Migration in an ethnic minority region: changing patterns and implications for ethnic embeddedness in inner Mongolia autonomous region, China

This study investigates the characteristics and changing trends of the migrant population in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, a typical ethnic minority area in China, based on China Migrants Dynamic Survey in 2013 and 2017, supplemented by the 2020 national population census data. Findings reveal narrowing differences between Han and ethnic minority migrants, with most migration occurring within the region. The ethnic diversity of the migrant population in Inner Mongolia has increased, while the living spaces of multiple ethnic groups have become more intertwined. Economic integration has deepened, while cultural integration advantages persist. Accepting attitudes toward social integration continue to grow, reflecting population mobility’s role in promoting multidimensional ethnic embeddedness in the new era. This comparative analysis provides insights into the multifaceted nature of ethnic embeddedness amid population mobility.