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Paolo Valente UNECE Statistical Division

UNECE questionnaire on International Migration Statistics Preliminary results of the inventory on sources and definitions of statistics on international migration. Paolo Valente UNECE Statistical Division. Background and mandate. “Work plan to improve international migration statistics”

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Paolo Valente UNECE Statistical Division

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  1. UNECE questionnaire on International Migration StatisticsPreliminary results of the inventory on sources and definitions of statistics on international migration Paolo Valente UNECE Statistical Division

  2. Background and mandate “Work plan to improve international migration statistics” Developed by US Census Bureau in 2005 and adopted by CES Bureau. Outputs include: • Metadata inventory of definitions used to define stocks of immigrants • Inventory of practices in measuring temporary migrant and illegal migrant populations

  3. History of the project Jan 2008: First draft of questionnaire prepared Mar 2008: Questionnaire finalised, translated in Russian and sent out to NSOs Apr-Jun 2008: Replies received Aug-Sep 2008: Data processed and first draft inventory created; follow-up on missing replies Oct-Dec 2008: Late replies included Feb-Mar 2009: Preliminary analysis of results

  4. Objectives of the questionnaire 1. Review sources and definitions used by NSOs to estimate migrant stocks and migration flows 2. Collect information on practices and methodologies used to define and estimate “difficult to measure”international migrant groups

  5. Participating countries • Questionnaire returned by 42 out of 56 UNECE member countries, plus Australia, Brazil, Morocco, New Zealand, Palestinian Authority, Kosovo (UNSC Res. 1266/1999) • Countries divided in 5 regions: • European Union + EFTA (24+2 countries) • Eastern Europe, Caucasus, Central Asia (EECCA - 8 countries) • South-Eastern Europe (SEE - 5 countries) • Mediterranean (4 countries) • America + Oceania (5 countries)

  6. Structure of questionnaire 1. Stocks - Data sources and definitions 1.1 Population groups used to identify stocks 1.2 Data sources – Availability, groups covered, definitions, counts, etc. 2. Flows - Data sources and definitions 2.1 Immigration flows 2.2 Emigration flows 3. Estimation of “difficult to measure” international migrant groups

  7. Preliminary results on 1. Stocks - Data sources and definitions

  8. 1. Stocks - Data sources and definitions 1.1 Population groups used to identify stocks Information collected on groups used more often to identify the stock of intl. immigrants Groups considered (1/2): • “Foreigners”: persons not having the citizenship of the country where they reside • “Foreign born”: persons born outside the country, regardless of their citizenship • “Ever international migrants”: persons who have everchanged their country of usual residence

  9. 1. Stocks - Data sources and definitions 1.1 Population groups used to identify stocks Groups considered (2/2): • “Persons with foreign background”: persons whose parents were bothborn outside the country • “Returned citizens”: Nationalswho resided abroad for at least one yearand currently reside in the country • “Members of ethnic groups”: persons belonging to certain ethnicities. Based on shared understanding of history and origins and cultural char. (language, religion, customs)

  10. 1. Stocks - Data sources and definitions 1.1 Population groups used to identify stocks

  11. 1. Stocks - Data sources and definitions1.1 Population groups used to identify stocksRegional differences

  12. 1. Stocks - Data sources and definitions1.1 Population groups used to identify stocksNumber of population groups reported • When 1 group is reported, it is more often “foreigners” (61%) • Two groups are in most cases “foreigners” and another group (no particular pattern) • Three groups are normally “foreigners”, “foreign born”, and a third group

  13. Stocks - Data sources and definitions1.1 Population groups used to identify stocksRegional differencesAverage number of population groups reported

  14. 1. Stocks - Data sources and definitions1.2 Data sources on immigrants stocksExistence of sources in countries

  15. 1. Stocks - Data sources and definitions1.2 Data sourcesExistence of sources in countries

  16. 1. Stocks - Data sources and definitions1.2 Data sourcesNumber of sources reported by countries

  17. 1. Stocks - Data sources and definitions1.2 Data sources Regional differencesAverage number of sources reported

  18. 1. Stocks - Data sources and definitions1.2 Data sources For each data source, detailed information was collected on: • Whether the source provides count/estimate for the different stocks of immigrants (foreign born, foreigners, etc.) • For each stock, latest count/estimate available • For each stock, definition used • Minimal duration of residence/stay in the country to be counted in the stock on the basis of the source • Coverage of selected special population groups (persons without legal status to live in the country, persons living in institutions, refugees, asylum seekers, and others)

  19. 1. Stocks - Data sources and definitions1.2 Data sources Preliminary results presented on following sources: • Latest census • Next census • Population register • Foreigners register • Residence or stay permits • Household sample survey

  20. 1. Stocks - Data sources and definitions1.2 Data sources Latest population census • Source available in 47 countries out of 48 (98%)

  21. 1. Stocks - Data sources and definitions1.2 Data sources Last population census Example of definitional problem: Foreign born Definition: Persons born outside the country where they currently reside, regardless of their citizenship. Persons born in the country are defined as native.  Problems with changing borders, in particular for countries from former USSR and Yugoslavia US: "Foreign born" includes everyone who was not a U.S. citizen at birth. Persons born outside the United States of at least one U.S. citizen parent are U.S. citizens, and are defined as "native."

  22. 1. Stocks - Data sources and definitions1.2 Data sources Last population census Definitional problems: Foreigners Definition: Persons who do not have the citizenship of the country where they currently reside. Persons having the citizenship of the country are defined as nationals. IRELAND: The concept used is nationality and is self-determined by the person filling in the form. US: The foreign born are divided into two groups: "non-citizens" and "naturalized citizens." Non-citizens are foreign born who have not obtained citizenship through naturalization. Persons born in the United States regardless of the citizenship status of their parents are defined as "native", not as "foreigner".

  23. 1. Stocks - Data sources and definitions1.2 Data sources Plans for NEXT population census • Compared to last census, in general more data planned to be collected to identify migrant groups • “Foreign born” and “foreigners” continue to be considered in almost all countries, with increase in SEE and Med. • “Ethnic groups” will be considered in fewer countries in EU+EFTA and EECCA, but remain popular in SEE and America+Oceania • For all other groups, the number of countries is doubling, due to increase in EU+EFTA and SEE

  24. 1. Stocks - Data sources and definitions1.2 Data sources Population registers • Source available in 24 countries (50%) • Very common in EU+EFTA (75%), infrequent in EECCA (25%) and SEE (20%), not existing in America and Oceania • “Foreigners” and “foreign born” are provided in most countries with population registers, with no particular definitional problems

  25. 1. Stocks - Data sources and definitions1.2 Data sources Population registers • Definitional problems: • “descendants of foreign born”: one or both parents born abroad? • “returned citizens” and “ever international migrants”: some countries include only migrations after a specific year

  26. 1. Stocks - Data sources and definitions1.2 Data sources Foreigners registers • Source available in 17 countries (35%), including 13 EU+EFTA • Often maintained by Min. of Interiors or other non-statistical authorities Many missing values in questionnaires! • ¾ of the countries which have a foreigners register have also a population register

  27. 1. Stocks - Data sources and definitions1.2 Data sources Foreigners registers  Definitional problems: • Norway considers “foreigners” the Non-Nordic citizens

  28. 1. Stocks - Data sources and definitions1.2 Data sources Residence permits • Available in 33 countries (69%) • Quite common in all regions except America and Oceania (not available in Australia, USA) • Often maintained by Min. of Interiors or other non-statistical authorities Many missing values in questionnaires! • In majority of countries allows identifying “foreigners” and in some cases “foreign born”, but not the other groups

  29. 1. Stocks - Data sources and definitions1.2 Data sourcesHousehold sample surveys • Surveys with samples large enough to estimate size of immigrant groups • 34 countries (71%) reported at least one survey, which was a LFS in ¾ of cases, or a survey on living conditions, or other type of survey • 11 countries reported also on a second survey • Surveys very common in America and Oceania (100%) and EU+EFTA (77%); less common in Mediterranean (50%) and SEE (40%)

  30. 1. Stocks - Data sources and definitions1.2 Data sourcesHousehold sample surveys • Population groups commonly identified are “foreign born” (76%) and “foreigners” (56%) • Other groups identified less frequently

  31. 1. Stocks - Data sources and definitions1.2 Data sourcesHousehold sample surveys Minimal duration of stay in the country to count individuals in the stock of immigrants

  32. 1. Stocks - Data sources and definitions1.2 Data sourcesHousehold sample surveys Special population groups EXCLUDED from surveys • In many countries, persons in institutions, asylum applicants and illegal immigrants are excluded

  33. 1. Stocks - Data sources and definitions1.2 Data sources Sources on nationals living abroad (emigrants)

  34. 1. Stocks - Data sources and definitions Opportunities for analysis of data collected on stocks: • Analysis of data on same stock from different sources • Analysis of data on different stocks from same source

  35. 1. Stocks - Data sources and definitionsExample of analysis of data on different stocks Small countries and limited naturalisation: • Switzerland • Estonia • Large countries and high naturalisation: • Australia • Canada

  36. Preliminary results on 2. Flows - Data sources and definitions

  37. 2. Flows - Data sources and definitions The large majority of countries (40 out of 48) include data on international migration flowsin the calculation of the annual population balance However, data on flows often are not included in SEE and Mediterranean

  38. 2. Flows - Data sources and definitions 2.1 Immigration flows Sources on immigration flows used for pop. balance

  39. 2. Flows - Data sources and definitions 2.1 Immigration flowsNumber of sources used by countries

  40. 2. Flows - Data sources and definitions 2.1 Immigration flowsRegional differences in sources used by countries

  41. 2. Flows - Data sources and definitions 2.1 Immigration flowsIs possession of legal status to enter and stay in the country a necessary requirement to be counted as immigrant?  Legal status necessary requirement in almost all countries

  42. 2. Flows - Data sources and definitions 2.2 Emigrationflows Sources on emigration flows used for pop. balance

  43. 2. Flows - Data sources and definitions 2.2 Emigration flowsNumber of sources used by countries

  44. 2. Flows - Data sources and definitions Other information on flows collected in the questionnaire: • Minimal duration of stay in the country to be counted as immigrant • Minimal duration of stay abroad to be counted as emigrant • Information on whether data on inflows/outflows are adjusted/revised/corrected to improve accuracy • Data sources on inflows and outflows that are NOT used for the annual population balance

  45. Preliminary results on 3. Estimation of “difficult to measure” international migrant groups

  46. 3. Measurement of “difficult to measure” international migrant groups Groups considered: • Short-term migrants (duration of stay up to 12 mo.) • Irregular/undocumented migrants • Refugees/forced migrants • Asylum seekers • Transit migrants • Circular migrants • Trafficked migrants • Unaccompanied minors

  47. 3. Measurement of “difficult to measure” international migrant groups Groups relevant (i.e. often referred in public debate)

  48. 3. Measurement of “difficult to measure” international migrant groups Groups relevant in the countriesRegional differences

  49. 3. Measurement of “difficult to measure” international migrant groups Groups for which data are not available or inaccurate

  50. 3. Measurement of “difficult to measure” international migrant groups For each group, detailed information collected on: • Which institution(s) provide statistical count/estimate: • NSO • Other government agency or local authority • Research institute, University or NGO • Methodology use to estimate the group size

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