Disaggregating by age

Disaggregating migration data by age is crucial as certain age groups may face additional risks and vulnerabilities, but also because age is closely tied to rights and services such as education. For example, child and young migrants may be vulnerable to abuse, trafficking and exploitation, especially if they are travelling alone or irregularly. While the statistical definition of youth refers to persons between the ages of 15 and 24, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children defines children as persons younger than 18, broadening the category of persons protected by the convention. The definition of children and the categories used tend to vary across cultures and over time, making the comparison of stock and flow data more challenging (IOM, 2023b).

Recording age by single years is preferable as it allows for grouping the data according to each end-user’s needs. However, recording age in months may be relevant in some situations, for example in the delivery of immunization programmes. While date of birth is recorded to verify a respondent’s age, respondents may not have a birth certificate, may not know their exact birthdate or may prefer not to disclose this information. Disaggregating by age groupings is key to protecting personal data and ensuring both the reliability and comparability of the data, provided that similar groupings are used (UNICEF-UNHCR, 2023). Although data compilers may determine the age groupings based on the end-user’s needs, it is recommended to always record information that distinguishes youth (15-24) and children (0-17) from the rest of the population, in line with the statistical and legal definitions outlined above. Distinguishing between the different stages of adolescence might also be relevant for programming related to sexual and reproductive health and education. Therefore, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee recommends also distinguishing between children (0-17), adolescents (10-19), young adults (18-24) and young people (10-24) (IASC, 2020).

Older migrants are at risk of being overlooked, which may perpetuate certain vulnerabilities and inequalities, and population ageing, which has strong societal implications, is a global phenomenon.  Although extensive attention is paid to the most vulnerable groups of migrants, namely women and children, data on older migrants is relatively scarce. While the United Nations defines an older person as being aged 60 or 65 years and older, the definition of an older person varies across countries (IOM, 2023). For example, high-income countries use 65% years to demarcate older persons in line with the age at which one begins to receive pension benefits, while traditional African definitions of an older person would be closer to 50 or 55 years old (Kowal and Dowd, 2001).