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A review of the United Nations recommendations for statistics on

international migration

Erlinda Go

United Nations Statistics Division

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• Examine the concepts and definitions Examine the concepts and definitions relevant to statistics of international relevant to statistics of international migrationmigration

• Identify aspects of the definitions that need Identify aspects of the definitions that need some refinement some refinement

• Suggest any changes to make them more Suggest any changes to make them more relevant and more widely applicablerelevant and more widely applicable

Purpose of presentationPurpose of presentation

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Coverage of reviewCoverage of review• Definitions for flow

• International migrant by duration (long-term, short-term)

• International migrant by category (students and trainees, migrant workers, etc.)

• Concept of “usual residence”• Place of usual residence

• Country of usual residence

• Definitions for stock• International migrant stock

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ReferencesReferences

• Recommendations on Statistics of International Migration, Rev. 1 (1998) [RSIM]

• Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses, Revision 2 (2007) [P&R]

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Why measure migration?Why measure migration?

• To more accurately estimate the size and growth of national population

• To monitor changes in the size and composition of migrants

• To provide needed information to manage the inflows and outflows of non-nationals and nationals

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International migrantInternational migrant (Definition of flows)(Definition of flows)

An international migrant is An international migrant is any any personperson who who changeschanges his or her his or her country of usual residence.country of usual residence.

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Country of usual residenceCountry of usual residence(Concept used for international migration)(Concept used for international migration)

Definition in RSIM:

“The country in which a person lives, i.e., the country in which he or she has a place to live where he or she normally spends the daily period of rest. Temporary travel abroad for purposes of recreation, holiday, visits to friends and relatives, business, medical treatment or religious pilgrimage does not change a person’s country.”

Note: No time element specified for residence

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Place of usual residencePlace of usual residence(Concept used in censuses)(Concept used in censuses)

Definition in P&R: “The place at which the person has lived continuously:

• for most of the last 12 months* (i.e., for at least 6 months) or intends to live for at least 6 months

or• for at least the last 12 months* or intends to live for at least

12 months”

*not including temporary absences for holidays or work assignments

Note: Explicitly specifies 12 months or most of the 12 months

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International migrant stockInternational migrant stock(Definition for stock)(Definition for stock)

TheThe set of persons set of persons who have who have ever changedever changed their their country of usual residencecountry of usual residence. .

That isThat is

Persons who have Persons who have spent at least one yearspent at least one year of of their lives their lives in a country in a country other thanother than the the one in one in which they livewhich they live at the time the data were at the time the data were gathered.gathered.

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International migrantInternational migrant (Definition of flows)(Definition of flows)

The UN The UN RecommendationsRecommendations distinguishes two groups of migrants by distinguishes two groups of migrants by duration of stay:duration of stay:•Long-term migrant Long-term migrant

• A person who moves to a country other than that of A person who moves to a country other than that of his or her usual residence his or her usual residence for a period of at least a for a period of at least a year (12 months),year (12 months), so that the country of destination so that the country of destination effectively becomes his or her new country of usual effectively becomes his or her new country of usual residence.residence.

•Short-term migrantShort-term migrant • A person who moves to a country other than that of A person who moves to a country other than that of

his or her usual residence his or her usual residence for a period of at least 3 for a period of at least 3 months but less than a year (12 months),months but less than a year (12 months), except in except in cases where the movement to that country is for cases where the movement to that country is for purposes of recreation, holiday, visit to friends and purposes of recreation, holiday, visit to friends and relatives, business, medical treatment or religious relatives, business, medical treatment or religious pilgrimagepilgrimage

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Three main elements in the Three main elements in the definition of international migrantsdefinition of international migrants

• Reference populationReference population

• Event : change of country of usual Event : change of country of usual residenceresidence

• Time references with respect to length of Time references with respect to length of stay in:stay in:• Previous country of residencePrevious country of residence• Current residence (actual) Current residence (actual) • Current residence (intended)Current residence (intended)

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Reference populationReference population

• Age – no age limit • Separating dependents is recommended)

• Citizenship – no exclusions• Migrant stock may be limited to foreign

born, foreigners (for policy considerations)

• Purpose (of travel)

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Event: change in country of residenceEvent: change in country of residence What constitutes change? What constitutes change?

• Establish previous place of usual residence • Meeting one year residency criterion for

duration of stay (in previous)

• Establish new place of usual residence based on:• Actual stay• Intended stay

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Country of usual residenceCountry of usual residence(Further clarification with time element)(Further clarification with time element)

RSIM notes (para. 36):

“the change of country of usual residence necessary to become an international migrant must involve a period of stay in the country of destination of at least a year.

One year time frame consistent with other frameworks:• Economic statistics

• Tourism

• Population census recommendations (to some extent)

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Time reference for duration of stayTime reference for duration of stay

• For long-term migrantsFor long-term migrants• Previous country of residence – at least one year Previous country of residence – at least one year (12 months)(12 months)• Current residence – at least one year (12 months)Current residence – at least one year (12 months)(RSIM para:186)(RSIM para:186)

• For short-term migrantsFor short-term migrants• Previous country of residence – at least one year Previous country of residence – at least one year (12 months)(12 months)• Current residence – at least three months but less Current residence – at least three months but less than one year (12 months)than one year (12 months)

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PurposePurposeCategories of international migrantsCategories of international migrants

Non-migrants Non-migrants • Border workersBorder workers

• In transitIn transit

• Visitors (tourists, excursionists, Visitors (tourists, excursionists, business travelers)business travelers)

• Diplomatic and consular Diplomatic and consular personnelpersonnel

• Military personnelMilitary personnel

• NomadsNomads

MigrantsMigrants• Students and traineesStudents and trainees• Migrant workers Migrant workers • International civil servantsInternational civil servants• Migrants for family Migrants for family

reunification or family reunification or family formationformation

• Migrants having free Migrants having free establishment or movementestablishment or movement

• Migrants for settlement Migrants for settlement (employment-based, family-(employment-based, family-based, ancestry-based, based, ancestry-based, entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs and investors,retirees)investors,retirees)

• Refugees, asylum seekers, other Refugees, asylum seekers, other humanitarianhumanitarian

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Purpose of stayPurpose of stay

• Non-visitorsNon-visitors

• Visitors who over-stay, change Visitors who over-stay, change status?status?

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Long-term migrantLong-term migrant

Definition:Definition: ““A person who moves to a country other than that of A person who moves to a country other than that of

his or her usual residence his or her usual residence for a period of at least a for a period of at least a year (12 months),year (12 months), so that the country of so that the country of destination effectively becomes his or her new destination effectively becomes his or her new country of usual residence.country of usual residence.

From the perspective of the country of departure the From the perspective of the country of departure the person will be a long-term emigrant and from that person will be a long-term emigrant and from that of the country of arrival the person will be a long-of the country of arrival the person will be a long-term immigrant.”term immigrant.”

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Short-term migrantShort-term migrant

Definition:Definition: ““A person who moves to a country other than that of A person who moves to a country other than that of

his or her usual residence his or her usual residence for a period of at least 3 for a period of at least 3 months but less than a year (12 months),months but less than a year (12 months), except in except in cases where the movement to that country is for cases where the movement to that country is for purposes of recreation, holiday,…purposes of recreation, holiday,…

From purposes of international migration statistics, From purposes of international migration statistics, the country of residence of short-term migrants is the country of residence of short-term migrants is considered to be the country of destination during considered to be the country of destination during the period they spend in it.”the period they spend in it.”

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Long-term migrantLong-term migrant(Questions)(Questions)

1. Does the country of destination of this long-term 1. Does the country of destination of this long-term migrant become his new country of usual migrant become his new country of usual residence:residence:- at arrival, if s/he intends to stay for 12 months or at arrival, if s/he intends to stay for 12 months or

more? (intended duration of stay)more? (intended duration of stay)

- after s/he completes 12 months in the new country? after s/he completes 12 months in the new country? (actual duration of stay)(actual duration of stay)

2. What of the migrant’s usual residence before the 2. What of the migrant’s usual residence before the move? Is there a minimum period of stay move? Is there a minimum period of stay involved? involved?

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Short-term migrantShort-term migrant(Questions)(Questions)

1.1. Why 3-12 months?Why 3-12 months?2.2. Does the country of destination of this long-term Does the country of destination of this long-term

migrant become his/her new country of usual migrant become his/her new country of usual residence:residence:

- at arrival, if s/he intends to stay for 3 to12 months? at arrival, if s/he intends to stay for 3 to12 months? (intended duration of stay)(intended duration of stay)

- after s/he completes any stay between 3 and 12 after s/he completes any stay between 3 and 12 months in the new country? (actual duration of stay)months in the new country? (actual duration of stay)

3.3. What of the migrant’s usual residence before the What of the migrant’s usual residence before the move? Is there a minimum period of stay involved? move? Is there a minimum period of stay involved?

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International migrant stockInternational migrant stock

Definition: “the set of persons who have ever Definition: “the set of persons who have ever changed their country of usual residence, that is to changed their country of usual residence, that is to say, persons who have spent at least one year of say, persons who have spent at least one year of their lives in a country other than the one in which their lives in a country other than the one in which they live at the time the data were gathered.”they live at the time the data were gathered.”

But - not very useful for policy. Recommended But - not very useful for policy. Recommended subpopulations of interest: subpopulations of interest: • Foreign-born – persons born in a country other than the Foreign-born – persons born in a country other than the

one in which they liveone in which they live• Foreigners – living in a country Foreigners – living in a country

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Definitions: stock-related conceptsDefinitions: stock-related concepts

Foreign population of a country: “Foreign population of a country: “all persons all persons who have that country as country of usual who have that country as country of usual residence and who are the citizens of residence and who are the citizens of another countryanother country.”.”

Foreign-born population of a country: “Foreign-born population of a country: “all all persons who have that country as country of persons who have that country as country of usual residence and whose place of birth is usual residence and whose place of birth is located in another countrylocated in another country.”.”

RSIM paras. 188, 189RSIM paras. 188, 189

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What are not in?What are not in?

• Temporary migrantsTemporary migrants

• Undocumented migrantsUndocumented migrants

• Population stock with “foreign background” Population stock with “foreign background”

• Second-generation immigrants (not really Second-generation immigrants (not really migrants)migrants)

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Difficulties with the concepts/definitions?Difficulties with the concepts/definitions?

• Term “migrant” not readily accepted by Term “migrant” not readily accepted by some countries:some countries:• Means entirely different things to different Means entirely different things to different

countriescountries• Implied legal obligationsImplied legal obligations• In some cases term not used at all or has a In some cases term not used at all or has a

different meaningdifferent meaning

• May not directly relevant to policy needsMay not directly relevant to policy needs• Further distinctions may be needed.Further distinctions may be needed.

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Summary questionsSummary questions

• Migrant flowsMigrant flows• What are we defining?What are we defining?

• What issues are we trying to address with flows?What issues are we trying to address with flows?

• What categories do we need to capture/represent?What categories do we need to capture/represent?

• Migrant stockMigrant stock• What is the main interest with stock?What is the main interest with stock?

• What policy relevance is there in measuring:What policy relevance is there in measuring:• Foreigners?Foreigners?

• Foreign-born?Foreign-born?

• Return migrant Nationals/citizens?Return migrant Nationals/citizens?

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Thank youThank you