Migration

 

Post-World War II Migration: Global Analysis, India & Maharashtra

Infographic: Global migration after WWII, India's statewise patterns, and Maharashtra's native impact

1. Global Patterns (1945–1970)

• 40–65 million Europeans displaced; new migration systems established
• US, Australia, and Canada absorbed over 16 million migrants combined
• Key reasons: Economic (40%), Political/War (25%), Planned labor flows (20%)

Country	Inward Migrants	Main Flows
US	~12 million	Europe, Asia, Latin America
Australia	2 million	UK, Europe, refugees
West Germany	3+ million	Italy, Spain, Greece, Turkey
France	4 million	Algeria, South Europe
UK	1.2–1.8 million	Caribbean, India, Pakistan

2. Asia & India Highlights

• Asia: Over 40% of world's postwar migrants, with 23.6m from SE Asia alone
• Partition (1947): 14–18 million cross-border moves; largest migration event in India’s history

State/Region	Major Flow	Approx. Numbers	Notes
Punjab	Both	5–7 million	Epicenter, high upheaval
West Bengal	Inflow	2.5–3 million	Bengali Hindu refugees
Delhi	Inflow	~0.5 million	Rapid urban surge
UP, Bihar	Outflow	2 million	Muslims to Pakistan

3. Internal Migration: Statewise Patterns

Major Sending States

• Uttar Pradesh: –2.6 million
• Bihar: –1.7 million
• West Bengal, Odisha, Assam: consistent outflows

Major Receiving States

• Maharashtra: +2.3 million
• Delhi: +1.7 million
• Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab: 0.5–0.7 million each

4. Maharashtra: Globalisation and the Pandemic

• Rapid urbanisation changed livelihoods for rural/tribal populations
• Agriculture & forest work undermined, increased wage labor migration
• Pandemic triggered reverse migration, job losses, social stigma
• Original natives faced exclusion in both global boom and Covid crisis

Dimension	Globalisation	COVID-19 Impact
Livelihoods	Shift, marginalisation	Lost jobs/income
Inclusion	Partial, cultural dilution	Isolation, less access
Mobility	High out-migration	Mass return migration

References & Sources

• UN DESA, IOM, Government of India Census, Economic & Political Weekly, academic research
• See infographic for summary visual data