Eurostat is the statistical office of the European Union. It is Europe’s leading provider of statistics related to migration. Over the past decades, migration flows to and from the EU, and between EU Member States, have had a significant impact on the population characteristics in most Member States.

Eurostat compiles migration statistics on the numbers of resident foreign-born persons and foreign citizens, as well as statistics on immigration and emigration flows to and from each Member State. In parallel, statistics on acquisition and loss of citizenship by persons usually resident in the Member States help to explain how the foreign population is changing.

Eurostat's statistics on asylum and managed migration are provided by the Member States’ Ministries of Interior and related Immigration Agencies. These cover:

• Asylum: including data on asylum applicants, first instance and final decisions on applications, resettlement, taking back or taking charge of asylum seekers (Dublin statistics). 
• Residence permits: authorizations to stay granted to non-EU citizens by reasons for the permit issuance, stock of valid residence permits, stock of long-term residents, grants of Blue Cards. 
• Statistics on the enforcement of immigration legislation: non-EU citizens refused entry at the EU external borders or found to be illegally present on the territory of the EU Member State, obligations to leave the territory of the Member State, removals of non-EU citizens whose presence was unauthorised. 

Eurostat statistics on migrant integration are based mainly on data from the EU Labour Force Survey, e.g., on employment and education, and the EU Statistics on Income and Living Conditions Survey, e.g., indicators on social inclusion and health. These are complemented by administrative data from population registers, registers of resident foreign citizens, and registers of residence or work permits. Other available statistics include a range of explanatory characteristics such as education, active citizenship, social inclusion and employment.

Population and housing census data represent an essential source of vital statistical information ranging from the lowest small-area geographical divisions to national and international levels.

The Labour Migration Branch (MIGRANT), within the Conditions of Work and Equality Department (WORKQUALITY), has the primary responsibility within the Office for the formulation and implementation of the Organization's policies and decisions concerning labour migration and mobility and migrant workers, as well as for the design, the implementation and the evaluation of national, regional and global migration policies. These are carried out in accordance with the ILO Multilateral Framework on Labour Migration, the provisions of Conventions 97, 143, Recommendations 86 and 151, and of other relevant labour standards.

Department of Statistics (STATISTICS), in close collaboration with MIGRANT, develops statistical standards and methodologies to measure labour migration, collects and disseminates data on labour migration, and produces global estimates on the size of labour migration. MIGRANT undertakes analytical work on the economic, employment and social aspects of international migration with an emphasis on its implications for development, labour markets and worker protection; provides related technical advisory services to its constituents and other concerned stakeholders; carries out technical cooperation activities; organizes policy forums and meetings on labour migration issues; and publishes and disseminates related information and good practices.

Useful links:

• Addressing governance challenges in a changing labour migration landscape, available at: http://www.ilo.org/ilc/ILCSessions/106/reports/reports-to-the-conference/WCMS_550269/lang--en/index.htm
• Promoting fair migration - General Survey concerning the migrant workers instruments (2016), available at: http://www.ilo.org/global/standards/WCMS_453917/lang--en/index.htm
• ILO global estimates on migrant workers, available at: http://www.ilo.org/global/topics/labour-migration/publications/WCMS_436343/lang--en/index.htm

Twitter: @ilo 

UNODC research work on migration:

Due to mandate and mission, UNODC is uniquely placed to undertake research of global scope on the crimes of human trafficking and migrant smuggling. Currently, the main research output on trafficking in persons is the biennial Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, which is based on official, national data and analyses the patterns and trends of trafficking globally, regionally and at the country level. UNODC is also advancing the work on testing a new methodology for estimating the total number of victims of trafficking in persons. Such a methodology will assist countries in measuring progress towards the attainment of three Sustainable Development Goals (goals 5, 8 and 16 all include targets on trafficking in persons).

Research on migrant smuggling is still in its infancy. The first-ever UNODC research output will be a global study on the smuggling of migrants (forthcoming 2018), based on existing data and information from a large number of sources. The study will include analyses of the main migrant smuggling routes in each region, profiles of the actors and how the crime is carried out. UNODC’s objective is to establish a regular data collection mechanism, involving Member States, to facilitate the production of a biennial Global Report on the Smuggling of Migrants.

Key publications:

• 2016 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons
• 2017 Research Brief on Multiple Systems Estimation

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as part of its protection mandate for refugees, asylum seekers, returnees, internally displaced, and stateless persons, plays a key role in collecting and consolidating crucial statistics on these populations groups. A major part of UNHCR’s statistical activities is the tracking of the number of displaced persons in order to inform UNHCR operations and partners as a foundation to adequately respond to the needs of these populations. On a frequent basis, these data are published in the UNHCR Statistics Database (http://popstats.unhcr.org).

UNHCR collects data as part of registration exercises as well as through household surveys, often in collaboration with other partners, and consolidates official government statistics on the flows and stocks of refugees, asylum seekers, and IDPs. Key annual statistical publications include:

Midyear Trends: http://www.unhcr.org/statistics/unhcrstats/58aa8f247
Global Trends: http://www.unhcr.org/globaltrends2016/
Statistical Yearbook: http://www.unhcr.org/statistical-yearbooks.html

Additionally, UNHCR provides statistical support to field staff and partners and is involved in capacity building and the development of tools to further advance the collection and analysis of data on forcibly displaced populations in close collaboration with partners and governments. Lastly, UNHCR, together with Eurostat and Statistics Norway, is part of the steering committee of the International Expert Group on Refugee and IDP Statistics (EGRIS) which is developing international recommendations to improve the quality and harmonize statistics on refugees, asylum seekers, and IDPs.