1. John Salt The Internationalisation of Migration Statistics
Migration Research Unit, Department of Geography,
University College London, UK.
Migration Statistics Users Conference
September 18, 2012

2. Key challenges for international migration statistics
Policy relevance
Coverage / definition
Comparability (time/country)
Timeliness
Source: OECD

3. Problems with migration statistics
Lack of:
Consensus on definitions
Availability of disaggregated data
Good quality immigration/emigration
Data on international migration are generally considered scarce and inadequate for measurement purposes (IUSSP, 1987).
An urgent need for international migration statistics coincides with an unsatisfactory degree of availability, reliability and comparability of data on international migration flows (Poulain et al, 2005)

4. Where there are both origin and destination country for the same flow, differences abound:
A difference between immigration and emigration figures of less than 25 per cent might be considered an acceptable level of reliability. Only 37 cells [out of 230 non-zero] are in this favourable situation. This represents only 16 per cent of all the pairs of migration figures compared and a little more than 5 per cent of all intra-EU migration flows. (THESIM, p218)

5. Eurostat Regulations Reg 311/76 – labour data (replaced 2007)
Reg 862/2007 – harmonised definitions
Reg 216/2010 – categories of residence permit
Reg 351/2010 – groups of citizenship and countries
Source: Eurostat

6. Eurostat currently collects data covering 4 main areas related to migration:
- Migration flows, acquisition of citizenship and foreign population stocks
- Asylum (including statistics on the operation of the Dublin system)
- Border and immigration control measures (refusals of entry, persons found illegally present, removals)
Residence permits (and comparable permissions) granted to third country nationals.
Data are all collected annually with the exception of some asylum-related data that are collected on a monthly and quarterly basis.
Source: Eurostat

7. Total number of new residence permits issued by reason, 2009
Family
Education
Employment
Other
First Permits %
Germany
121954
54139
44.4
31345
25.7
16667
13.7
19803
16.2
Italy
506833
75153
14.8
32634
6.4
235966
46.6
163080
32.2 UK
671324
121268
18.1
268506
40.0
116668
17.4
164882
24.6
Source: Eurostat, 2011

8. The Sopemi Network What it is
An experts group which provides data and information on national movements and policies and where these are exchanged among countries
A forum where migration issues are discussed in a neutral, dispassionate manner
What it is not
A platform for political statements on migration movements and policy or for prepared declarations of official government policy
Emphasis on statistical evidence and on empirical results
« Without statistics, you are just someone else with an opinion.”
Source: OECD

9. Objectives of SOPEMI data collection
Establish, over time, consistent series on the flows of migrants and on the migrant labour force
Build up a picture of the nature of migration movements, by country of origin/destination
For correspondents, support overview presented in the annual SOPEMI publication
Support analyses presented in the annual summary report of immigration/emigration in the OECD
Disseminate immigration/emigration statistics to broader community
Source: OECD

10. General features / guidelines
Emphasis on data-driven analysis
Mobilising whatever data are available, especially data on residence permits, both permanent and temporary
Building up a coherent picture over time
A focus on what is new, while ensuring basic coverage of mainstream subjects (scale of flows, size of immigrant population, basic labour force outcomes)
Draw on special studies, as appropriate
Source: OECD

11. OECD standardised statistics on migration flows
The history (pre-2005)
Little progress internationally
No proper comparisons between countries
No possibility of aggregation across countries
The requirement
Statistics on migration by category
A complete accounting of flows (but not tourism, etc.)
Statistics on the basis of a common definition
A long-term vs short-term distinction
The « solution »
Permit-based statistics by category
A « permanent » vs « temporary » distinction
Compared to one-year stay criterion  different objectives
Free-circulation dealt with separately
Source: OECD

12. Standardised international migration flows
Permanent- vs temporary- based migration
Ignored UN statistical recommendations
Focused on regulated flows (+ free movement)
Use residence permits and visas by category of entry instead of registers
Disentangle permanent from temporary permits, based on what receiving countries consider are for the long term
Disaggregate data by category (work, family, humanitarian + free movements)
Source: OECD

13. Standardised international migration flows
National vs OECD “standardised statistics” (2006)
Country
OECD standardised
National
Difference
(%)
Japan
87 600
-73
Germany
-61
United Kingdom
-24
Canada
United States
Italy
22 800 13
France c
33 900 25
OECD (18 countries)
-19
Source: OECD

14. Selected examples from OECD
Standardised international migration statistics
2. Databases on Immigrants in OECD Countries (DIOC)
Source: OECD

15. Permanent inflows into selected OECD and non-OECD countries
Source: OECD

16. Databases on Immigrants in OECD Countries (DIOC)
Total emigration rate and emigration rate of highly educated
by country of birth, population aged 15 and over, circa 2000
Source: OECD

17. Some enduring problems
Variations : types of national sources
national priorities
definitions and concepts
IGO priorities
timetables
“Request fatigue” for NSOs and admin sources
Widening matrix of countries
Education of public and media
Living with difference and inadequacy