Rural revival? The rise in internal migration to rural areas during the COVID-19 pandemic. Who moved and Where?

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2022.11.006
• Publication Date: 2022-11-21T07:13:05Z
• Authors: Miguel González-L...; Francisco Rowe; Alberto Fresolone...
• Keywords: Internal migration; Pandemic; Mirroring

During the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, anecdotal evidence a "rural revival" emerged mirroring "urban exodus" hypothesis. Currently, we know that internal migration to rural areas increased in some countries during 2020, although not with intensity speculated by media. However, little is known about attributes attracting migrants, demographic composition inflows, and if counterurbanisation movements persisted over 2021. Drawing on administrative population register data, analysed main types pulling migrants Spain their characteristics, namely age, sex place birth 2020 using period 2016-2019 as benchmark. Our results show in-migration close cities high prevalence second homes while out-migration declined. Exceptionally inflows 2021, but outflows converged figures observed prior pandemic. Inflows comprised across wide age spectrum, from young adults families retired individuals. These flows also foreign-born, particularly populations range Latin American countries.