1. INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION STATISTICS The challenges and the solutions UNESCWA / DESA /ALO MEDSTAT Regional Training Workshop on International Migration Statistics Cairo – Egypt 30 th June – 3 rd July 2009 Ann Singleton

2. The context There is a growing need for good quality statistical data on migration and asylum …which is not being met because…

3. Problems of quality and comparability stemming from different: Definitions Legislative arrangements Data collection systems – within countries – between countries The context: problems with the data

4. The causes of these differences The difference between concepts and definitions used Who/what is an international migrant? - according to the United Nations - according to each country - according to each data collection agency

5. BE3 monthsLUNo time criterion BGpermanentHU3 months /1 year (EEA/non-EEA) CZ1 yearMTpermanent DK3 or 6 monthsNL4 in the last 6 months DENo time criterionAT1 year EE3 monthsPLpermanent EL1 yearPT1 year ESNo time criterionRO Permanent FR1 yearSI3 months IENo time criterionSKpermanent / 3 months ITNo time criterion / 1 year for (EEA/EEA)FI1 year CY1 yearSE1 year LV1 yearUK1 year LT1 year Time criteria defining an immigration examples from European Union countries (Poulain and al., 2006)

6. The causes of these differences Sources have been created or exist for administrative, fiscal or planning purposes (other than the collection of migration data) …they respond to various administrative and policy needs of the national administration or government not necessarily to the need for harmonised migration data – Consequently…… There is no single source of statistics Data from different sources have to be brought together

7. What is international migration? It includes the following categories and concepts – Asylum – Labour – Temporary – Permanent – International, internal – Citizenship (nationals, non-nationals, acquisition of citizenship) – Dependants/family members These categories overlap in the statistics

8. Data sources Asylum applications and decisions – Ministries of the Interior Labour (work permits/residence permits/visas) – Ministries of Interior and Employment Temporary (Work permits/residence permits/visas) – Population registration systems, Ministries Permanent migration (Population censuses, surveys) – Statistical offices Citizenship Ministries of Justice and Interior Illegal immigration (Border control, police and immigration data) Estimates Returns Ministries of the Interior

9. Different types of migration data ‘Stocks’ Flows: immigration and emigration (short and long-term) Asylum Labour migration Family reunification ((re-) formation)

10. Data variables Minimum variables needed: - Previous country of residence - Citizenship - Sex - Age

11. Estimating the size and composition of the foreign and migrant population Surveys in-country Censuses Residence permits databases Population registers and/or registers of foreigners and/or censuses and registers Estimates of undocumented migration

12. Data sources Censuses Administrative registers – Population registers – Other administrative databases relating to: Residence permits/permits to stay Asylum procedures Surveys Large-scale national surveys (eg LFS) Customs data; surveys at the borders

13. Estimating migration flows: data sources In-country survey – Ireland Border survey – Cyprus, UK Customs – Bulgaria Databases on residence permits – France, Portugal, Greece, Romania Population registers and/or registers of foreigners – A,B,CZ,D,E,H,I,FIN,DK,NL,SK,S (+CH, IS, N)

14. Estimating stocks of foreign population: data sources Survey in-country Census Residence permit databases Population registers and/or registers of the foreign population and/or cenusus + register

15. Problems for the users Incompatability of concepts and definitions Data quality is often mediocre and coverage is partial Double counting Untimely production and dissemination Unreliable Lack of transparency and confidence in the data Lack of reliability, accuracy Lack of clarity about what the data measure

16. Problems for policy-makers The difficulty of: – Monitoring the implementation of legislation and the effectiveness of policy – Anticipating and planning for public service provision – Planning for the needs of the local and national labour market

17. What was the solution ? Closer collaboration between Ministries and statistical offices Documentation of the databases Funding of projects to correct the databases With the collaboration (amongst others) of: – Universities – Statistical Offices – Ministries – Research Institutes

18. What was the limitation of these measures ? – Diversity of data collection systems – Absence of a single harmonised definition, – Lack of political will Reluctance of authorities to admit the unreliablity and poor quality of some data Reluctance of authorities to release statistical data on asylum applications and decisions and illegal immigration

19. What might be the solution ? More transparency; more data users; more user feedback Timely dissemination of compiled, checked and documented data Regular Public reports (monthly, quarterly, annual) Use of the internet, simple Excel sheets, online databases Where appropriate: acknowledgement of the need to introduce legislation on statistics on migration and asylum

20. What might be the solution ? Knowing the strengths and the limitations of obtaining statistical data through voluntary agreements Acknowledgement of the need to introduce legislation on community statistics on migration and asylum