Migration and Integration in Numbers

Migration is a complex phenomenon and when researching it in more detail, it is indispensable to raise the question about the quantitative proportions. When addressing the topic of migration, it is absolutely essential to have available reliable figures on migration inflows and outflows, for instance. In this context, not only figures about the geographical migration movements are of special interest, but also data on the integration of migrants in the receiving societies.

Due to the large number of different official and academic organisations that are working in migration-relevant societal areas, it is difficult to draw a coherent picture of the overall migration statistics. Therefore, it was necessary to identify the existing sources first (official statistics, estimates, academic research), to evaluate them critically and to select the relevant data for the preparation of this handbook. When evaluating the available sources, special attention was to be paid to deficits as regards conception and methodology. Therefore, the comments on the relevance of the data and figures are a central aspect of this book. For that purpose, the ways data were collected (e.g. who collects and publishes the data?) as well as their legal background have been documented. Special attention is also given to figures often neglected in the public discourse (e.g. numbers on outflows and re-migration).

This documentation was published as Forum Migration 4 and it was conceptually designed as a continuous reporting system, serving as a kind of data information system, which is updated on a regular basis by the publication of the Migration Reports. The handbook wants to present a European perspective of migration, although there is a special focus on the Federal Republic of Germany as it is the country with the largest number of migrants in Europe and plays a central (European) role in many respects.

In addition, figures and data on the classic immigration countries United States, Canada and Australia are included. In order to gather information on the validity of the official statistics and the research reports, expert interviews were held on the individual topics addressed.

Funding: Stiftung Bevölkerung, Migration und Umwelt / Die Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Ausländerfragen
Completed: December 1997
Researcher: Harald W. Lederer

Publications: Forum Migration 4 Migration und Integration in Zahlen. Ein Handbuch. Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Ausländerangelegenheiten (ed.), Harald W. Lederer (author). Bonn 1997, 360 pages (German) with 112 tables and 154 illustration.
CD ROM Migration und Integration in Zahlen. Ausgabe 1997. europäisches forum für migrationsstudien (ed.), Harald W. Lederer (author). Bamberg 1997, ca. 360 MB (German) with 112 tables and 154 charts.