International Migrations StatisticsInternational Migrations Statistics in in

ESCWA RegionESCWA Region

Neda JafarNeda JafarUnited NationsUnited Nations

Economic and Social Commission for Western AsiaEconomic and Social Commission for Western Asia(ESCWA)(ESCWA)

jafarn@un.orgjafarn@un.org

UN Expert Group Meeting on UN Expert Group Meeting on Measuring International Migration: Concepts and MethodsMeasuring International Migration: Concepts and Methods4-7 December 2006, New York4-7 December 2006, New York

ContentsContents

ESCWA ACTIVITIES IN INTERNATIONAL ESCWA ACTIVITIES IN INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION: 1990-2006MIGRATION: 1990-2006

REGIONAL TRENDSREGIONAL TRENDS

INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION STATISTICS INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION STATISTICS STATUS: SOURCES, METHODOLOGY AND STATUS: SOURCES, METHODOLOGY AND CHALLENGESCHALLENGES

ESCWA PROPOSED FUTURE ACTIVITIES FOR ESCWA PROPOSED FUTURE ACTIVITIES FOR 2007-20092007-2009

ESCWA ACTIVITIES IN INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION ESCWA ACTIVITIES IN INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION (1990-2006)(1990-2006)

The issue of International Migration gained importance as a result of the The issue of International Migration gained importance as a result of the repatriation of migrant workers from oil-producing countries in repatriation of migrant workers from oil-producing countries in Western Asia during the Gulf war, followed by new inflows once the Western Asia during the Gulf war, followed by new inflows once the war had ended.war had ended.

Early ninetiesEarly nineties: few unplanned and limited activities in response to : few unplanned and limited activities in response to emerging issues dealt with social and economic challenges posed by emerging issues dealt with social and economic challenges posed by return migrationreturn migration

In 1999:In 1999: Expert Group Meeting on International Migration in the Middle Expert Group Meeting on International Migration in the Middle East: Patterns and Implications for Sending and Receiving Countries East: Patterns and Implications for Sending and Receiving Countries

In 2001In 2001: Study on Migration and Population Policies in the Arab Region : Study on Migration and Population Policies in the Arab Region

In 2002In 2002: Study on Responding to globalization: trends, challenges and : Study on Responding to globalization: trends, challenges and labor market policies and population dynamicslabor market policies and population dynamics

In 2005In 2005: ESCWA Expert Group Meeting on International Migration : ESCWA Expert Group Meeting on International Migration StatisticsStatistics

In 2006In 2006: Expert Group Meeting on International Migration and : Expert Group Meeting on International Migration and Development in the Arab region.Development in the Arab region.

Regional TrendsRegional Trends In 1973, sharp increase in oil pricesIn 1973, sharp increase in oil prices

The oil-producing countries accelerated The oil-producing countries accelerated recruitment of foreign workers needed to build recruitment of foreign workers needed to build infrastructure.infrastructure.

Migrants in the six member States of the Gulf Migrants in the six member States of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)- Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Cooperation Council (GCC)- Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab EmiratesQatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates

• 1 million in 19701 million in 1970• 4 million in 19804 million in 1980• 9.6 million in 2000, of which 5.3 resided in Saudi 9.6 million in 2000, of which 5.3 resided in Saudi

Arabia.Arabia.

1965 1975 1985 1990 2000

Egypt 206 195 186 176 169Bahrain 38 57 134 169 254Iraq 21 102 500 500 147Jordan 700 672 933 1,112 1,945Kuwait 239 514 1,001 1,503 1,108Lebanon 170 208 278 314 634Palestine 297 626 786 898 1,665Oman 50 132 436 576 682Qatar 35 97 202 299 409Saudi Arabia 306 815 3,523 4,038 5,255Syrian Arab Republic 318 441 691 800 903United Arab Emirates 117 322 890 1,478 1,922Yemen 50 64 62 65 248ESCWA 2,547 4,245 9,622 11,928 15,341PRED: ESCWA countries migration stock

Migrant Stock (in thousands)

In 2000In 2000• Arab countries in the list of major receiving Arab countries in the list of major receiving

countries in the worldcountries in the world Saudi Arabia (3.0%)Saudi Arabia (3.0%) Jordan and United Arab Emirates (each Jordan and United Arab Emirates (each

1.1%)1.1%)

Migrant labor constitutes an avg. 35% of labor Migrant labor constitutes an avg. 35% of labor force in oil producing countries & in some as force in oil producing countries & in some as much as 80%much as 80%

In 2002 the Arab countries received US$14 billion, In 2002 the Arab countries received US$14 billion, ie 2.2% of GDP.. Highest receiver of remittances ie 2.2% of GDP.. Highest receiver of remittances in the world.in the world.

International migrants constituted:International migrants constituted:

Stock of Migrants in the ESCWA RegionStock of Migrants in the ESCWA Region

2000

(1) (2) (3)

Egypt 67,884 169 0.2Bahrain 640 254 39.8Iraq 22,946 147 0.6Jordan 4,913 1,945 39.6Kuwait 1,914 1,108 57.9Lebanon 3,496 634 18.1Palestine 3,191 1,665 52.2Oman 2,538 682 26.9Qatar 565 409 72.4Saudi Arabia 20,346 5,255 25.8Syrian Arab Republic 16,189 903 5.6United Arab Emirates 2,606 1,922 73.8Yemen 18,349 248 1.4

165,577 15,341 9.3UN Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs

Country or area

Total Population (thousands)

Migrant stock

Number (thousands)

Per cent of

population

2000

INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION STATISTICS STATUS: INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION STATISTICS STATUS: SOURCES, METHODOLOGY AND CHALLENGESSOURCES, METHODOLOGY AND CHALLENGES

The dearth of data as a result of:The dearth of data as a result of:

• wide spectrum and incongruent sources wide spectrum and incongruent sources

• lack of comprehensive framework and methodology lack of comprehensive framework and methodology

• weakness of capacity and limited resources weakness of capacity and limited resources

• inadequacy of administrative records inadequacy of administrative records

• lack of surveys lack of surveys

Types of immigrantsTypes of immigrants

StudentsStudents

Workers .. “overseas workers”Workers .. “overseas workers”

Family reunification/formationFamily reunification/formation

Refugees/Asylum seekersRefugees/Asylum seekers

Administrative RecordsAdministrative Records

Purpose is administrative Purpose is administrative

Missing detailed data on migrantsMissing detailed data on migrants

Scarcity of statistical reports Scarcity of statistical reports

Non-existence of population registersNon-existence of population registers

Inadequacy of exit/entry forms for boardersInadequacy of exit/entry forms for boarders

Insufficiency data/inadequacy of quality data from Insufficiency data/inadequacy of quality data from work permitswork permits

Population CensusesPopulation Censuses

2010 Round Principles and Recommendations of Population and Housing 2010 Round Principles and Recommendations of Population and Housing Census Census

““citizenship” - all mccitizenship” - all mc

““place of birth” - 6 mcplace of birth” - 6 mc

““Place of previous residence” - 7 mc, however, there is no time reference Place of previous residence” - 7 mc, however, there is no time reference

““reasons for migration” – 5 mc on education, work, and family reasons for migration” – 5 mc on education, work, and family reunification reunification

““refugees” & ”asylum seekers”- 1 mcrefugees” & ”asylum seekers”- 1 mc

““duration of residence” – long term migrants >12 monthsduration of residence” – long term migrants >12 months

** Lebanon = 0** Lebanon = 0

ESCWA Countries Citizenship Place of BirthPlace of

residence abroad

Previous place of residence

Bahrain(2001) yes Will be included in next round 

yes, for nationals

only

Egypt (2006) yes yes  rural/urban, city, governorate,

administrative unit

Iraq (1997) yes yes  Governorate/administrative unit or outside

Iraq

Jordan (2004) yesPlace of residence

of Mother at time of delivery

 inside country (name of governorate) or

outside (name of country)

Kuwait (2005) yes      

Oman (2003) yes 

yes, for nationals

only

10 years or less, name of governorate, name of country

Palestine (1997) yesPlace of residence

of Mother at time of delivery

yesinside country (name of governorate) or

outside (name of country)

Saudi Arabia (2004)

yes yesyes, for

nationals only

inside country (name of governorate) or outside (name of country)

Syrian (2004) yes   

inside country (name of governorate, rural/urban)

UAE (2005) Yes

Yemen (2004) yesyes yes

inside country (name of governorate) or outside (name of country)

Reason

ESCWA Countries

Other Refugee Deported AsylumFamily

reunification /formation

WorkEducation

and Training

Bahrain(2001)Companion/ Medical/ Tourism/

business/ Other reason/ (nationals)

    

yes yes yes

Egypt (2006)         yes yes yes

Iraq (1997) yes yes yes yes

Jordan (2004)Companion/ Medical/ Tourism/

business/ Other specify   

   yes yes

Kuwait (2005)              

Oman (2003)              

Palestine (1997) companionregistered,

not registered

yes   yes yes yes

Saudi Arabia (2004)              

Syria (2004)              

UAE (2005)             

Yemen (2004)

ESCWA Countries

Duration of Stay

3 to 12 months More than Year Less than 1 year

(short) (long)  

Bahrain (2001) 

Since Birth yes

Egypt (2006)  

Yes, in full years  

Iraq (1997) 

Since Birth yes

Jordan (2004) 

Yes, in full years  

Kuwait (2005)     

Oman (2003)  Yes, in full years

(nationals) 

Palestine (1997) 

Yes, in full years  

Saudi Arabia (2004) 

Yes, in full years  

Syria (2004) 

Yes, in full years  

UAE (2005)

 Yes, in full years

(non-nationals) 

Yemen (2004) 

Yes, in full years  

Example of country xExample of country x International visitor: <6 monthsInternational visitor: <6 months International migrant: >6 monthsInternational migrant: >6 months Long-term migrant: who has permanent residenceLong-term migrant: who has permanent residence Short term migrant: <6 monthsShort term migrant: <6 months Permanent residence: who has changed his permanent Permanent residence: who has changed his permanent

residence, got another nationality or permanent residence, residence, got another nationality or permanent residence, or resided no less than 10 yearsor resided no less than 10 years

Usual place of residence: usual place of residence on a Usual place of residence: usual place of residence on a continuous basiscontinuous basis

Foreigner: person residing for any reason and non nationalForeigner: person residing for any reason and non national Category of migrants: Category of migrants:

• visitors (from country to abroad for less than 12 months)visitors (from country to abroad for less than 12 months)• migrants for settlementsmigrants for settlements• refugeesrefugees

ChallengesChallenges

Adoption of international standardsAdoption of international standards

definitions and concepts definitions and concepts categorization of types of migrants categorization of types of migrants

Dissemination of data on international migrants and in Dissemination of data on international migrants and in particular on flow of migrantsparticular on flow of migrants

Coordination and collaboration with different producersCoordination and collaboration with different producers

Exchange of dataExchange of data

Mandate /legislation Mandate /legislation

ESCWA PROPOSED FUTURE ACTIVITIES ESCWA PROPOSED FUTURE ACTIVITIES 2007-20092007-2009

Workshop on International Migration Statistics Workshop on International Migration Statistics and Data Exchange among the GCCand Data Exchange among the GCC

UNSD Questionnaire on International Migration UNSD Questionnaire on International Migration Statistics Statistics

Social Compendium on international migration Social Compendium on international migration statistics in the ESCWA regionstatistics in the ESCWA region

Project proposal for the Development of Project proposal for the Development of International Migration Statistics in the Region International Migration Statistics in the Region

Thank you..Thank you..