Residential Segregation of the Migrant Population in Urban Contexts of the Global South

Julieta Bengochea , Programa de Población, Universidad de la República
Manuel García Rey, Udelar

This study examines the residential segregation of the migrant population in Uruguay in 2023, within a context in which the country has consolidated its position as a key destination in the intra-regional migratory system of Latin America and the Caribbean. According to data from the 2023 Census, more than half of the migrant population (55.7%) settled in the country during the intercensal period from 2012 to 2023, with Montevideo concentrating the largest share of recent arrivals. The Uruguayan case is particularly relevant because it tests the capacity of a state with a progressive and inclusive migratory policy to prevent processes of residential segregation and socio-spatial inequality. Despite the country's normative commitment to migrant inclusion, recent settlement patterns reveal emerging forms of territorial differentiation. The most recent arrival cohorts exhibit substantial concentrations in both central areas and peripheral zones adjacent to informal settlements, where housing conditions reflect overcrowding and significant distance from the city's economic core. Moreover, the degree and form of segregation vary according to migrants' country of birth and specific sociodemographic characteristics. By combining demographic and spatial analysis, the study aims to contribute to a broader understanding of how inclusive policy frameworks interact with structural urban inequalities in shaping the settlement and social incorporation trajectories of migrants.

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 Presented in Session 92. Flash Session International Migration