 Measuring
Migrant
Stock in the Russian
Federation (and
selected CIS
countries)
Olga Chudinovskikh
Moscow State Lomonosov University
Overview





UN approach to migrant stock estimation in the
CIS countries: do the UN definitions always
guarantee a correct result?
Evolution in tradition of migrants’ identification
in RF and USSR
What data valid for migrants stock estimation do
the national censuses (Round 2000) in the CIS
countries present?
Data sources (related to migrants stock) in the
Russian Federation
Conclusions
UN DESA Population Division: Trends
In Total Migrant Stock: The 2005
Revision

The United States is the largest recipient of
international migrants, with 38 migrants in 2005.
It is followed by the Russian Federation (12
million), Germany (10 million), Ukraine, France
and Saudi Arabia (with over 6million
international migrants each).
(International) migrant definition in the USSR and the RF statistics and science
Before 1990- main problems: to decrease migration from ruarl areas and to
stimulate migration to the regions of rapid industrial development. No
experience of international migration estimation (no special methodology, no
special definitions)
Demographic encyclopedia published in 1985 defined only “a migrant” as “a
person who migrates, i.e.
 crosses the administrative borders of territories and
 changes place of residence for more or less long period”.
Criteria for statistical observation both of internal and international migrants in
the USSR and Russia :
neither citizenship, nor place of birth criterion is used.
Since 2002- citizenship is one of migrant’s characteristics.
1992-1993 – refugees and forced migrants definitions,
2002 – foreign citizens and stateless persons definition
No concrete definiton of an international migrant
(Inertia or heritage of the past)
Possible sources of data for
migrant stock estimation in the
CIS countries:

Census

Administrative records (residents with
permits, foreign workers, foreign students,
refugees, etc.)
Census :
the main source of data for migrants stock
estimation.
Questions related to migration in the CIS
Censuses (Round 2000) programmes







Place of birth
Citizenship
Had lived in the place of residence since birth / not since birth
If not – since what year –
Previous place of residence (RF – for those who moved after1989)
In some countries- place of residence at the census moment (Moldova), - If was
temporary absent – (period of absence ) (Azerbaijan ),
Refugees or deported (Ukraine, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan)
+ Languages, ethnicity
In the RF census program place of previous residence was mentioned only by those who arrived
in 1989-2002 and related to the date of the previous census: Where lived in 1989
(Region, Rural or Urban area)
Foreign and foreign born population
in selected CIS countries
Born out of Foreign
the rep.
citizens
%
of
population: %
Born out of Foreign
the rep.
citizens
Armenia
285695
27546
8,90%
0,90%
Ukraine
5156240
169122
10,70%
0,40%
Belarus
1158815
107756
11,50%
1,10%
Kazakhstan
2113173
85205
14,10%
0,60%
8,30%
1,00%
Russian
Federation
11976822 1025413
Foreign and foreign born population
in selected CIS countries
14,10%
10,70%
11,50%
8,90%
8,30%
1,00%
n
0,60%
an
Fe
de
r
at
io
an
1,10%
Ru
ss
i
Be
la
ru
s
Uk
ra
in
e
0,40%
Ka
za
kh
st
0,90%
`
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
Born out of the rep.
Foreign citizens
Foreign and foreign born population in selected
CIS countries
Nationals
Population
(pers.)
Born in
republic
Abs.
3213001
2927306
285695
3185455
27546
%
100,0%
91,1%
8,9%
99,1%
0,9%
Abs.
48240902
43084662
5156240
47950004
169122
%
100,0%
89,3%
10,7%
99,4%
0,4%
Abs.
10045237
8886422
1158815
9934539
107756
%
100%
88,5%
11,5%
98,9%
1,1%
Abs.
14953126
12839761
2113173
14867921
85205
Kazakhstan
%
100,0%
85,9%
14,1%
99,4%
0,6%
Russian
Federation
Abs.
145166731
131608720
11976822
142442404
1025413
%
100%
90,7%
8,3%
98,1%
1,0%
Armenia
Ukraine
Belarus
the
Born out
of
the
rep.
Citizens of
the
other
countries
and stateless
pers.
Period of residence criteria
Distribution of life-time migrants (born abroad)
by period of residence in selected CIS countries
Source: National censuses data (Round 2000)
Period of residence (years)
5 and
<
Ukraine
total
Abs.
%
Belarus
6 -- 9
10 and
more
After the
break
out of
the
USSR
Before
the
break
out of
the
USSR
351123
423451
4377354
5.156.240
778.886
4.377.35
4
6,8%
8,2%
84,9%
100%
15%
85%
198883
199738
864402
1.263.023
398.621
864.402
15,7%
15,8%
68,4%
100,0%
32%
68%
Abs.
%
Ethnicity as a criterion for migrants stock
estimation






One must be very careful
using this criterion
RF population – 190 ethnic
groups,
Ukraine, Belarus population
- more
than 130 ethnic groups
Partially can be applied to
some categories of migrants
to monitor their presence in
the country.
Self-identification – reliability
can not be proven
Thousand
1989
2002/
1989
2002
(%)
Armeinan
532
1130
212,4
Azerbaijani
336
622
185,1
119866
115889
97,6%
Russian
Percentage and dynamics of titular population in
selected CIS countries.
(Source - National censuses (Round 2000) data, Statistics yearbook “CIS countries in
2002”)
Dynamics of titular
population since the % of non% of titular last USSR census titular
population
(1989/ 2002 )
population
Azerbaijan
90,6%
1,24
9,4%
Armenia
99,1%
0,98
0,9%
Belarus
81,2%
1,03
18,8%
Kazakhstan
53,4%
1,23
46,6%
Kyrgyzstan
64,9%
1,40
35,1%
79,8%
0,97
20,2%
77,8%
1,003
22,2%
Russia
Ukraine
Foreigners, foreign born and non-titular population in
selected CIS countries- what criteria is the best?
0%
Armenia
Belarus
Kazakhstan
Ukraine
5%
0,9%
0,9%
1,1%
0,6%
0,4%
15%
10%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
8,9%
11,5%
18,8%
46,6%
14,1%
10,7%
Non-titular population
22,2%
Foreign born
Foreigners
Administrative records as a
source for migrant stock
estimation




Foreign workers
Refugees and asylum seekers
Data based on registration of foreigners
Data on residence permits…
Refugees (forced migrants)
in the RF
Stock of forced migrants total
2002
2003
20504
4726
2004
Variables :
•Previous place of residence
•New place of residence (RF regions)
•Number of applications
•Age and sex composition
•Level of education
•Ethnicity
•Etc.
4 291
2005
8 914
Foreign labour forceuncertainty of definitions
Total foreign
labore
force in
2005
Foreign workers in the
RF
702500
Data on
01.01 2005
Arrivals
2005
Departur
es
2005
Data on
31.12.
2005
256336 446164 258599 443901
Duration of foreign workers employment
in the RF (Arrived in 2005)
0,5%
87,7%
7,8%
4,0%
< 3 months
3 - 6 months
6-9 months
9-12 months
Problem of estimation of longterm visa holders
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


Categories of visa in the RF (each includes
subcategories)
Private (short term < or = 3 months)
Business (most of subcategories of this visa holders
could be long-term migrants: 3 m., then - up to 12
months, and could be extended)
Tourist (short-term < or = 1 month )
Student (many of visa holders are long-term extended
up to 12 months and more)
Job (most of subcategories could be long term)
Humanitarian (could be long-term)
Asylum (long term)
Transit – up to 10 days
Stock of foreigners with residence permits in the
RF (Migration service data)
552991
600000
500000
420710
400000
321944
300000
200000
Stock of foreigners with
temporary residence
permits
Stock of foreigners with
permanent residence
permits
Residents with permits
total
100000
0
2003
2004
2005
Presidence permits issued in 20032005, RF
300000
253096
250000
246332
200000
170268
Issued temporary
residence permits
Issued permanent
residence permits
150000
73160
100000
15995
50000 13131
0
2003
2004
2005
RF Citizenship acquisition
2005
508457
2004
333117
2003
38117
0
100000 200000 300000 400000 500000 600000
RF Census 2010 migration
related questions for residents
Place of birth
 Citizenship: RF, other,
 How did you get the RF citizenship –
by birth of as the USSR passport holder? Or –
By naturalization ?
Previous citizenship
When – did you get the RF citizenship?
 Your ethnicity
 Have you ever lived abroad for more than 1 year?
 Where did you arrived in the RF?
 etc

Foreign population central data bank
Planned to be created by January 2007),
responsible authority – Federal Migration service
Stage 1 (Ministry of home affairs data)
1.
Migration cards information on arrivals and departures of foreigners
2.
Data on refugees and asylum seekers
3.
Foreign workers data
Stage 2 (Ministry of home affairs data)
4.
Residence permits, temporary residence permits and stay permits
5.
Information on crimes committed against foreigners and by foreigners
Stage 3 (other ministries data)
6.
Federal border service data
7.
Visas and invitations statistics
8.
Customs Committee data
9.
Ministry of taxes data
10.
Other ministries and authorities data on foreigners
Stage 4
Information exchange and distribution (rules are not defined)
Why data on migrants stock are
considered to be important?
They are supposed to create a background for the
estimation of economic, political and cultural
consequences of foreign migrants’ presence in the
country, their interaction with local population, etc.
Concerns of immigrants integration
Migrants who moved before the break out of
the USSR (and partially – after) needed
adaptation rather than integration:
 Majority of them spoke the same language,
had common cultural origin,
were born in the same country and were
nationals of the same state

Experts’ point of view: Who is an international migrant?
(Experts – statisticians, migration service officers, researchers.)
Whom do you consider to be a long-term international migrant? ( RF
– 12 experts, other CIS count. – 6 experts)
Yes
No
6
(CIS-4)
12
(CIS-2)
2. Citizens of the other countries (place of birth in not considered)
15
3
3. Nationals of your country who returned after a long stay abroad
8
10
4. Non- titular population in your country (having titular states
abroad)
1
17
5. Children of foreigners who live in your country and were born in
you country
7
11
6. Those who arrived in your republic:
6.1. before the collapse of the USSR from the other Soviet republics
5
(CIS-3)
13
(CIS-3)
6.2. after the decay
18
(CIS-6)
0
1. Foreign born residents of your country (citizenship in not
considered)
Ukraine,
CIS COUNTRIES:
Question 6 .1
Question 6. 2
Kazakhstan
Moldova, Belarus,
3
Azerbaijan
6
3
0
Concluding remarks
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

No concrete or uniform definition of long-term
international migrant in the CIS countries
Censuses based data - prevalence of citizenship criterion
Preferable source of data - administrative records –
stocks of foreigners of different categories , as they are in
focus of migration policy
Ethnicity can not be (the main) criterion for migrant
identification in the CIS countries
Practical use of migrant stock estimation (foreign born
definition) is not applicable everywhere.
Historical background of population should be taken into
account.