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Migration across countries
Philippines
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India
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Nepal
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Indonesia
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Philippines
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Bangladesh
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Philippines

Migration at a Glance: Demographic Insights & Movement Patterns

Overview
Philippines
State Map

Select state to jump to state level migration analysis

Sample surveyed in Philippines

In Philippines, 3,582 migrants were surveyed – representative of ~30 million internal migrants in the country. This accounted for 15% of the total sample across the five countries surveyed. 

What is the age of migrants surveyed?
 In the Philippines, migrant workers are spread fairly evenly across age groups from 18 to 59, showing broad participation in migration. Notably, there is a higher share of older migrants (45 and above) compared to other countries, suggesting migration is a livelihood strategy even for older adults.
18-24 years
13%
25-34 years
22%
35-44 years
24%
45-59 years
24%
60 and above
17%
Male
60%
Female
39%
Others
1%
Tagalog
55%
Visayans
29%
Ilocano
9%
Others
5%
Igorot
1%
Muslim
1%

Why are people moving?

Filipino migrants leave their villages for a mix of personal, economic, and environmental reasons. While marriage is a notable driver, many also move due to livelihood challenges, insufficient wages, and employment scarcity.Climate-related issues—such as disasters, land damage, and weather unpredictability also contribute to migration decisions.

54%

Lack of job opportunities at source

29%

Migrated for marriage purpose

27%

Lower wages at source

25%

Livelihood no longer dependable

8%

Land damaged or destroyed at source

8%

Land related conflicts at source

6%

Earn wages to pay back loans

8%

Disaster event at source

5%

Long-term change in weather

Why are migrants choosing certain destination locations?

Migration decisions from the Philippines are shaped by a variety of factors. Economic motivations such as better job prospects and wages are important, alongside personal reasons like marriage and family presence. Access to services—including healthcare and education—as well as the desire for greater personal freedom, also contribute to destination choices.
Finding better job opportunities
47%
Better educational opportunities
30%
Better healthcare services
27%
For marriage purpose
25%
Finding better wages
21%
Proximity to home/village
15%
Greater freedom within destination
12%
Joining other family members
8%

Who are migrants moving with?

Filipino migration is deeply family-oriented. Most migrants move with spouses, children, and even parents. This highlights the collective nature of migration decisions on migration.

45%

Children

37%

Spouse

35%

Parents

27%

Other family members

9%

Alone

What duration are migrants moving for?

In the Philippines, long-term migration is prominent. A possible reason for this could be the high migration costs associated with travelling by air in Southeast Asian countries with archipelagic landscapes. Apart from this, a UNESCO report mentions that at least 75% of the internal migrants in the Philippines are able to find jobs after migrating. This could be a motivating factor for them to stay at their destination location for longer periods.

Permanent migrant
33%
Long term migrant (One or more years)
31%
Short-term / temporary migrant (every year for one or more months)
13%
Migrated temporarily once but don’t plan to migrate again
11%
Migrate some years for one or more months
8%
Prefer not to answer
5%

What locations are migrants moving to in Philippines?

How many migrants are negatively impacted by extreme weather events?

A majority of migrants from the Philippines have experienced negative weather impacts, both in their villages and at destinations. This highlights the wide geographic spread of climate vulnerability across their migration journey.

4%

No. of migrants not impacted negatively by extreme weather

Living the climate crisis:
Data from internal migrants in Philippines

In the Philippines, internal migrants face substantial exposure to extreme weather events, both in their communities of origin and in the areas they move to. These climate-related pressures play a growing role in shaping mobility patterns and resilience.

91% of 1,177 migrants from source locations.

At source locations, 91% of 1,177 surveyed migrants reported experiencing weather-related impacts either at home or in both source and destination areas.

57% of 2,405 migrants at destination

At destination locations, 57% of 2,405 surveyed migrants reported similar challenges either at their current location or across both locations.

These findings highlight the widespread climate vulnerabilities that internal migrants in the Philippines must navigate throughout their migration journey.

What livelihoods do migrants belong to at source locations?
Migrants in the Philippines often come from farming backgrounds, both as agricultural labourers as well as farming on their own land. Animal husbandry and fishing also are prominent livelihoods. A portion of the population is also engaged in running small businesses.
57%
Farmers
56%
Agricultural labourers
33%
Animal husbandry
25%
Fishery worker
10%
Shop/Business worker
6%
Factory Workers
35%
Others
16%
Unemployed
15%
Factory Workers
12%
Construction workers
7%
Other manufacturing factory workers
6%
Waste processing workers
5%
Food processing
What extreme weather events are migrants facing at source locations?
In the Philippines, typhoons are the most disruptive weather events, followed by flooding. Other key weather issues include increasing heat. These wide-ranging weather events can cause significant damage to agriculture, homes, and local economies, driving displacement and loss of income.
89%
Cyclones / typhoons / hurricanes
19%
Flooding
11%
Increasing heat
9%
Excess rain
5%
Landslides / mudslides
65%
Increasing heat
55%
Excess rain
30%
Flooding
22%
Cyclones/typhoons/hurricanes
19%
Increasing cold
13%
Landslides / mudslides
11%
Increased unpredictability of weather / seasons
6%
Salination of water Supply
6%
Thunderstorms

What livelihood impacts are migrants facing as a result of extreme weather at source locations?

In the Philippines, the main impact of severe weather has been job loss, with moderate effects on wages. Job loss was significantly high at source locations in the Philippines. Typhoons, being one of the major weather events they face, could be a contributor to this.

Job Loss
64% Job loss
Wage Loss
24% Wage loss
Wage Cut
17% Wage cut
Asset Loss
12% Work Related Asset Loss

What household impacts are migrants facing as a result of extreme weather events at source locations?

In the Philippines, households experienced significant structural damage and some even reported complete destruction of houses. While fewer respondents noted food insecurity or service disruptions. The high incidence of housing damage points to the destructive power of typhoons and the need for resilient shelter infrastructure in climate-vulnerable areas.

84%

House damaged

13%

House destroyed

7%

Transportation routes in/out of village damaged/slowed

7%

Limited or damaged access to water or sanitation

6%

Food insecurity

6%

Health related issues
How are migrants coping with these livelihood and household impacts due to extreme weather at source locations?
In the Philippines, coping strategies were more rooted in local and social support systems, where many turned to family and friends. It is important to note that negative coping mechanisms like informal loans, using up savings, and reducing food intake are much less in extent. In fact, a significant number took formal loans to cope with impacts of weather events.
66%
Support from family and friends
20%
Loan from formal institutions such as banks
15%
Loan from informal sources such as moneylenders
6%
Reduced number of meals
5%
Used savings
33%
Support from family and friends
23%
No coping mechanisms
20%
Used savings
18%
Found additional work at the destination
15%
Loan from informal sources such as moneylenders
9%
Loan from formal institutions such as banks
6%
Additional family members took on jobs locally
What external support is available to migrants during/after these extreme weather events at source locations?
Migrants from the Philippines reported high levels of emergency relief from the government and civil society, pointing to better disaster response mechanisms. Very few reported receiving no assistance, indicating a more effective support system for those impacted by climate events.
75%
Emergency relief from the government
23%
Emergency relief from CSOs/NGOs
5%
No assistance received
46%
Emergency relief from government
41%
No assistance received
19%
Emergency relief from CSOs/NGOs
9%
Finding an alternate job
PCI empowers community-led organizations across South and Southeast Asia. PCI promotes initiatives that work deeply – and at scale – on the ground and leverage this to change systems.
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