OIM - The Essentials of Migration Data de 2026

The Essentials of Migration Data (EMD) IOM Guide on Migration Data and StatisticsThe opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout the publication do not imply expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IOM concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning its frontiers or boundaries. IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. As an intergovernmental organization, IOM acts with its partners in the international community to: assist in meeting the operational challenges of migration; advance understanding of migration issues; encourage social and economic development through migration; and uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants. _____________________________ The content of the Essentials of Migration Data (EMD) guide was initially prepared by the former Global Migration Data Analysis Centre of IOM as an online resource providing practical information on migration data and statistics. The content was later adapted for publication purposes by Micaela Lincango and Pablo Rojas Coppari from the Research Unit. For questions or clarifications, please contact RES@iom.int.

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PUB2024/017/ELThe Essentials of Migration Data (EMD) IOM Guide on Migration Data and StatisticsTHE ESSENTIALS OF MIGRATION DATA (EMD): IOM GUIDE ON MIGRATION DATA AND STATISTICS iii CONTENTS List of figures ............................................................................................................................... v List of tables .............................................................................................................................. vii List of case studies .................................................................................................................. viii Acronyms .................................................................................................................................... ix Introduction ................................................................................................................................ xi Rationale...................................................................................................................................................................xi How will the EMD be used?............................................................................................................................xii Chapter 1. The relevance of migration data and statistics ............................................... 1 1.1. Defining migration data and statistics...................................................................................................1 1.2. Global frameworks signalling a commitment to migration data...............................................2 1.3. Challenges in producing and disseminating migration data.........................................................7 1.4. Implications of limited harmonization and standardization of concepts for understanding migration.....................................................................................................................8 1.5. Data gaps..........................................................................................................................................................8 1.6. Potential solutions and future research directions for improving the global evidence base on migration................................................................................................................... 10 Chapter 2. Using migration data and research to inform policymaking and decision‑making....................................................................................................15 2.1. Potential benefits of investing in data and improving data coverage.................................... 15 2.2. Using data and research throughout the policy cycle................................................................ 18 2.3. Data for insight............................................................................................................................................ 20 2.4. Data for action............................................................................................................................................ 21 2.5. Data for forecast and foresight............................................................................................................ 22 Chapter 3. The data regulatory environment ...................................................................25

2.2. Using data and research throughout the policy cycle................................................................ 18 2.3. Data for insight............................................................................................................................................ 20 2.4. Data for action............................................................................................................................................ 21 2.5. Data for forecast and foresight............................................................................................................ 22 Chapter 3. The data regulatory environment ...................................................................25 3.1. Strengthening legal frameworks and National Statistical Systems to improve migration data .................................................................................................................... 25 3.2. How can the legal framework provide safeguards against the misuse of data?............... 29 3.3. Regional intergovernmental collaboration fostering migration data capacity-building................................................................................................................................ 31 Chapter 4. Key migration definitions and how to measure them..................................35 4.1. Revision of the statistical definition of international migration ............................................. 35 4.2. Internal migration....................................................................................................................................... 39 4.3. Return migration......................................................................................................................................... 39 4.4. Circular migration...................................................................................................................................... 40 4.5. Labour migration ....................................................................................................................................... 41 4.6. Irregular migration...................................................................................................................................... 43 4.7. Forced migration or displacement...................................................................................................... 43 4.8. Environmental migration ........................................................................................................................ 45Contents

iv Chapter 5. Measuring and collecting data on different types of migration..................47 5.1. Differentiating between stock and flow data.............................................................................. 47 5.2. Key international mobility indicators for reporting.................................................................. 48 5.3. Internal migration ................................................................................................................................... 49 5.4. Return migration...................................................................................................................................... 51 5.5. Circular migration .................................................................................................................................. 51 5.6. Labour migration..................................................................................................................................... 52 5.7. Forced migration and displacement................................................................................................. 63 5.8. Irregular migration ................................................................................................................................. 70 5.9. Environmental migration....................................................................................................................... 71 5.10. Disaggregating data by age, sex, gender, disability and other diversity criteria............. 74 Chapter 6. Dissemination and communication of migration data and research.........81 6.1. Disseminating findings............................................................................................................................ 81

5.10. Disaggregating data by age, sex, gender, disability and other diversity criteria............. 74 Chapter 6. Dissemination and communication of migration data and research.........81 6.1. Disseminating findings............................................................................................................................ 81 6.2. Disseminating data ................................................................................................................................. 84 6.3. Communicating about migration data and research................................................................ 87 6.4. Actions ensuring accurate and balanced reporting of migration data.............................. 88 Chapter 7. Migration data sources........................................................................................89 7.1. Population censuses................................................................................................................................ 89 7.2. Surveys......................................................................................................................................................... 92 7.3. Administrative sources.......................................................................................................................... 95 7.4. Operational data...................................................................................................................................... 97 7.5. Innovative data sources......................................................................................................................... 98 7.6. Mobile phone-based data...................................................................................................................100 7.7. Internet-based data...............................................................................................................................101 7.8. Sensor-based data..................................................................................................................................102 7.9. Obtaining data on specific migrant groups.................................................................................106 Chapter 8. Data management, sharing and protection .................................................109 8.1. Defining data management, data governance and the data life cycle..............................109 8.2. Data collection........................................................................................................................................110 8.3. Data storage considerations.............................................................................................................111 8.4. Building a strong data infrastructure.............................................................................................111 8.5. Data-sharing.............................................................................................................................................112 8.6. Protection information management data-sharing principles.............................................112 8.7. Data-sharing mechanism of IOM....................................................................................................113 8.8. Data protection......................................................................................................................................116 Chapter 9. Data analysis........................................................................................................119 9.1. Different types of quantitative data analysis..............................................................................119 9.2. Data visualization...................................................................................................................................124 9.3. Methodologies for generating new statistics based on available data.............................133 References ...............................................................................................................................137THE ESSENTIALS OF MIGRATION DATA (EMD):

IOM GUIDE ON MIGRATION DATA AND STATISTICS v

LIST OF FIGURES

9.2. Data visualization...................................................................................................................................124 9.3. Methodologies for generating new statistics based on available data.............................133 References ...............................................................................................................................137THE ESSENTIALS OF MIGRATION DATA (EMD): IOM GUIDE ON MIGRATION DATA AND STATISTICS v LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Overview of the policymaking cycle.............................................................................................xii Figure 2. Migration Governance Indicators, a key tool in the implementation of the Global Compact for Migration............................................................................................5 Figure 3. Global data gaps................................................................................................................................... 10 Figure 4. Challenges to and solutions for improving migration data................................................ 12 Figure 5. Examples of how migration data delivers real-life benefits............................................... 16 Figure 6. Examples of questions answered using predictive, exploratory and visionary knowledge............................................................................................................................................... 23 Figure 7. Data for insight, action and foresight.......................................................................................... 24 Figure 8. Concepts and definitions: Types of migration......................................................................... 36 Figure 9. Populations based on country of birth and country of citizenship............................... 38 Figure 10. Distinguishing between return and circular migration......................................................... 40 Figure 11. Core migration indicators and topics for measuring international migration and temporary mobility.................................................................................................................... 48 Figure 12. Example of question on reasons for migration...................................................................... 52 Figure 13. Example of question on labour-force participation European Commission............. 52 Figure 14. Example of question on labour-force participation in the United Kingdom............. 53 Figure 15. Different types of international migrant workers.................................................................. 54 Figure 16. Categories of persons potentially counted as international migrant workers.......... 54 Figure 17. Example of question on status in employment...................................................................... 58 Figure 18. Duration profile of International Standard Classification of Education levels, from most to least common, globally......................................................................................... 60 Figure 19. Examples of questions on working conditions....................................................................... 61 Figure 20. Examples of questions on remittance behaviour.................................................................. 62 Figure 21. Categories included among refugee and refugee-related populations......................... 64

from most to least common, globally......................................................................................... 60 Figure 19. Examples of questions on working conditions....................................................................... 61 Figure 20. Examples of questions on remittance behaviour.................................................................. 62 Figure 21. Categories included among refugee and refugee-related populations......................... 64 Figure 22. Persons included among the stocks and flows of internally displaced persons....... 67 Figure 23. Cost-effective ways of generating new data on policy-relevant migrant groups..... 73 Figure 24. Example of downloadable data set.............................................................................................. 85 Figure 25. Example of interactive data set..................................................................................................... 86 Figure 26. Availability of census data on migration..................................................................................... 90 Figure 27. Example of questions on year of arrival in national population censuses.................. 90 Figure 28. Examples of questions on migration from United States Census Bureau American Community Survey........................................................................................ 91 Figure 29. Examples of questions on migration from Mediterranean Household Immigration Surveys................................................................................................... 93 Figure 30. Types of innovative data sources.................................................................................................. 99 Figure 31. Population distribution differences accounting for displacement.................................103 Figure 32. Strengths and limitations of different data sources............................................................105 Figure 33. Different stages of the policymaking process........................................................................109 Figure 34. Steps of the general model for data-sharing..........................................................................113 Figure 35. Treemap of reasons for migration..............................................................................................120 Figure 36. Stacked bar chart of migrant deaths by year and region of the world......................121 Figure 37. Proportional symbol map of international migrant populations in West and Central Africa............................................................................................................121List of figures

vi Figure 38. Scatterplot of the correlation between immigration overcrowding in United States counties..............................................................................................................123 Figure 39. Bar chart of share of persons aged 25–65 years participating in learning during the previous 12 months by sex and citizenship, European Union, 2024.................125 Figure 40. Stacked bar chart of the origins of Hispanic migrants in the United States...........125 Figure 41. Line chart of number of refugees by top five host countries

the previous 12 months by sex and citizenship, European Union, 2024.................125 Figure 40. Stacked bar chart of the origins of Hispanic migrants in the United States...........125 Figure 41. Line chart of number of refugees by top five host countries as of 2020 (millions)........................................................................................................................126 Figure 42. Pie chart of age structure of immigrants and emigrants from Croatia, 2020........126 Figure 43. Stacked area chart of immigrant (gross) inflows by admission class or major source region, 1990–2015........................................................................................127 Figure 44. Scatterplot of Mexico remittances, 2005 (% of GDP) and rate growth of Human Development Index, 2005–2019.........................................................................127 Figure 45. Proportional symbol map from the World Migration Report 2024 interactive website...........................................................................................................................128 Figure 46. Spider chart of acculturation orientations of Turkish Immigrants in Germany....128 Figure 47. Alluvial diagram of migration from place 3 to place 1, Kenya 2019 sample...........129 Figure 48. Chord diagram of global migration flows between 2005 and 2010..........................129 Figure 49a. Migrants’ employment rate over the last 20 years by admission class......................132 Figure 49b. Percentage of migrants relying on social security as their main income source over the last 20 years, by admission class..............................................................133THE ESSENTIALS OF MIGRATION DATA (EMD):

IOM GUIDE ON MIGRATION DATA AND STATISTICS vii

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Major policy questions that existing migration data cannot answer................................9 Table 2. Strengths and limitations of (de)centralized National Statistical Systems................... 28 Table 3. Strengths and limitations of country of birth and country of citizenship................... 38 Table 4. Distinguishing between international migrants and foreign migrant workers........... 42 Table 5. Smallest spatial units recorded in country, by migration data type............................... 50 Table 6. Classification of economic activities from the International Standard Industrial

Table 4. Distinguishing between international migrants and foreign migrant workers........... 42 Table 5. Smallest spatial units recorded in country, by migration data type............................... 50 Table 6. Classification of economic activities from the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities.................................................................................... 59 Table 7. Response categories to be included in forms, surveys and databases......................... 76 Table 8. Dissemination strategies................................................................................................................... 82 Table 9. Distinguishing international migrant workers and foreign migrant workers.............. 85 Table 10. Protection Information Management principles for data-sharing in practice .........112 Table 11. Cross-tabulation of migrants’ English-speaking skills by visa category........................120 Table 12. Different types of quantitative data analysis..........................................................................124 Table 13. Generalized method of moments with instrumental variables regression: Irregular migration and the effect of immigration policies...............................................131 Table 14. Exponential regressions including other controls................................................................131LIST OF CASE STUDIES

viii LIST OF CASE STUDIES Case study 1. Using big data to improve knowledge on internal displacement......................... 11 Case study 2. Using the Migration Governance Indicators to improve migration management................................................................................................................................ 18 Case study 3. Migration data capacity-building in the Niger............................................................... 19 Case study 4. Using data to evaluate the costs and impact of migration policies..................... 19 Case study 5. Data for insight.......................................................................................................................... 21 Case study 6. Data for action........................................................................................................................... 22 Case study 7. Data for foresight...................................................................................................................... 24 Case study 8. Using the aggregate crude migration intensity to measure internal migration...................................................................................................................... 50 Case study 9. Using social security registers to study foreign workers in Italy.......................... 56 Case study 10. Using a population register to study circular migration in Sweden.................... 57 Case study 11. Using international standard classifications to address skills mismatch............. 60 Case study 12. Socioeconomic survey of refugees in Ethiopia............................................................. 65

Using social security registers to study foreign workers in Italy.......................... 56 Case study 10. Using a population register to study circular migration in Sweden.................... 57 Case study 11. Using international standard classifications to address skills mismatch............. 60 Case study 12. Socioeconomic survey of refugees in Ethiopia............................................................. 65 Case study 13. Producing statistics on persons with a refugee background.................................. 66 Case study 14. Using a household survey to study internal displacement in the Central African Republic......................................................................................................................... 69 Case study 15. Linking registers of forcibly displaced persons to census and survey data...... 70 Case study 16. Technical cooperation between IOM Brazil and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics on the 2022 Demographic Census......................... 92 Case study 17. Generating data on different migrant groups using labour-force surveys........ 94 Case study 18. Using survey data to demonstrate changes in migration over time: Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Canada.............................................................. 94 Case study 19. Combining administrative records and survey data to estimate the numbers of international migrants in Chile).......................................................... 96 Case study 20. Strengthening the quality of civil registration data on migration in Mongolia................................................................................................................................... 97 Case study 21. Using big data to generate mobility statistics in Indonesia...................................101 Case study 22. Using call detail records for monitoring COVID-19 prevention measures in Israel....................................................................................................................101 Case study 23. Using X to study migration................................................................................................101 Case study 24. Using Facebook to study migration................................................................................102 Case study 25. Using satellite imagery for population mapping.........................................................102 Case study 26. Observations on the development of a general model for data-sharing in Kazakhstan............................................................................................................................115 Case study 27. Examples of why data protection and privacy measures are essential when handling migration data............................................................................................116THE ESSENTIALS OF MIGRATION DATA (EMD):

IOM GUIDE ON MIGRATION DATA AND STATISTIC