The population census as a tool to count forcibly displaced populations

Presentation to Conference of Refugee Statistics,

Antalya, Turkey 7-9 October 2015,

Vebjørn Aalandslid, Statistics Norway

The presentation is based on worked carried out together with SN colleagues Frode Berglund and Kari-Anne Lund on

secondment to UNHCR and the Joint IDP Profiling Service (JIPS) through NRC/Norcap deployments.

Background

• Analysis of 150 census questionnaires used in the

2010-round with the aim of identifying whether

information on forcibly displaced population groups

can be extracted

• Questionnaires collected from the UNSD website

http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/sources/ce

nsus/censusquest.htm as well as some additional

questionnaires from NSOs

The population census

• The population census is the backbone of any statistical system and in most countries the primary source of demographic data on the general population

• For most countries (although data are less timely than surveys) also key source on the stock of migrants as well as background data/sample frame for analysis of their living and housing conditions.

• The census allows for comparisons between the total population and the migrant population that more targeted studies can not offer.

• Census data only to a limited degree used to give information about forcibly displaced populations.

Are forcibly displaced populations included

and identified in the population censuses?

• In most countries these groups will be included

either as a part of the resident population or in

some cases as a part of the non-resident

population.

• In both instances refugees or asylum seekers

should be included in the total population count.

• If refugees, asylum seekers and internally

displaced persons are counted in the population

census: Is it possible to identify these population

groups?

• Has statistics on forcibly displaced persons been

produced from the censuses?

Census methodology

• Most countries in the world (85 percent)

carry out a traditional census with

questionnaires.

• All censuses in Africa and Latin America

used (variations of) the traditional method

and 90 percent of Asian censuses.

• In Europe, more and more countries opt for

register based solutions – a specific topic

could be to explore how statistics on

refugees can be included here.

International census recommendations

• Recommendations on topics to

be collected and what definitions

and classifications to use.

• The recommendations are

divided into core and non-core

topics

• Three core topics on migration:

country of birth, citizenship and

year of arrival.

• Core topics + questions on

previous residence + ethno

cultural characteristics can be

used to indirectly give an

estimate of persons with a

refugee background

International census

recommendations

• Overall, forcibly displaced population groups are hardly referenced in the UN census recommendations for the 2010-round

• “Refugees or internally displaced persons in camps should be counted and their numbers distinguished as a separate group” – follows a narrow definition

• There are references to the UN Recommendations on Statistics of International Migration (1998), but only related to the three core topics

Regional census

recommendations • Forcibly displaced population groups are not

covered in the regional census recommendations for Africa, Western-Asia, Asia or Latin-America.

• In the UNECE (Europe + N-Amr) recommendations the topic ‘Reason for Migration’ is listed as a non core topic, with response categories that include migration for forced/humanitarian reasons.

• The UNECE recommendations also include the topic ‘population with a refugee background’ and ‘internally displaced persons’ as derived non-core topics with guidance on how to obtain such data. This requires inclusion of a question on ‘Reason for migration’ (both international and internal)

Table 1. Inclusion of topics in national population

censuses by world region. 2010-round of

Censuses

Region

Number of

countries

Country/Place of

Birth -question

Citizenship/

Nationality-

question

Year of Arrival-

question

Previous place

of residence

Africa 37 32 30 8

14

Americas 32 27 8 21

5

Asia 35 24 20 8

13

Europe 32 29 26 18

11

Oceania 14 11 9 4

5

Total 150 123 93 59

48

Source: UNSD, NSO websites

Table 2. Inclusion of topics in national population

censuses by world region. 2010-round of

Censuses

Region

Number of

countries

Question on

Ethnicity

Question on

Language

Question on

Religion

Africa 37 13 17 23

Americas 32 11 8 11

Asia 35 15 14 16

Europe 32 17 21 20

Oceania 14 8 6 10

Totalsum 150 64 66 80

Source: UNSD, NSO websites

Table 3. Inclusion of topics in national population

censuses by world region. 2010-round of Censuses

Region

Number of

countries

Reason for International Migration Reason for Internal Migration Specific questions on

Forced Displacement

Africa 37 6

Burkina Faso,

Egypt, Mauritius,

Zambia, Tunisia,

Djibouti,

3 Egypt, Somalia,

Djibouti 5

Burundi,

Liberia,

Somalia,

Sudan, Cote

d`Ivoire

Americas 32 3 American Samoa,

Belize, Cayman

Islands 4

Bermuda, Colombia,

American Samoa,

Saint-Lucien,

Colombia

0

Asia 35 8

Armenia,

Azerbaijan,

Bangladesh, China,

Cambodia, Iran,

Kazakhstan,

Maldives

11

Armenia, Azerbaijan,

Bangladesh,

Cambodia, India,

Iran, Maldives,

Timor-Leste,

Thailand, Sri Lanka,

Occupied Palestinian

Territory

3

Afghanistan,

Azerbaijan,

Occ. Palestinia

Territory

Europe 32 7

Albania, Belarus,

Bosnia and

Herzegovina,

Lithuania,

Montenegro, Serbia,

Russia

4 Albania, Bosnia and

Herzegovina,

Montenegro, Kosovo 3

Serbia,

Kosovo,

Bosnia and

Herzegovina

Oceania 14 2 Guam, Palau 0 0

Total 150 26 (17 %) 22 (15%) 11 (7%)

Source: UNSD, NSO websites

Heterogeneity in response categories

Source: UNSD, NSO websites

13

Table 4. Questions to identify IDPs in

population censuses

Country Separate

question on

internal

displacement

Internal

displacement

within broader

question

Current IDP Former IDP Reason for becoming IDP

Afghanistan Yes Yes

Azerbaijan Yes Yes

Bosnia-Herzegovina Yes Yes Yes

Burundi Yes Yes Yes

Cambodia Yes Yes Yes Yes

Colombia Yes Yes

Djibouti Yes Yes Yes

Cote d’Ivoire Yes Yes Yes Yes (crisis 2002, 2011)

Kosovo Yes Yes Yes (war 98, 99)

Liberia Yes Yes Yes Yes

Montenegro Yes Yes

Serbia Yes Yes Yes Yes (war 99)

Somalia Yes Yes Yes Yes

Sri Lanka Yes Yes Yes

Sudan Yes Yes

Source: UNSD, NSO websites

Some lessons learnt

• The census is best suited to give data on long(er) term

demography/integration of forcibly displaced persons, as well

as a tool for more targeted sample surveys and to cover out

of camp populations.

• The UN census recommendations can benefit from the

UNECE recommendations that give advice on inclusion of

forcibly displaced persons in the censuses.

• One additional question/topic: Reason for migration, can give

huge increase in relevant data.

• In 2010-round: Reason for migration only limited use and

lack of guidance gives heterogeneity in how the topic is

applied.

• Still untapped potential in existing data. Little has been

published (at least by NSOs).