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The MIG research group focuses on applying advanced data collection and estimation methods to quantify and better understand the trends, patterns, drivers, and consequences of different types of migration considering its interactions with the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.
Migration is a key demographic component underlying population change. As a multifaceted process, it is influenced by various factors such as economic opportunities, social and political drivers, environmental changes, and conflicts. Due to its high volatility and complexity, migration is difficult to assess and forecast, thus requiring a combination of data sources and methods. The MIG research group employs innovative approaches to provide comprehensive estimates of internal and international migration and its underlying factors at global, national, and sub-national levels. A particular focus of the research group is exploring how climatic changes and environmental factors directly and indirectly influence migration, and how these effects differ across geographical locations and population subgroups. In addition, the research group offers valuable insights into the interconnections between sustainability, human development, and well-being, highlighting their relevance for migration processes worldwide.
Models, tools, datasets
Wittgenstein Centre Human Capital Data & Graphic Explorer Version 3.0 (WCDE)
Projects
BALancing humAn and Natural resource use for Circular bioEconomy (BALANCE)
Strengthening the Evidence-Based Understanding of the Climate Change, Human Mobility, and Security Nexus in South-Eastern Europe (ClimMigSEE)
Quantifying the Impacts of Climate Change on Migration to and Within Europe (CCMIG-EU)
Sustainability Performances, Evidence and Scenarios (SPES)
Staff
Guy Abel
Research Scholar (MIG)
Raya Muttarak
Principal Research Scholar (MIG)
Andrea Tamburini
Researcher (MDM, MIG)
Jesus Crespo Cuaresma
Senior Research Scholar (MIG)
News
17 March 2025
Addressing the needs of vulnerable populations unable to move away from climate risk areas
People in informal settlements, urban deprived areas, refugee camps, prisons, and war zones can be particularly vulnerable to climate threats and natural hazards. A new study, led by IIASA researchers, explores how policymakers can ease their burden.
11 March 2025
Climate Change and Migration in the 2024 Vienna Yearbook of Population Research
IIASA researchers have made significant contributions to the newly released Vienna Yearbook of Population Research 2024 edited by Roman Hoffmann and colleagues.
05 March 2025
Project UPSTArt: Understanding Perceptions on Sustainability Transitions - from empirical research to participative Art-based approaches
The UPSTArt project is an innovative initiative aimed at exploring citizens' perceptions of climate change and sustainability transitions through a unique blend of empirical research and participatory art-based approaches.
Events
Focus
11 November 2024
Why are people waiting longer to start a family? Exploring the trends, challenges, and choices behind delayed parenthood
Ahead of the Wittgenstein Centre Conference 2024 on Delayed Reproduction: Challenges and Prospects, which is set to take place from 21-22 November, researchers from the IIASA Population and Just Societies Program, the Vienna Institute of Demography, and the University of Vienna look into the shifting trends, drivers, and consequences of delayed parenthood.
24 June 2024
Predicting EU migration trends: merging traditional and social media data
IIASA researchers Dilek Yildiz and Guy Abel highlight the benefits of a new statistical model that combines traditional data sources like the census with real-time Facebook data to estimate EU migrant populations, offering valuable insights for policymakers.
Publications
Thalheimer, L. , Cottier, F., Kruczkiewicz, A., Hultquist, C., Tuholske, C., Benveniste, H., Freihardt, J., Hemmati, M., Kam, P.M., Pricope, N.G., Van Den Hoek, J., Zimmer, A., de Sherbinin, A., & Horton, R.M. (2025). Prioritizing involuntary immobility in climate policy and disaster planning. Nature Communications 16 (1) e2581. 10.1038/s41467-025-57679-9. Sterly, H., Borderon, M., Sakdapolrak, P., Adger, N., Ayanlade, A., Bah, A., Blocher, J., Blondin, S., Boly, S., Brochier, T., Brüning, L., Bunchuay-Peth, S., O’Byrne, D., Safra De Campos, R., Nii Ardey Codjoe, S., Debève, F., Detges, A., Franco-Gavonel, M., Hathaway, C., Funke, N., Gemenne, F., Gubert, F., Gurmu, E., Keeton, R., Ketsomboon, B., Leroy, M., Majidi, N., Marchisio, S., Abu, M., Naruchaikusol, S., Negozio, F., Nicolle, H., Nucera, G., Olsson, L., Owuor, J., Ozer, P., Piguet, E., Reckien, D., Redicker, S., Andreolla Serraglio, D., Sultan, B., Tänzler, D., Vigil, S., Vinke, K., Zantout, K., & Zickgraf, C. (2025). Habitability for a connected, unequal and changing world. Global Environmental Change 90 e102953. 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2024.102953. Shaw, S., Chattopadhyay, A., Dey, S., & Hoffmann, R. (2025). The association of temperature extremes, ecosystem resilience, with child mortality: Novel evidence from India. Environmental Research 267 e120690. 10.1016/j.envres.2024.120690. Andrijevic, M. , Zimm, C. , Moyer, J.D., Muttarak, R. , & Pachauri, S. (2025). Representing gender inequality in scenarios improves understanding of climate challenges. Nature Climate Change 10.1038/s41558-024-02242-5. Tebecis, T. & Crespo Cuaresma, J. (2025). A dataset of structural breaks in greenhouse gas emissions for climate policy evaluation. Scientific Data 12 (1) 10.1038/s41597-024-04321-w.