unece statistical division international migration: practices of 2000 round and issues for 2010...

UNECE Statistical Division

International migration: practices of 2000 Round

and issues for 2010Enrico Bisogno

Social and Demographic Statistics Section

UN Economic Commission for Europe - Statistical Division

ECE Work Session on Population Censuses Geneva, 23-25 November 2004


Overview

Stocks

• Criteria to identify the stock of immigrants

• Treatment of special groups

Flows

• Which question(s) best capture migrations?

• Reason for migration


• No clear definition of this group in the 2000 Recommendations

• Focus on two related variables (core-topics)

1. Place/country of birth (44 countries)

2. Citizenship (42 countries)

Stock of immigrants: the definition


Place of birth: the definition

Mother’s residence at the time of birth

(2000 Recommendations)

Some complications:

• 25 countries used the actual place of birth

• Higher non-response rates

In Switzerland: 28% among CH born abroad


Why data on stocks?

Monitor size and composition of population with foreign origin

having a long-term view on their integration


Country of birth: pros and cons

Pros

Evidence of migration

UniqueDoes not change

Cons

Some ‘Nationals’ can be included

2nd generation excluded

Not ‘policy’ relevant


Citizenship: pros and cons

Pros

Legally relevantObjective

Cons

UnstableNational

regulationsNot unique


Indications from 2000 Round

29 Countries asked other questions on birth and/or citizenship:

Multiple citizenshipCitizenship at birth/by naturalizationCountry of birth of parents


A proposal: population with foreign background

Foreign-born(1st generation)

2nd generation

Foreigners

Foreign-born(1st generation)Foreign-born

(1st generation)

2nd generation

Foreigners

2nd generation2nd generation

ForeignersForeigners


Which questions to include?

Place of births of parents

or

Citizenship at birth

(both included in 2000 Recommendations as non-core topics)


Some data from 2000Foreigners, foreign-born and population with foreign-background (2000 Census Round)

Country % Foreigners % Foreign-born % Foreign background

Canada (1) 5.7 22.2 30.6

France 5.6 7.4 9.6

Germany 8.0 6.1 8.9

Netherlands 4.1 9.3 18.0

Sweden 5.4 10.0 13.1

Switzerland 20.5 22.5 29.3

United States 6.8 10.8 16.4

Note: (1) data for Canada refer to 15 year and older population


US immigrants in France (1999)

Citizens of US 33254Persons born in US 10743Persons with US background 47699


Special population groups

• Temporary foreign workers with legal status

• Resident foreigners without legal status

• Asylum seekers

• Refugees

• Temporarily absent persons


Special groups and population counts

POPULATION GROUPS Resident Present No pop.population population count Other Total

Temporary foreign workers 15 18 8 3 44Resident foreigners no legal status 17 8 15 4 44Asylum seekers 22 13 7 2 44Refugees 28 8 5 3 44Temporarily absent persons 39 0 4 1 44


Refugees

• 2000 Rec: include in resident population

• 28 countries considered them as residents

Definitional problems: 3 types of refugees

a. 1951 Geneva Convention

b. Humanitarian refugees

c. Mass displacement


Foreigners without legal status

• 2000 Recomm: no specific provision

• Sensitive issue

• Very diverse approaches across countries

For 2010: is a common position possible?

De facto or legal approach?


Flows

Two different approaches

A. Where were you resident x years ago? (31 countries in 2000 Round)

B. When did you come to live here? (29 countries in 2000 Round)


Why census data on flows?

Internal migration

Information on origin and destination

International migration

• No monitoring purposes

• Migration date duration of residence


Type A questions

Pros

• Simple

• Origin-destination details

Cons

• No information on when the migration occurred


Type B questions

Pros

• Very precise on timing

Cons

• No information on origin


Implications for 2010 Round

• Type A better fit for internal migration• Type B better fit for international migration

The two approaches can be combined:

1. When did you come to live in this municipality from where?

2. When did you come to live in this country and from where?


Reason for migration

• Not mentioned in 2000 Recommendations

• 11 countries included this topic

• Demand from users (labour migration)


Issues for 2010 RecommendationsGeneral question, generic answer

More specific question:

•Official reason, if any

•Distinguish between causes and goals

•Reason for selecting the country

unece statistical division international migration: practices of 2000 round and issues for 2010...

Documents

registers survey

previous place of residence

current place of residence

census onlyplace of

definitionmothers residence

duration of residence

countriesby kind of

place of births