Internal migration, widely known as merantau in Indonesian, has become an integral part of Indonesia's social and economic dynamics. The movement of people from one province to another not only depicts demographic changes but also reflects economic opportunities, education, and a better quality of life in the destination areas. Merantau, as a phenomenon, continues to grow in line with urbanization and infrastructure development in various regions.
According to Statistics Indonesia publication releases in July 2023, several provinces in Indonesia have become the main destinations for migration in the last five years. This migration includes the category of “recent migrants,” namely those whose place of residence five years ago differs from their place of residence at the time of the survey.
Quoted from GoodStats, here are five popular destinations for internal migration in Indonesia along with their explanations.
1. Central Java
Central Java tops the list as the destination province for recent migrants in 2022. A total of 778,524 individuals were recorded to have moved to this province from 2017 to 2022.
The main factors that make Central Java attractive are relatively low cost of living, continuously developing infrastructure, and cities like Semarang and Solo that offer job opportunities and quality education. Additionally, migration to Central Java is also driven by urbanization from surrounding villages to major cities in the province.
2. West Java
As the province with the largest population in Indonesia, West Java has become a migration destination for 716,469 individuals in the same period. The region offers abundant job opportunities, especially in the industrial and manufacturing sectors spread across Bekasi, Karawang, and Bandung.
The geographic proximity to Jakarta is also a major attraction for migrants who want to work in the capital but choose to live in West Java due to its more affordable cost of living.
3. Jakarta
Jakarta remains one of the main migration destinations despite challenges like traffic congestion and the high cost of living. In 2022, the number of recent migrants in Jakarta reached around 200,000 individuals, while lifetime migrants reached 3.3 million individuals.
Jakarta offers various career opportunities in the service, technology, and government sectors. As the economic and political center of Indonesia, the capital city attracts migrants from all corners of the country.
4. North Sumatra
North Sumatra is also a popular migration destination, with the number of migrants rising to 182,153 individuals during the 2017-2022 period. The city of Medan, as the primary economic hub in the western region of Indonesia, provides significant job opportunities, especially in the trade and oil palm plantation sectors. Additionally, the strong Batak culture and family ties often serve as the main reasons for many people to migrate to North Sumatra.
5. South Sulawesi
South Sulawesi recorded a total of 155,301 recent migrants from 2017 to 2022. The city of Makassar, as the center of economic growth in the eastern region of Indonesia, is a major attraction for migrants.
Furthermore, the maritime and logistics sectors are rapidly growing along with the development of the Makassar New Port, making this province increasingly strategic as a distribution center for goods to the eastern regions of Indonesia.
Internal migration reflects the ever-changing social and economic dynamics of Indonesia. Each region offers unique characteristics that attract migrants to build a new life there.
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