International migration: practices of 2000 Round and issues for 2010 UNFPA-UNECE-NIDI Training Programme on International Migration 24-28 January 2005 International migration: practices of 2000 Round and issues for 2010 Enrico Bisogno UN Economic Commission for Europe Statistical Division UNECE Statistical Division

UNECE Statistical Division Overview Stocks Criteria to identify the stock of immigrants Treatment of special groups Flows Which question(s) best capture migrations? Reason for migration UNECE Statistical Division

Stock of immigrants: the definition No clear definition of this group in the 2000 Recommendations Focus on two related variables (core-topics) Place/country of birth (44 countries) Citizenship (42 countries) UNECE Statistical Division

Place of birth: the definition Mother’s residence at the time of birth (2000 Recommendations) Some complications: 25 countries used the actual place of birth Higher non-response rates In Switzerland: 28% among CH born abroad UNECE Statistical Division

having a long-term view on their integration Why data on stocks? Monitor size and composition of population with foreign origin having a long-term view on their integration UNECE Statistical Division

A proposal: population with foreign background UNECE Statistical Division

Which questions to include? Place of births of parents or Citizenship at birth (both included in 2000 Recommendations as non-core topics) UNECE Statistical Division

Immigrants from Central Europe in France (1999) Foreigners 110412 Foreign-born 228362 Persons with foreign 324455 backround UNECE Statistical Division

Special population groups Temporary foreign workers with legal status Resident foreigners without legal status Asylum seekers Refugees Temporarily absent persons UNECE Statistical Division

Special groups and population counts UNECE Statistical Division

UNECE Statistical Division Refugees 2000 Rec: include in resident population 28 countries considered them as residents Definitional problems: 3 types of refugees 1951 Geneva Convention Humanitarian refugees Mass displacement UNECE Statistical Division

Foreigners without legal status 2000 Recomm: no specific provision Sensitive issue Very diverse approaches across countries For 2010: is a common position possible? De facto or legal approach? UNECE Statistical Division

Two different approaches Flows Two different approaches Where were you resident x years ago? (31 countries in 2000 Round) When did you come to live here? (29 countries in 2000 Round) UNECE Statistical Division

Why census data on flows? Internal migration Information on origin and destination International migration No monitoring purposes Migration date  duration of residence UNECE Statistical Division

UNECE Statistical Division Type A questions Pros Simple Origin-destination details Cons No information on when the migration occurred UNECE Statistical Division

UNECE Statistical Division Type B questions Pros Very precise on timing Cons No information on origin UNECE Statistical Division

Implications for 2010 Round Type A better fit for internal migration Type B better fit for international migration The two approaches can be combined: When did you come to live in this municipality from where? When did you come to live in this country and from where? UNECE Statistical Division

UNECE Statistical Division Reason for migration Not mentioned in 2000 Recommendations 11 countries included this topic Demand from users (labour migration) UNECE Statistical Division

Issues for 2010 Recommendations General question, generic answer More specific question: Official reason, if any Distinguish between causes and goals Reason for selecting the country UNECE Statistical Division

UNECE Statistical Division Some questions What questions do you think will be included in the next census in your country? How do you think special population subgroups will be treated? Is it possible to ‘link’ the census with other sources? UNECE Statistical Division