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Learning Objectives
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Summary
Data are the raw pieces of information recorded and used for the purpose of statistical analysis. Quantitative data refer to numeric or quantifiable information whereas qualitative data refer to descriptive information recorded in a more narrative form. Migration data are any kind of information that would support the development of migration policies or the programming of migration-related activities and contribute to informed public discourse on migration. Statistics is a field of mathematics that involves collecting, describing, analysing and interpreting quantitative data. Statisticians or persons employing statistical analyses typically use mathematical techniques to draw conclusions about a larger population based on a smaller sub-sample of respondents.
Several global compacts and frameworks, such as the Global Compact for Migration, the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and the Global Compact for Refugees, have reinforced and emphasized the importance of collecting comparable, timely, reliable, complete and disaggregated migration data, with an emphasis on quantitative data, to inform evidence-based policymaking, development programming and humanitarian action on migration and forced displacement. A key message of these frameworks is that all data on the general population should be disaggregated by migratory status, but also that data on migrants should be disaggregated by a range of key socio-demographic and economic characteristics. Disaggregation is important for examining inequalities between migrants and citizens, the impact of migration on host communities and the contribution of migrants to sustainable development. Despite the need for such data, there are many persistent challenges with potentially negative consequences for how countries understand migration and the actions they take in response. Migration data that are incomplete, insufficiently detailed or disaggregated, disconnected from other relevant sectors or poorly presented can lead to misperceptions about the scale of migration and its effects (IOM, 2018). Furthermore, there are persistent data gaps on migratory flows (as opposed to stocks), temporary migration, internal migration and hidden or hard-to-reach migrant groups, e.g., missing migrants, irregular migrants and victims of trafficking or smuggling). Countries might tackle some of these challenges by integrating questions for measuring migration into population censuses, making better use of administrative data sources, harmonising household surveys and migration modules across countries, increasing the availability of anonymised micro-data, developing a national strategy and action plan for migration data capacity-building and leveraging the use of innovative data for understanding the drivers and consequences of migration.