AbstractWe demonstrate that different kinds of dynamic behavior may occur in a general migration system. The deterministic nonlinear coupled mean value equations are introduced. The intergroup and intragroup interactions of the subpopulations determine the dynamics of the system. First, the route to chaotic motion in the case of two subpopulations migrating between three regions is briefly presented. In the special case of three interacting sub‐populations migrating between three regions, we then show in detail that all kinds of attractors (fixed points, limit cycles, and strange attractors) exist. Characteristics of the motion, namely the Fourier spectrum, Lyapunov exponents, and the fractal dimension of the attractors, are analyzed. Finally, we discuss the relevance of the results for real migration systems.