Spatial Pattern of Center–Peripheral Migration Interactions in Russia

The migration attractiveness of large cities and their suburbs (centers) and outflow of population from the periphery in Russia is a well-known fact. Using detailed spatial data, the study analyzes the spatial diversity of the migration balance of 137 selected centers, represented by cities with populations of 100 000 people or more and their suburbs, and 82 peripheral territories for 2011–2020. It analyzes not only the migration flow between centers and periphery, but also between individual centers, as well as migration with the centers and periphery of their regions and in interregional exchange. From the variety of centers, 21 main ones stand out, which concentrate the main population flow from peripheral territories and attract population from other centers. At the same time, half the centers experienced a migration decrease. The centers that lead the migration flow in each federal district are identified. Particular attention is paid to the features of the migration balance of the largest centers. The data used made it possible to carry out an analysis with and without taking into account autoreturn, which affects the scale of migration increase/loss, but, as it turned out, practically does not change the spatial pattern of population flow between the centers and the periphery.