1 Joint UNECE/Eurostat Work Session on Migration Statistics organized in collaboration with UNFPA Edinburgh, Scotland, November 2006 The United Nations Expert Group Meeting on Measuring International Migration: Concepts and Methods Erlinda Go United Nations Statistics Division

2 The United Nations Expert Group Meeting on Measuring International Migration: Concepts and Methods Date: 4-7 December 2006 Venue: United Nations, New York

3 Why this meeting? A lot of interest in measuring international migration but no common understanding of what constitutes international migrationA lot of interest in measuring international migration but no common understanding of what constitutes international migration What categories of migrants are of interest?What categories of migrants are of interest? What exactly do we want to measure?What exactly do we want to measure? How well are we measuring it?How well are we measuring it?

4 United Nations Recommendations for International Migration, revision 1 (1998) Aim: to outline a process to improve both the quality and comparability of international migration statisticsAim: to outline a process to improve both the quality and comparability of international migration statistics Includes general concept and definitions relating to international migrationIncludes general concept and definitions relating to international migration Introduces a framework for compiling and reporting international migration flow that reflects the complexity of current migration flowsIntroduces a framework for compiling and reporting international migration flow that reflects the complexity of current migration flows

5 However, Still grappling with issues of quality, availability and comparability of migration dataStill grappling with issues of quality, availability and comparability of migration data Many challenges remain in measuring both international migration flow and migrant stockMany challenges remain in measuring both international migration flow and migrant stock International recommendations are not widely adopted: many countries have problems implementing them, from both conceptual and operational points of viewInternational recommendations are not widely adopted: many countries have problems implementing them, from both conceptual and operational points of view

6 At this time, seek to understand: Country policies and concerns regarding international migrationCountry policies and concerns regarding international migration How policies translate to data requirementsHow policies translate to data requirements Appropriate concepts and definitions that applyAppropriate concepts and definitions that apply “migrant”, “immigrant”, “immigration” have legal connotations and mean different things in different countries“migrant”, “immigrant”, “immigration” have legal connotations and mean different things in different countries “residence”, “usual residence”, “permanent residence”: legal constructs??“residence”, “usual residence”, “permanent residence”: legal constructs?? Methods, data sources, coverage of the sources, what exactly each measuresMethods, data sources, coverage of the sources, what exactly each measures

7 The expert group meeting will therefore: Identify the need for and uses of statistics on international migration in various countries and regionsIdentify the need for and uses of statistics on international migration in various countries and regions Review the applicability of the UN concepts and definitions in various contexts; deliberate on the need for additional concepts and definitionsReview the applicability of the UN concepts and definitions in various contexts; deliberate on the need for additional concepts and definitions Review country practices and challenges in measuring migration from various types of sourcesReview country practices and challenges in measuring migration from various types of sources

8 The expert group meeting will also: Examine the criteria, definitions and policy considerations that countries use as bases for measuring “international migrant stock”.Examine the criteria, definitions and policy considerations that countries use as bases for measuring “international migrant stock”. Special efforts to measure emigrationSpecial efforts to measure emigration Review existing data sharing arrangements; identify issues for consideration in developing data sharing protocolsReview existing data sharing arrangements; identify issues for consideration in developing data sharing protocols

9 Expected outcome of the meeting A set of strategies and activities to improve the availability and comparability of migration statistics, for implementation at national, regional and international levelsA set of strategies and activities to improve the availability and comparability of migration statistics, for implementation at national, regional and international levels The scope of a handbook on statistics of international migration that willThe scope of a handbook on statistics of international migration that will  Provide detailed guidelines on compilation of statistics on both flow and stock  Supplement the current recommendations

10 For more information: For more information: Contact: Contact: Erlinda Go and