Data sources - Censuses | Migration data portal

10 March 2017

This handbook explores how population censuses can be manipulated in order to extract international migration figures. There are not only sections that present relevant definitions needed to harmonise migratory data, but also examples of questions that help users capture the sought-after data. Anecdotes from the national level are included to show concepts put into action. Potential pitfalls and common practices are also covered in detail.

Guidelines, toolkits and manuals

Handbook for Improving the Production and Use of Migration Data for Development

21 June 2017

The Global Migration Group (GMG) produced this publication to provide guidance to producers and users of international migration data. It includes detailed accounts of changes in the field of migration data, thorough explanations of key definitions and concepts, and strategies to bolster migration statistics (e.g., administrative data and 'big data'). Readers will find the notes on 'good practice' to be of particular practical value. This project was conducted within the framework of the World Bank's KNOMAD initiative. Its publication follows the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly

Key resources

Handbook on the Management of Population and Housing Censuses

13 December 2016

This guidebook covers the development and use of a population census, encompassing the planning, collecting, compiling, evaluating, disseminating and analyzing demographic, economic and social data.

Guidelines, toolkits and manuals

Census Data Capture Methodology

30 September 2009

This manual outlines common kinds of data capture, which will help those working with censuses to be able to harvest wanted information from census data. Though it does not offer explicit instructions for carrying out development processes, the source is excellent to get a broad overview on capturing the data.