We offer an interpretation of the migration-mortality complex in the nineteenth century at the time that the population was escaping from the grip of hunger and recurrent famines. This study uses results from several case studies, based on both aggregate statistics and cross-sectional analyses of nominal data. In addition, we present some original multivariate longitudinal analyses from Belgian population registers, which are famous for their precise recording of migratory movements. Results destroy or nuance many stereotypes about migrants, mobility and mortality among the nineteenth century industrial populations, stressing the importance of selection processes and family dynamics.