Migration in the SDGs

The SDGs’ central reference to migration is made in Target 10.7 to facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies, which appears under Goal 10 to reduce inequality within and among countries. Other targets also make direct connections to migration topics, including labour migration (8.7 and 8.8), international student mobility (4.b), human trafficking (5.2, 8.7 and 16.2), remittances (10.c), migration data (17.18) and more.

Migration is also a cross-cutting issue across the 2030 Agenda, relevant to all 17 of the SDGs. Therefore, it is important to go beyond the direct references to migration and to acknowledge and address the mutually supporting relationships between migration and each of the Goals and targets through implementation and monitoring work.

Migration in the SDG reporting framework

The 2030 Agenda includes a multi-layered follow-up mechanism to review progress on meeting the SDGs over the next 15 years. As the SDGs are a country-owned process, the responsibility of SDG reporting lies with national governments. National reviews are the linchpin of the follow-up and review of SDG implementation, with regional, global and thematic reviews conducted to complement the process.

To monitor SDG progress, the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on SDG Indicators (IAEG-SDGs) developed a list of 232 individual global indicators, including several that refer to migration. These indicators include 3.c.1, 4.b.1, 8.7.1, 8.8.1, 10.c.1, 16.2.2 and others. 

Further, SDG target 17.18 calls for greater support to developing countries to increase the availability of “high-quality, timely and reliable data, disaggregated by income, gender, age, race, ethnicity, and migratory status”. This reflects a growing understanding that disaggregation of data is an important way to ensure inclusiveness and prevent discrimination for specific population sub-groups, including for migrants, to ensure no one is left behind. Doing this is an opportunity to gain better data on migrants’ situations to understand better their living conditions, and to understand how migration impacts on health, income, education and other areas. Disaggregation is necessary in order to integrate migration as a cross-cutting theme across other sectors.

Meeting reporting requirements for the Goals is challenging and can present a significant burden to governments, in particular to National Statistical Offices (NSOs). As of late 2017, no data exist for two thirds of the 232 official internationally-set SDG indicators^[1] . The global-level migration indicators are relatively under-developed and currently none of the global indicators that relate to migration are Tier 1 (i.e. they do not have established methodologies and ongoing global data collection). At the global level, most countries still do not report on migration-SDG indicators or disaggregate other indicators by migratory status. Meanwhile, at the national level many countries monitor migration-SDG indicators and disaggregate these in innovative ways, for example by using existing data.

Capacity building to boost migration-SDG data

More action is needed to translate SDG data frameworks into results, improving migration data realities on the ground. There is a need for countries to develop their capacity to generate and report meaningful data on migration in the context of the SDGs. Efforts must focus both on generating data for migration-SDG indicators and disaggregation of other indicators, as well as boosting use of this data. Steps must be taken to improve abilities to collect and use data to help policy makers devise evidence-based policies to tackle migration aspects of the SDGs. Several countries already collect considerable amounts of migration data across various government branches, but lack the capacity to centralize, disaggregate and cross reference data collected and use this towards SDG reporting. Better data sharing within government would also improve policy coherence, which is a key condition to achieving the SDGs. More opportunities for peer-to-peer learning between countries on migration-SDG data would also enable countries to share lessons learned. 

Overall, there is a need to improve migration data locally, nationally, regionally and internationally for SDG monitoring purposes. Improving migration data is a crucial step to improving migration governance, and the SDG framework can help kick-start efforts to do this.

Ongoing work to measure migration in the SDGs

IOM, UN DESA with support by the OECD developed a methodology to measure indicator 10.7.2 “the number of countries with migration policies to facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration” (see also here). This indicator is based on an assessment of six policy domains found in the Migration Governance Framework. It is also inspired by the work IOM is conducting in collaboration with the Economist Intelligence Unit on developing Migration Governance Indicators (MGI).

The MGI framework can also be used to inform SDG implementation. These use 90 qualitative questions to measure performance across six domains, drawn from the Migration Governance Framework. It is a gap analysis tool that is not meant for ranking countries on their migration policies, but rather aims to offer insights on policy levers that countries can action to strengthen their migration governance, as well as identify best practices of future programming. The results of this assessment can be used by governments to support reporting on their progress in achieving Target 10.7 as well as other migration-related targets.

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[1] OECD (2017), Development Co-operation Report 2017: Data for Development, OECD Publishing, Paris.

What do we know?

Migration-relevant SDG targets and indicators:

Target 1.1

By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than USD 1.25 a day

Star Star Star Indicator: 1.1.1 Proportion of population below the international poverty line, by sex, age, employment status and geographical location (urban/rural)

Migration relevance: Data can be disaggregated by migratory status.

Rationale: This indicator assesses the proportion of people under the extreme poverty line.

Data sources: The indicator can be disaggregated for migrants versus non-migrants, or population living in migrant households versus population living in non-migrant households. Data can be collected through household surveys that include questions on migratory status.

Target 1.3

Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable.

Star Star Indicator: 1.3.1 Proportion of population covered by social protection floors/systems, by sex, distinguishing children, unemployed persons, older persons, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, newborns, work-injury victims and the poor and the vulnerable.

Migration relevance: Data can be disaggregated by migratory status.

Rationale: Social protection floors are nationally defined sets of basic social security guarantees that should ensure, as a minimum, that over the life cycle, all those in need have access to essential health care and basic income security which together secure effective access to goods and services defined as necessary at the national level (ILO social protection floors recommendation #202).

Data sources: The ILO collects data on: (1) people covered by social protection floors/total population; (2) unemployed receiving unemployment benefit/total unemployment (3) employed women covered by maternity benefits/total female employment (4) people above the statutory pensionable age receiving an old-age pension/ people above the statutory pensionable age.

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Improving migration data in the context of the 2030 Agenda, 15 June 2017. 

Indicator tiers updated according to United States Statistics Division, Tier Classification for Global SDG Indicators, 30 November 2022.

What do we know?

Migration-relevant SDG targets and indicators:

Target 3.1

By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births

Star Star Star Indicator: 3.1.1 Maternal mortality ratio

Migration relevance: Data can be disaggregated by migratory status.

Rationale: Migrants tend to have higher maternal mortality due to lack of access to proper maternal and child care. This is an outcome variable measuring migrants' access to health services.

Data sources: Civil registration systems. 

Target 3.2

End preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age

Star Star Star  Indicator: 3.2.1 Under-five mortality rate

Migration relevance: Data can be disaggregated by migratory status.

Rationale: This indicator can reflect to what extent migrants have access to health services.

Data sources: Civil registration systems. 

Target 3.3

By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases

Star Star Star Indicator: 3.3.1 Number of new HIV infections per 1,000 uninfected population, by sex, age and key populations 

Migration relevance: Data can be disaggregated by migratory status.

Rationale: This indicator reflects how migrants have access to HIV treatment and antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Data sources: To be determined

Target 3.4

By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being

Star Star Star Indicator: 3.4.1 Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease

Migration relevance: Data can be disaggregated by migratory status.

Rationale: Access to health services for preventive measures

Data sources: Civil registration systems.

Target 3.8

Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all

Star Star Star Indicator: 3.8.1 Coverage of essential health services (defined as the average coverage of essential services based on tracer interventions that include reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health, infectious diseases, non- communicable diseases and service capacity and access, among the general and the most disadvantaged population)

Rationale: While international migration is intimately related to legal and sociological notions of nationality and sovereignty, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) has articulated that nationality must not be used as a ground for discrimination in relation to health care and other rights in the Covenant. The rights of irregular migrants are specifically mentioned.

Data sources: N/a

Star Star Star Indicator: 3.8.2 Proportion of population with large household expenditures on health as a share of total household expenditure or income

Migration relevance: Data can be disaggregated by migratory status.

Rationale: While international migration is intimately related to legal and sociological notions of nationality and sovereignty, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) has articulated that nationality must not be used as a ground for discrimination in relation to health care and other rights in the Covenant. The rights of irregular migrants are specifically mentioned.

Data sources: Household survey data and expenditure surveys

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Improving migration data in the context of the 2030 Agenda, 15 June 2017

Indicator tiers updated according to United States Statistics Division, Tier Classification for Global SDG Indicators, 30 November 2022.

What do we know?

Migration-relevant SDG targets and indicators:

Target 4.1

By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes

Indicator: 4.1.1 Proportion of children and young people: Star StarStar Star (a) in grades 2/3; Star StarStar Star (b) at the end of primary; and Star StarStar Star (c) at the end of lower secondary achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in (i) reading and (ii) mathematics, by sex

Migration relevance: Data can be disaggregated by migratory status.

Rationale: This is a global indicator which addresses most closely the fundamental right to education.

Data sources: Various cross-national learning assessments including PASEC, PIRLS, PISA, SACMEQ, TERCE and TIMSS.

Target 4.3

By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university

Star Star Indicator: 4.3.1 Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months, by sex

Migration relevance: Data can be disaggregated by migratory status.

Rationale: Access to education: Whether school-age migrants are in school as others, and whether migrants are in informal training provided by government.

Data sources: Censuses and household surveys.

Target 4.6

By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy

Star Star Indicator: 4.6.1  Proportion of population in a given age group achieving at least a fixed level of proficiency in functional (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills, by sex

Migration relevance: Data can be disaggregated by migratory status.

Rationale: Basic education level of migrants.

Data sources: Skills' assessment surveys of the adult population (e.g. PIAAC, STEP, LAMP, RAMAA) and national adult literacy surveys.

Target 4.b

By 2020, substantially expand globally the number of scholarships available to developing countries, in particular LDCs, SIDS and African countries, for enrolment in higher education, including vocational training and ICT, technical, engineering and scientific programmes, in developed countries and other developing countries

Star Star Star Indicator: 4.b.1 Volume of official development assistance flows for scholarships by sector and type of study

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Improving migration data in the context of the 2030 Agenda, 15 June 2017

Indicator tiers updated according to United States Statistics Division, Tier Classification for Global SDG Indicators, 30 November 2022.

What do we know?

Migration-relevant SDG targets and indicators:

Target 5.5

Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life

Star Star Star Indicator: 5.5.2 Proportion of women in managerial positions

Migration relevance: Data can be disaggregated by migratory status.

Rationale: Being a migrant and a woman is a double disadvantage in the labour market. Women are less likely to be in managerial position and migrant women are more disadvantaged than migrant men.

Data sources: Data can be collected in censuses and in labour force surveys. Managerial positions are defined using ISCO classification. Data can also be captured through administrative sources. For household surveys there are two obstacles: (a) very few surveys collect migration information; (b) sampling frame does not have information on migrants for oversampling.

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, 2017 Improving migration data in the context of the 2030 Agenda, (15 June 2017)

Indicator tiers updated according to United States Statistics Division, Tier Classification for Global SDG Indicators, 30 November 2022.

What do we know?

Migration-relevant SDG targets and indicators:

Target 8.3

Promote development- oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services

Star Star Indicator: 8.3.1 Proportion of informal employment in non-agriculture employment, by sex

Migration relevance: Data can be disaggregated by migratory status.

Rationale: Migrants' access to adequate working conditions; prohibit discrimination on the basis of nationality

Data sources: Labour force surveys, provided adequate sample size

Target 8.5

By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value

Star Star Indicator: 8.5.1 Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age and persons with disabilities

Migration relevance: Data can be disaggregated by migratory status.

Rationale: Migrants' access to adequate working conditions; prohibit discrimination on the basis of nationality

Data sources: Labour force surveys

Star StarStarIndicator: 8.5.2 Unemployment rate, by sex, age and persons with disabilities

Migration relevance: Data can be disaggregated by migratory status.

Rationale: Migrants' access to adequate working conditions; prohibit discrimination on the basis of nationality

Data sources: Population census and Labour force surveys

Target 8.6

By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training

Star  Star  Star Indicator: 8.6.1 Proportion of youth (aged 15-24 years) not in education, employment or training

Migration relevance: Data can be disaggregated by migratory status.

Rationale: Migrants' access to adequate working conditions; prohibit discrimination on the basis of nationality

Data sources: Labour force surveys or population census

Target 8.7

Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms 

Star Star Indicator: 8.7.1 Proportion and number of children aged 5?17 years engaged in child labour, by sex and age

Target 8.8

Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment

Star Star Indicator: 8.8.1 Frequency rates of fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries, by sex and migrant status

Star Star Indicator: 8.8.2 Level of national compliance of labour rights (freedom of association and collective bargaining) based on International Labour Organization (ILO) textual sources and national legislation, by sex and migrant status

Target 8.10

Strengthen the capacity of domestic financial institutions to encourage and expand access to banking, insurance and financial services for all

Star Star Star Indicator: 8.10.2 Proportion of adults (15 years and older) with an account at a bank or other financial institution or with a mobile-money-service provider

Migration relevance: Data can be disaggregated by migratory status.

Rationale: Social inclusion: access to financial institutions

Data sources: The World Bank's Global FINDEX database

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Improving migration data in the context of the 2030 Agenda, 15 June 2017

Indicator tiers updated according to United States Statistics Division, Tier Classification for Global SDG Indicators, 30 November 2022.

What do we know?

Migration-relevant SDG targets and indicators:

Target 10.2

By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status

StarStarStar Indicator: 10.2.1  Proportion of people living below 50 per cent of median income, by sex, age and persons with disabilities

Migration relevance: Data can be disaggregated by migratory status.

Rationale: This indicator measures "median" income versus indicator 1.1.1 that measures extreme poverty. This indicator is closely related to the social inclusion indicator under the EU Zaragoza Declaration on migrant integration

Data sources: TBD

Target 10.3

Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard 

Star Star Indicator: 10.3.1  Proportion of population reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed in the previous 12 months on the basis of a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law

Migration relevance: Data can be disaggregated by migratory status.

Rationale: Migrants should be treated equally, without subject to discrimination.

Data sources: TBD

Target 10.7

Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well- managed migration policies

Star  Indicator: 10.7.1  Recruitment cost borne by employee as a proportion of monthly income earned in country of destination

StarStar  Indicator: 10.7.2  Number of countries with migration policies to facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people

StarStar  Indicator: 10.7.3 Number of people who died or disappeared in the process of migration towards an international destination

StarStar  Indicator: 10.7.4 Proportion of the population who are refugees, by country of origin

Data sources:

• 10.7.1: Statistics for SDG indicator 10.7.1: Draft Guidelines for their Collection (KNOMAD, 2018); 
• 10.7.2: UN DESA website on indicator 10.7.2
• 10.7.2: United Nations Twelfth Inquiry among Governments on Population and Development;

• 10.7.2: So far 50 countries have participated in the Migration Governance Indicators (MGI) process.

Target 10.c

By 2030, reduce to less than 3 per cent the transaction costs of migrant remittances and eliminate remittance corridors with costs higher than 5 per cent

StarStar   ​​​​​Indicator: 10.c.1  Remittance costs as a proportion of the amount remitted

Data sources: TBD

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Improving migration data in the context of the 2030 Agenda, 15 June 2017. Indicator tiers updated according to United States Statistics Division, Tier Classification for Global SDG Indicators, 30 November 2022.

What do we know?

Migration-relevant SDG targets and indicators:

Target 11.1

By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums

Star Star Star Indicator: 11.1.1 Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements or inadequate housing

Migration relevance: Data can be disaggregated by migratory status.

Rationale: Access to adequate housing may be challenging for many migrants, especially irregular migrants.

Data sources: Data for the slum and informal settlement components of the indicator can be computed from census and national household surveys, including DHS and MICS. Data for the inadequate housing component can be computed by using income and expenditure household surveys that capture household expenditures.

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Improving migration data in the context of the 2030 Agenda, 15 June 2017

Indicator tiers updated according to United States Statistics Division, Tier Classification for Global SDG Indicators, 30 November 2022.

What do we know?

Migration-relevant SDG targets and indicators:

Target 13.b

Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities 

StarStar Indicator: 13.b.1 Number of least developed countries and small island developing States that are receiving specialized support, and amount of support, including finance, technology and capacity-building, for mechanisms for raising capacities for effective climate change-related planning and management, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities.

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Improving migration data in the context of the 2030 Agenda, 15 June 2017

Indicator tiers updated according to United States Statistics Division, Tier Classification for Global SDG Indicators, 30 November 2022.

What do we know?

Migration-relevant SDG targets and indicators:

Target 16.1

Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere

Star Star Indicator: 16.1.3 Proportion of population subjected to physical, psychological or sexual violence in the previous 12 months

Migration relevance: Data can be disaggregated by migratory status.

Rationale: This is to assess whether migrants are subject violence. One dimension that is always being mentioned is the domestic workers who are abused. This indicator does not really distinguish by the type of perpetrators  which is different from 5.2.1 and 5.2.2.

Data sources: Household surveys

Target 16.2

End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

StarStar Star Indicator: 16.2.2 Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population, by sex, age and form of exploitation

Target 16.9

By 2030, provide legal identity for all, including birth registration

Star Star Star Indicator: 16.9.1 Proportion of children under 5 years of age whose births have been registered with a civil authority, by age

Migration relevance: Data can be disaggregated by migratory status.

Rationale: All births should be registered, regardless of their migration status.

Data sources: Household surveys

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Improving migration data in the context of the 2030 Agenda, 15 June 2017

Indicator tiers updated according to United States Statistics Division, Tier Classification for Global SDG Indicators, 30 November 2022.

What do we know?

Migration-relevant SDG targets and indicators:

Target 17.3

Mobilize additional financial resources for developing countries from multiple sources

 Star Star Star Indicator: 17.3.2 Volume of remittances (in United States dollars) as a proportion of total GDP

Target 17.18

By 2020, enhance capacity-building support to developing countries, including for least developed countries and small island developing States, to increase significantly the availability of high-quality, timely and reliable data disaggregated by income, gender, age, race, ethnicity, migratory status, disability, geographic location and other characteristics relevant in national contexts. 

StarStar Indicator: 17.18.1 Proportion of sustainable development indicators produced at the national level with full disaggregation when relevant to the target, in accordance with the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics.

StarStar Star Indicator: 17.18.2 Number of countries that have national statistical legislation that complies with the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics.

Star Star Star Indicator: 17.18.3 Number of countries with a national statistical plan that is fully funded and under implementation, by source of funding.

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Improving migration data in the context of the 2030 Agenda, 15 June 2017

Indicator tiers updated according to United States Statistics Division, Tier Classification for Global SDG Indicators, 30 November 2022.