I do research on global migration, immobility and transnationalism. My work seeks to explain how migration arises, and how it affects societies, families and individuals. I combine my background in Human Geography with perspectives from other disciplines and use both ethnographic and statistical methods. Beyond my thematic specialisms, I have an interest in academic writing, visualization and research communication. See also my personal web site.
Jørgen Carling
Research Professor in Migration Studies
Interests and experience
I am Co-Director of the PRIO Migration Centre (see separate page).
My research primarily addresses these themes:
- Theories of migration and transnationalism
- Migration aspirations and intentions
- Networks and chain migration processes
- Family and gender in migration
- Immigration policy and migration pressure
- Border control and migrant fatalities
- Undocumented migration and human smuggling
- Remittances and migration-development links
I use diverse methods, often in combination:
- Semi-structured interviews
- Participant observation in multi-sited fieldwork
- Purpose-made sample surveys
- Statistical analysis of existing survey data
- Discourse and document analysis
Editorial board memberships
Personal profiles on other sites
Language skills
- Mother tongue: Norwegian
- Fluency: English, and Cape Verdean Kriol
- Reading proficiency: Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, German, French
- All but forgotten: Esperanto and Japanese
Education
- PhD, Human geography (University of Oslo, 2007)
- Cand. polit., Human geography (University of Oslo, 2001)
- Cand. mag., Human geography, demography and economics (University of Oslo, 1998)
- International Baccalaureate (United World College of the Atlantic, 1993)
Projects
All of Jørgen Carling projects
The Meaning of 'Migrants'
Critical Perspectives on Migrant Smuggling
QuantMig: Quantifying Migration Scenarios for Better Policy
Future Migration as Present Fact (FUMI)
MIGNEX - Aligning Migration Management and the Migration-Development Nexus
Concept, themes and methodology for policy-relevant research on sustainable migration from poor to rich countries
FINEX: Financial Exclusion, Islamic Finance and Housing in the Nordic Countries
Representations of Migration and Return in Nigerian Cultural Production
Understanding the Root Causes and Drivers of Migration
Latest publications
All of Jørgen Carling publications
How Do Transnational Ties Shape Migration Aspirations?
Journal article in Population, Space and Place
Internasjonal migrasjon og immobilitet
Book chapter in Samfunnsgeografi: Perspektiver og prosesser
Systematic literature reviews in migration studies: approaches to context-sensitive synthesis
Journal article in Comparative Migration Studies
Resultados do Inquérito FUMI (Future Migration as Present Fact)
The Phone Status Index: A Versatile Measure of Individual Socio-Economic Status in Developing Countries
Journal article in The Journal of Development Studies
Future Migration as Present Fact (FUMI) Survey Results
Should we tackle the 'root causes' of migration? Likely no
Migration to Research Policy Short
Do warnings against migration actually work?
Migration Research to Policy Short
How Economic Inequalities Shape International Migration Aspirations: A Multilevel Analysis of Perceptions and Context
Journal article in Population, Space and Place
Future Migration as Present Fact (FUMI) Survey Documentation
Latest news
All of Jørgen Carling news
PRIO researchers among the world’s most cited scientists
Several PRIO researchers feature in the 2026 edition of the Stanford / loannidis Author Ranking, a widely used global index identifying the most-cited researchers across scientific disciplines.
World Refugee Day: Funding gaps and policy questions
As World Refugee Day 2026 is being marked, it is worth pointing to the strong foundations that exist based on research, which can inform policy at a time when humanitarian needs are pressing, while border control practices lead to migrant deaths.
Article on reasons for migration is a hit
Research Professor Jørgen Carling's article 'Why Do People Migrate? Fresh Takes on the Foundational Question of Migration Studies' is the most-read article in the leading journal in migration studies.
Looking for Horizon Europe partners? Explore PRIO’s new EU Matchmaking Guide
PRIO has developed a new EU Matchmaking Guide to support organisations preparing project proposals under Horizon Europe in identifying relevant researchers.
The Crown Prince of Norway visits the Peace Research Institute Oslo
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway visited PRIO today for a series of briefings on pressing global challenges, including developments in the Middle East, emerging technologies, migration and the human consequences of war.
Linking aid and migration policies is worse than misguided
PRIO-led research backs up warning to the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Sharing research results in Cape Verde and The Gambia
Research with theoretical objectives can also yielded new insights of relevance to policy and public debate in the communities where the research was carried out.
Research results on young people's dreams captivate audiences in Cape Verde
"What is your most important dream in life" was a key question in a large survey of young people, and the source of thought-provoking results.
Call for abstracts: Meanings and Measures of Migration Aspirations
We invite abstracts for a workshop that will explore the forefront of research on the nature of migration aspirations and related concepts. That is, how can we conceptualize and empirically examine people’s thoughts and feelings about potentially migrating?
PRIO migration project selected as 'success story'
The project Quantifying Migration Scenarios for Better Policy (QuantMig) is featured by the European Commission as a success story of impactful research.
Latest events
All of Jørgen Carling events
Lives and dreams of young adults in Serekunda
New perspectives on the lives of young people in São Vicente
Decided Return Migration: Emotions, Citizenship, Home and Belonging in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The New Pact on Migration and Asylum: Unpacking the EU’s Search for Coherence, Efficiency and Solidarity
New Insights on the Causes of Migration
Registration open for MIGNEX Policy Conference in Brussels: What’s next for EU migration and development policy?
Transnational lives: the meanings and implications of living in two countries
Ensuring comparability in cross-national research on migration
Translating migration theory into empirical propositions
Visions for research on migrant transnationalism
Latest comments
All of Jørgen Carling comments
Yes, we must create jobs, but not to prevent migration
Why We Need Research on Migrant Transnationalism Today
Accountable to Whom? Reflecting on the ethics of doing migration research
Is ‘Sustainable Migration’ a Valuable Concept?
Record deaths at sea: will ‘regional disembarkation’ help save lives?
Migrant Smugglers Are Winning. Here’s Why
Batman in Vienna: Choosing How to Confront Migrant Smuggling
A PhD by Publication Allows You to Write for Real and Varied Audiences, Inviting Intellectual Exchanges that Benefit your Research
The End Of Migrants As We Know Them?
Refugees are Also Migrants. And All Migrants Matter
Why do people migrate?
Jørgen Carling gives a two-minute summary of insights.
FUMI video-portraits: Nora and Noreen (Tema, Ghana)
Meet Nora & Noreen, and hear about the lives and dreams of young adults in West Africa. These video portraits are part of the FUMI research project, exploring thoughts and feelings about the prospect of migrating.
Decided Return Migration: Emotions, Citizenship, Home and Belonging in Bosnia and Herzegovina
An introduction to PRIO
In this video, PRIO Director Nina Græger and researchers explain who we are, and the work we do.
The New Pact on Migration and Asylum: Unpacking the EU’s Search for Coherence, Efficiency and Solidarity
Do warnings reduce migration desires?
This is a video abstract for the article 'The reach and impact of migration information campaigns in 25 communities across Africa and Asia'
Survey methods in migration research 2022
PRIO invites applications for this course, which will be taught in person in Oslo in September 2022.
In the media
Jørgen Carling was interviewed by Norway’s NRK Nyhetsmorgen, TV and radio (43:45), about the apparent role of state-sponsored disinformation in the mass incursion of migrants into Ceuta in late August.
Jørgen Carling wrote a response to an article on creating good jobs in poor countries being the only solution to migration, in the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten.
Jørgen Carling continued to be interviewed on the migration crisis in the Spanish enclave, Ceuta, including by NRK here and here, the New York Times and by the Spanish newspaper El Confidencial. He was referenced in an article on the same topic by The Boston Globe, Executive Digest, Argentinian newspaper El Diario, Correio de Danta Maria, Daily Hunt, Meihua Media, Lado, Actu Maroc, Formiche, Estadao, Milenio and DNYUZ.
Jørgen Carling and Marta Bivand Erdal co-authored an op-ed about government proposed changes to the Norwegian citizenship law, which was published by Aftenposten.
Jørgen Carling was interviewed by several media outlets on the migration crisis in the Spanish enclave, Ceuta, including by NRK’s Dagsnytt 18 TV (watch at 2mins 10secs), VG and Klassekampen newspapers.
Jørgen Carling was mentioned in an article about youth emigration in Cape Verde, by the site Terra Nova.
PRIO’s Future Migration as Present Fact (FUMI) project was covered by the Gambian media outlets Kerr Fatou, The Standard and The Point, following a seminar with Jørgen Carling, Tone Sommerfelt and Maria Helene Chavez-Aagard to disseminate the project's results in the country.
Jørgen Carling’s presentation of results from PRIO’s Future Migration as Present Fact (FUMI) project in Cape Verde was extensively covered in national news media, including the main evening news, national radio, the Mindel Insite news site, and a news piece on reactions plus a longer story and interview in the newspaper Expresso das Ilhas.
Jørgen Carling was interviewed about the situation for refugees in the world, on World Refugee Day, for the South Africa Broadcasting Service.
Jørgen Carling was interviewed about remittances sent from Norway, by the Norwegian aid magazine, Panorama Nyheter. The article was republished by the Norwegian news site ABC Nyheter and mentioned by iNyheter.
Jørgen penned an opinion piece about communicating research funding, for the Norwegian research news site, Khrono.
Jørgen Carling's paper with NIcolás Caso on ‘The reach and impact of migration information campaigns in 25 communities across Africa and Asia’ was referenced in an article on irregular migration by the Mexican newspaper Milenio and republished by MSN Mexico.
Jørgen Carling’s co-authored paper on ‘The reach and impact of migration information campaigns in 25 communities across Africa and Asia’ was referred to in an article on the new US administration’s communication around migrants, by AFP news agency. The article was republished by several other outlets, including MSN Mexico, Radio Notas, Tu Nota, Washinton Hispanic and Noticias RCN.
PRIO researcher Jørgen Carling, one of the co-authors of a paper showing information campaigns to deter migration have little effect, penned an opinion piece on the topic for the Norwegian aid magazine, Panorama.
PRIO Researcher Jørgen Carling’s work on migration was mentioned in an article on migration in Bhutan, in the newspaper The Bhutanese.
PRIO Researchers Jørgen Carling and Cathrine Talleraas’s PRIO Paper on Root Causes and Drivers of Migration was quoted in an article on US migration, on the news site Townhall.
PRIO started listing media appearances on profiles in 2023. Earlier media appearances may not be listed.