ABSTRACT
Global data on migration are notoriously patchy. Key statistics are available on a few sub-topics, while very little is known about others. Although the need to improve migration data has been the subject of global-level discussion for a long time, progress has been relatively slow due to methodological and practical reasons. To understand more, this chapter will answer the following questions: What are the key migration topics for policy, and what data are typically available on each? First, the chapter discusses key migration topics, explaining why data are needed on these, what information tends to be available and an outline of overall trends. Next, the chapter explores how migration data are usually collected and managed in countries, exploring typical data governance structures and their implications. Finally, the chapter introduces major sources of migration data, including statistical, administrative and alternative sources, exploring their main advantages and disadvantages. Throughout the chapter, examples are given of how some countries have used innovative methods to improve migration data.
