europe’s declining regions still experienced positive net migration. though not enough to offset natural population decline. This suggests international migration could play a vital role in revitalising left-behind regions.
Policy implications: The study calls for targeted strategies that help rural and intermediate regions attract and retain international migrants, turning migration into a tool for resilience and renewal.
Why this matters
For policymakers, the findings underline that migration is not just an urban issue. International arrivals can help sustain services, economies, and communities in areas at risk of depopulation. With the right policies, migration can be a lifeline for Europe’s vulnerable regions.
Recognition in a leading journal
The article has been selected for publication in the Vienna Yearbook of Population Research 2025 (Vol. 23), a peer-reviewed journal published by the Vienna Institute of Demography of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. The Yearbook is a key platform for research on demographic change in Europe, and this selection highlights the scientific and policy relevance of PREMIUM_EU’s work.
