Review of East Africa rural–urban migration trends, drivers and sustainability implications

This systematic review examines the contemporary patterns of rural–urban migration across the Eastern Africa, emphasizing its prevailing trends, underlying drivers, and multifaceted economic, social and environmental impacts. The review synthesizes evidence from 104 peer-reviewed publications and grey literature sources published between 2010 and 2025, covering eight countries in the region. Using the PRISMA framework and a thematic analysis approach, this review reveals a complex interaction between push factors and pull factors in the study area. Rural–urban migration patterns are influenced by youth dynamics, gender roles, and environmental vulnerability. Economically, migration leads to rural labor shortages and urban informal job expansion. Socially, it reshapes family structures, increases service demands, and worsens housing shortages. Despite ongoing policy efforts, significant gaps remain in migration governance, infrastructure planning, and social inclusion. Overall, rural–urban migration in the Eastern Africa presents both challenges and opportunities, underscoring the need for more adequate and flexible local migration policies at both rural and urban levels, supported by integrated rural investments, inclusive urban planning, strengthened local institutional capacity, and reliable migration data systems.