UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 DATA SOURCES ON INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION Jeannette Schoorl, NIDI MONDAY January 24 Session 4

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 Why do we need migration statistics? Knowledge-based policy making and planning –control –assistance and support to immigrants to expatriate citizens Policy evaluation Information for the public debate

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 What sort of data are needed? Policy-driven research questions --> type of data needed. –‘Simple’ statistics on numbers of ‘migrants’ or ‘foreigners’ –More detailed statistics, e.g. for specific groups (refugees, trafficked women, highly skilled workers, characteristics of returnees, expected future number of school-age children, unemployment among dependants, etc.) –Varied type of statistics: on people, but also on e.g. remittances and their development potential

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 Data sources National sources International sources

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 National data collection systems Population censuses Population registers Registers of foreigners Border statistics Residence permits Work permits

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 Population censuses Place (country) of birth Country of citizenship Year & month of (first) arrival Plus: Place of residence n years ago Or: Place of previous residence, and Year (+ month) of arrival in current place of residence)

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 Population censuses Stocks, (net) flows International comparability depends on type of coverage and type of questions included Advantages: –covers approx. total (legal) population, also small immigrant groups; allows for regional / local info –wealth of additional data on characteristics Disadvantages: –infrequent data collection –no reliable data on emigration –some under-representation of migrants likely

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 Population registers Continuous recording of population changes Stocks, in-flows, out-flows Reliability depends on compliance to (de)register –underestimation of emigration Considerable variation in rules for (de)registration [ esp. intended length of stay; coverage of asylum seekers] –affects comparability between countries Nevertheless: one of the best sources for flows –especially long-term flows (> 1 year) –often timely availability

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 Population registers Relatively few additional characteristics –e.g. reason for admission usually not available –but: trend to link data from different sources employment, education Countries: few, mostly in Western Europe

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 Registers of foreigners Much like population registers but only for (legal) foreign residents Data on: –residence status / reason for admission –duration of validity of permits (therefore also short- term migration) –citizenship, etc. Limited publication (strict privacy rules) Countries: a.o. Germany

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 Household surveys Examples: labour force surveys, housing surveys, conditions-of-life surveys Basic requirements: –large sample size (and/or over-sampling of migrant population) –Sizeable immigrant population –If relevant: interviewing in other languages Types: –regular single-round surveys –panels (same individuals interviewed in multiple rounds)

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 Household surveys General household surveys: –limited usefulness for the study of international migration/migrants small samples risk of under-representation captures only the post-migration situation –serious limitations to produce estimates of flows and stocks

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 Household surveys Special migration/migrant surveys: –detailed and targeted information on migrant populations and migration processes –complicated sampling and designs –may lack comparability with native population groups Examples: –Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Australia; DIMA, –Survey on the push and pull factors of international migration ( ), in sending and receiving countries (NIDI)

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 Border data collection Data collection at points of entry and/or departure, of all travellers or of (specific groups of) foreigners only –sometimes carried out as a survey (UK) –advanced system in Australia, with pre-border checks In-flows; sometimes also out-flows Type of data: –based on documents (passports, visas) –forms filled in by cross-border travellers Countries: many

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 Border data collection Advantages: –Reflection of actual moves (but not: people) Disadvantages: –complexity of (vast) data collection and processing –very few migrants among millions of travellers –limited reliability of forms from travellers –purpose: administrative & security; limited statistics

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 Border data collection Reliability influenced by: –degree to which the country is a destination for irregular migrants –accessibility of the country: ease with which official border points can be bypassed –degree to which own citizens are reluctant to provide border information –whether or not a legal framework for the production of statistics from border data exists –degree of formal control of the information provided by the traveller

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 Residence permits Sub-set of foreign citizens who are required to apply for such a permit Data reflect administrative procedures rather than people Usually only data on inflows For meaningful interpretation of permit statistics it is necessary to have information on: –new permits versus permit renewals –duration of validity Countries: many (e.g., USA, Australia, Canada)

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 Work permits Sub-set of foreign workers who are subject to such a permit (often application is by employer) Data reflect administrative administrative cases rather than people In-flows; with sufficient data also stock estimates Advantages: –data based on documentary evidence Disadvantages: –undocumented workers excluded –limited international comparability Countries: many

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 Work permits To interpret statistics, need information on: –first permits to new arrivals to foreigners already in the country –change of status (e.g., tourists, students, dependants, undocumented workers) –renewals of permits –duration of validity

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 Information on irregular migration Illegal migrant: –illegal entry –overstaying visa / permit –relapsed into irregularity after previous regularisation –legal residence but illegal worker

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 Information on irregular migration Specialised data sources –Regularisation amnesties –Refused entries / border apprehensions –Expulsion statistics

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 Data on refugees and asylum seekers General statistical sources –asylum seekers usually not included in migration statistics, but differences between countries and over time (population registers) –sometimes counted upon and by status granted (instead of by time of arrival) –sometimes minor dependants not included separately

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 Data on refugees and asylum seekers Specialised data sources –asylum applications and decisions –refugee resettlement schemes –data on assistance provided, etc.

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 National data collection: different practices Many countries produce no migration statistics Stock statistics more widely available (census) Flow statistics least (population registers, border statistics, residence permits) –Emigration may be estimated using immigration data available from countries of destination

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 Coverage and comparability Comparability problems: international - between same type of source national - between data sources Coverage problems: irregular / illegal migration mostly not included in the data sources

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 National data collection: room for improvement Inventory of data sources –which data sources (purpose) –coverage (which groups) –concepts and definitions used –what information (variables) included –format of data base

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 National data collection: room for improvement Exploitation of available data sources –producing more detailed tabulations –producing statistics from administrative sources collaboration between administrators and statisticians; different departments adapting legal frameworks –adding to or revising forms to improve or enable the production of meaningful statistics Data sharing & integration Capacity building

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 A “Generic model” for the collection, application and sharing of migration data IOM, OSCE, Danish Immigration Service & IGC Can be applied irrespective of a country’s sophistication in migration data management For any type of migration data Aim: timely, consistent and objective data

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 DATA SOURCES ON INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION MONDAY January 24 Session 4

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 A “Generic model” for the collection, application and sharing of migration data Main elements: –establishing a national network of core institutions –inventory of existing data sources –identifying national demand for data –properly documenting the data –establishing a data sharing mechanism –data dissemination –capacity building

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 International data collection systems Mostly based on national data sources –a selection of nationally available data Efforts to improve quality, documentation, and comparability –research and capacity building

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 International data collection systems United Nations –Population Division global stocks policies –Statistical Division recommendations on stock and flow data collection –UNHCR asylum seekers –Regional Commissions (UNECE, CELAC) –UNFPA

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 International data collection systems European Commission / Eurostat / DG JFS –flow and stock statistics; citizenship acquisitions New Cronos data base (MIGRAT) –harmonisation efforts –monitoring of migration trends (CIREFI) and asylum applications and decisions (CIREA) –policy development –capacity building –regional focus: EU plus bordering countries

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 International data collection systems European Commission –European Migration Information Network (EMIN) virtual observatory UK/UCL –European Migration Network (EMN) national contact points that will collect information (statistics, legislation, trends and patterns, research) that is to be shared via a web-based system Berlin Institute for Comparative Social Research –IMISCOE (International Migration, Integration and Social Cohesion in Europe) research ‘network of excellence’

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 International data collection systems IOM –data collected in IOM programme activities (e.g., voluntary return, trafficking, repatriation) OECD –SOPEMI system: country reports on migration trends and issues (mostly industrial countries)

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 International data collection systems ILO –statistics and other data on migrant workers (e.g. rights, discrimination, exploitation, legislation) International Labour Migration Data Base (ILM) Council of Europe –migration statistics; integration; human rights –regional focus: member states plus some others

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 International data collection systems World Bank –a.o. remittances think tanks, e.g., –Migration Policy Institute Migration Information Source –Intergovernmental Consultations on asylum, refugee and migration policies (IGC)

UNFPA/UNECE/NIDI Training programme on international migration, Geneva, 24-28/01/2005 International data collection systems The way forward: –Further work on international recommendations for data collection and harmonisation –Timely production of statistics –Data sharing and international co-ordination –Reflecting the changing nature of migration: improvement of data / statistics on e.g. temporary migration irregular migration trafficking remittances –Further capacity building