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'We urgently need more data on internal migration' 'We urgently need more data on internal migration'
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No one questions the economic and political significance of international migration. However, internal migration – moving within a country – is a much larger phenomenon that affects the lives of far more people, and one that is given much less attention.No one questions the economic and political significance of international migration. However, internal migration – moving within a country – is a much larger phenomenon that affects the lives of far more people, and one that is given much less attention.
According to the UN, globally there are at least 740 million internal migrants; compare this with only 232 million international migrants. Internal migrants face many of the same challenges – including social isolation, discrimination, forced evictions and poor working conditions – and have the same needs and human rights as international migrants. And yet internal migration is seldom studied or considered at the international programme and policy level.According to the UN, globally there are at least 740 million internal migrants; compare this with only 232 million international migrants. Internal migrants face many of the same challenges – including social isolation, discrimination, forced evictions and poor working conditions – and have the same needs and human rights as international migrants. And yet internal migration is seldom studied or considered at the international programme and policy level.
The dearth of evidence about internal migration was highlighted for us when we gathered data for a 2013 Population Council report, Girls on the move: adolescent girls and migration in the developing world. More information is urgently needed about the lives of internal migrants, including girls, who are especially vulnerable. We need to know more than we currently do, for example, about the scale of migration.The dearth of evidence about internal migration was highlighted for us when we gathered data for a 2013 Population Council report, Girls on the move: adolescent girls and migration in the developing world. More information is urgently needed about the lives of internal migrants, including girls, who are especially vulnerable. We need to know more than we currently do, for example, about the scale of migration.
For Girls on the Move we studied 60 microsamples of population censuses from the IPUMS collection at the University of Minnesota, which gave estimates of between five and 30% of urban adolescent girls being recent migrants, that is, having arrived within five years before the census. Yet when we looked at the demographic and health surveys, which are conducted in more than 90 countries, we found much higher percentages of girls classified as migrants, as high as 80% of urban girls (pdf) in the case of Ethiopia. Why the discrepancy? These sources use different criteria to define moves. Also, censuses ask about the specific location (administrative region) where a migrant formerly lived, whereas the DHS asks whether that place was urban or rural but not about its location. Neither source gives the full picture.For Girls on the Move we studied 60 microsamples of population censuses from the IPUMS collection at the University of Minnesota, which gave estimates of between five and 30% of urban adolescent girls being recent migrants, that is, having arrived within five years before the census. Yet when we looked at the demographic and health surveys, which are conducted in more than 90 countries, we found much higher percentages of girls classified as migrants, as high as 80% of urban girls (pdf) in the case of Ethiopia. Why the discrepancy? These sources use different criteria to define moves. Also, censuses ask about the specific location (administrative region) where a migrant formerly lived, whereas the DHS asks whether that place was urban or rural but not about its location. Neither source gives the full picture.
Unfortunately, questions about migration have since been removed from the DHS (although that decision is being reconsidered). Unicef's multiple indicator cluster surveys, another valuable source on information on the wellbeing of adolescents, children and adults, has never included migration questions. With such basic information, we cannot understand the life circumstances of internal migrants, and lack the evidence we need for effective policies and programmes to improve their lives. Unfortunately, questions about migration have since been removed from the DHS (although that decision is being reconsidered). Unicef's multiple indicator cluster surveys, another valuable source on information on the wellbeing of adolescents, children and adults, has never included migration questions. Without such basic information, we cannot understand the life circumstances of internal migrants, and lack the evidence we need for effective policies and programmes to improve their lives.
Ideally, both surveys and censuses would include at least three simple questions on migration: How long have you lived here? Where did you live before? What type of place was it, urban or rural?Ideally, both surveys and censuses would include at least three simple questions on migration: How long have you lived here? Where did you live before? What type of place was it, urban or rural?
Data generated by these inquiries will provide a powerful tool for us to answer some critical questions about the lives of internal migrants. For example:Data generated by these inquiries will provide a powerful tool for us to answer some critical questions about the lives of internal migrants. For example:
What kinds of places are migrants leaving behind?What kinds of places are migrants leaving behind?
Answering this question will help us identify locations that may be in need of more attention for economic development, and show where remittances are being sent to support the local population. Remittances are one of the ways by which migrants drive development. Recent research supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation reveals that in sub-Saharan Africa, it is far more common to receive remittances from family members who are internal migrants than it is to receive international remittances.Answering this question will help us identify locations that may be in need of more attention for economic development, and show where remittances are being sent to support the local population. Remittances are one of the ways by which migrants drive development. Recent research supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation reveals that in sub-Saharan Africa, it is far more common to receive remittances from family members who are internal migrants than it is to receive international remittances.
Are people migrating to locations with less or more environmental risk?Are people migrating to locations with less or more environmental risk?
Migrants are drawn to urban areas in search of schooling and economic opportunity, but many large and growing cities are at high risk of devastating extreme weather events. By moving in search of opportunity, internal migrants may be placing themselves in harm's way. However, without more specific information about internal migration flows, we cannot assess this risk.Migrants are drawn to urban areas in search of schooling and economic opportunity, but many large and growing cities are at high risk of devastating extreme weather events. By moving in search of opportunity, internal migrants may be placing themselves in harm's way. However, without more specific information about internal migration flows, we cannot assess this risk.
Is climate change inducing migration?Is climate change inducing migration?
There has been a lot of speculation that hardships caused by climate change are leading people to migrate. Until we really know where people are migrating from, it is impossible to say for sure. As Girls on the Move demonstrates, adolescent girls are particularly vulnerable to displacement for a variety of reasons. This includes catastrophes related to extreme weather events, which are anticipated to increase in frequency in the coming years. It is therefore crucial to understand the intersection between climate change and migration.There has been a lot of speculation that hardships caused by climate change are leading people to migrate. Until we really know where people are migrating from, it is impossible to say for sure. As Girls on the Move demonstrates, adolescent girls are particularly vulnerable to displacement for a variety of reasons. This includes catastrophes related to extreme weather events, which are anticipated to increase in frequency in the coming years. It is therefore crucial to understand the intersection between climate change and migration.
The gaps in data about internal migration are not difficult to fill, and they must be filled if programmes and policies are to be properly grounded in evidence, not myths and misconceptions. On International Migrants Day, when the UN raises awareness about international migrants, we must not forget the needs of internal migrants. Crafting a small, easily manageable set of questions to be included in censuses and demographic surveys would go a long way toward helping us better understand and improve their lives.The gaps in data about internal migration are not difficult to fill, and they must be filled if programmes and policies are to be properly grounded in evidence, not myths and misconceptions. On International Migrants Day, when the UN raises awareness about international migrants, we must not forget the needs of internal migrants. Crafting a small, easily manageable set of questions to be included in censuses and demographic surveys would go a long way toward helping us better understand and improve their lives.
Mark Montgomery and Sarah Engebretsen are researchers in the Population Council's poverty, gender, and youth programme and Miriam Temin is a Population Council consultant. Follow @Pop_Council on TwitterMark Montgomery and Sarah Engebretsen are researchers in the Population Council's poverty, gender, and youth programme and Miriam Temin is a Population Council consultant. Follow @Pop_Council on Twitter
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