International migration statistics. Guidelines improvement of data collection systems

The first comprehensive publication on this topic, this book aims at strengthening the capacity of countries to generate relevant and more meaningful data on international migration, which would assist in the formulation and analysis of migration policy. Topics include the international comparability of migration data, the potentials and weaknesses of existing data collection systems and the development of meaningful surveys.

Using existing sources of data in 22 countries covered by the ILO's Interdepartemental Project on Migrant Workers and experience of data collection in many other countries, examines the conceptual and analytical issues related to the measurement of international migration and their implications for international comparability of international migration statistics. Discusses the usefulness and weaknesses of existing data collection systems (including censuses, population registers, border statistics, and residence and work permit systems), and provides guidance on how to develop and disseminate statistics on international migration. Includes as appendices: Model questionnaires for country of destination and Model questionnaires for country of origin.