Nearly 4 million Colombians emigrated from their motherland the past three decades, a recent study shows.
According to the study, quoted by news website Colombiaparatodos, seventy percent of the Colombian migrants moved to the United States, Spain and Venezuela. “The first two, because of their opportunities, Spain because of the language and Venezuela for its proximity and the historical ties, both commercial and of the population,” researcher Luis Eduardo Guarnizo told the website.
“The main reason of migration is to seek economic and employment opportunities. Another reason is to flee violence or conflict situations that have occurred in Colombia in recent years,” the researched added.
The exodus of Colombians have led to change within Colombia too. The interaction with family members living abroad has thoroughly transformed the social. cultural and political structures within the country.
Colombians moving to Europe mostly work as servants, the study shows, while those moving to the U.S. have most opportunities to rise the social ladder. A relatively high percentage of Colombians in the U.S. have been able to enjoy the country’s opportunities.