Page 126 - IJPS-11-6

International Journal of
Population Studies Internal migration in Indonesia

Table 2. Top 10 sequences of rural‑urban migration
Number of movements Sequence‑pattern Frequency Percent (%) Cumulative percentage (%)
1 Rural→rural 642 19.93 19.93
1 Rural→urban 620 19.25 39.18
2 Rural→urban→rural 388 12.05 51.23
2 Rural→rural→rural 285 8.85 60.07
2 Rural→urban→urban 193 5.99 66.07
3 Rural→urban→urban→urban 91 2.83 68.89
3 Rural→rural→rural→rural 78 2.42 71.31
3 Rural→urban→urban→rural 76 2.36 73.67
2 Rural→rural→urban 64 1.99 75.66
3 Rural→urban→rural→rural 52 1.60 77.27
Other sequence patterns 732 22.73 100
Source: Author’s calculations based on the Indonesian Family Life Survey data from 1993, 1997, 2000, 2007, and 2014.

events but unfold over time in relation to shifting needs, strong tendency for sustained urban residence among
aspirations, and life transitions. What appears as rural- some individuals. Multiple rural migrations, with 78 cases
rural movement at one stage may be part of a longer (2.42%), also demonstrated a strong preference for rural
strategic trajectory shaped by work, marriage, or housing areas among some individuals over multiple moves. The
transitions. diverse sequence of moves, such as relocating from rural
For individuals involving two moves, the pattern of areas to two different urban areas and then returning to
migrating from rural to urban areas and then back to rural areas (76 cases, 2.36%), reflects the complex decision-
rural areas (388 cases, 12.05%) is notably more common making process of migrants as they transition from one
than moves from rural areas to other rural destinations place to another. These multi-step movements illustrate
(285 cases, 8.85%). This trend highlights a significant how migration decisions are shaped both by individual
tendency for return migration, where individuals initially agency and structural constraints. Each move can be
relocate to urban areas but eventually return to rural areas, seen as a negotiated step within the dynamic interaction
possibly for economic, family, or social reasons (Cattaneo between personal goals and institutional or geographic
& Robinson, 2019; Gillespie et al., 2022; He et al., 2023; opportunities and limitations.
Lindstrom, 1996; Stark, 2019). In addition, migrants who A substantial proportion of migration patterns
continue to move and consistently choose another rural is classified under the category of “Other Sequence
area may do so to find a location similar to their place Patterns,” which accounts for 732 cases (22.73%). These
of origin, easing the adaptation process. This aligns with sequences encompass a multitude of combinations that
Liu et al.’s (2023) research, which indicated that internal are not encompassed by the primary categories, thereby
migrants’ location choices were influenced by the ease of underscoring the complexity and diversity of migration
adapting to the cultural, institutional, and social differences behaviors. This category highlights that a considerable
between their origin and destination areas. This also number of migrants embark on unique journeys that may
aligns with circular migration theories, which emphasize not align with more prevalent patterns. These patterns
the fluid and reversible nature of mobility decisions. challenge the conventional assumption of linear rural-to-
Return migration does not signify failure, but rather urban migration, instead revealing a highly individualized
reflects adaptive strategies under changing household or and stratified migration landscape shaped by intersecting
labor conditions. In contrast, continuous rural-to-urban economic, cultural, and familial motivations over time.
migration accounted for 193 cases (5.99%), indicating that Table 2 suggests that internal migration in Indonesia is
some individuals prefer to remain in urban environments not a straightforward linear process from rural to urban
after migrating, likely due to their comfort with urban areas. Instead, it involves multiple steps and various
living.
destination sequences. The proportion of one-way rural-
Sequences involving three movements demonstrated to-urban migration trajectories, constituting only about
a wide range of patterns. The most frequent was multiple one-fifth of all trajectories, indicates that rural-to-urban
urban migrations, with 91 cases (2.83%), indicating a migration is not the predominant pattern. This complexity

Volume 11 Issue 6 (2025) 120 https://doi.org/10.36922/IJPS025190084