Migration in Colombia
Crossing borders: How migration
is shaping Colombia
November 2024
Project description
This infographic was created for a Viz for Social Good project, which empowers designers to use data visualization to address pressing social issues. The goal of this project was to shed light on migration patterns in Colombia, focusing on trends, demographics, and regional impacts. The visualizations provide insight into the significant influx of migrants—over 30 million people between 2012 and 2023—and highlight how economic, social, and political factors have reshaped Colombia’s landscape.
The data for this project comes from Colombia’s migration statistics, which include records on the origins, demographics, and destinations of incoming migrants. Key insights were drawn from official government data, NGO reports, and regional studies, offering a comprehensive view of migration flows and their effects on Colombian communities. This project emphasizes the stories behind the numbers, helping audiences understand the complexities of migration and its social implications.
Data was received as part of the project. Parts of this data visualization were drafted in Rawgraphs, but most was completely realized using Adobe Illustrator.
Process
1. Data Preparation – I wanted to create an infographic that would illustrate migration patterns in Colombia, specifically focusing on migrant flows through the Darién Gap. After researching several data sources, I found reliable statistics on migration trends and demographics from Colombian government reports and international migration databases.
2. Planning and Execution – I decided on a multi-part visual approach that includes semi-circles, a Sankey diagram, and a map to show trends over time, demographic distributions, and geographic spread. I structured the infographic layout with an upper semi-circle for migrant trends over time and a lower semi-circle for gender and regional distribution. After identifying key regions, I used a Sankey diagram to illustrate how migrants from various regions are distributed across Colombia, and a map to highlight the top departments with relative migrant influx.
3. Reflection and Solution– Midway through the project, I realized that certain aspects, like the small but significant influx to Capurganá, needed extra emphasis. I decided to add a dedicated visualization or text annotation to clarify this point. Adding contextual annotations for cities with the highest migrant numbers also helped make the data more interpretable, giving viewers insight into why specific regions see higher numbers. The final result balances complex data with narrative elements, making it easier for viewers to grasp both large-scale trends and specific migration challenges in Colombia.
I got the honour to present this project at the Viz for Social Good end of the year summit 2024 with some really great responses.
