Data on International Migration and Migrants’ Remittances

Because many people migrate clandestinely and remit money home under the radar in the form of cash, there is no source of data on international migration and remittance flows that is completely accurate or precise. The data has improved in recent years, however, and some of the following estimates may help you with your research. Feel free to add links to data sets that I’ve overlooked in the comments section. Note: Before conducting any analyses, it’s important to understand what your data is measuring and how the figures are compiled. Make sure to read all the documentation.

International Migration Data (global)

• United Nations: Trends in International Migrant Stock
• OECD: Migration Databases

United States Immigration Data

• U.S. Census Bureau: U.S. Foreign Born 

• Pew Hispanic Center

Mexico Immigration/Emigration Data

• Consejo Nacional de Población (CONAPO)

• Instituto National de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI)

• Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior (IME)

Remittances (global data)

The World Bank publishes annual figures on remittance inflows to most countries. The quality of this data varies from country-to-country, year-to-year. Read my earlier article about why this is so.

• World Bank: World Development Indicators

This article by Jens Reinke provides important information about this data.

Remittances Data (by country)

Some countries keep better records on remittances than others and publish data on a monthly or quarterly basis. Here are a few countries known to keep some of the best monthly data on remittance inflows.

• Central Bank of Mexico

• Central Bank of Guatemala

• Central Bank of the Philippines

• Central Bank of El Salvador

• Central Bank of the Dominican Republic