NationMaster Stats Feed: Immigration Category

Immigration > Refugees and internally displaced persons > Refugees (country of origin)

Definition: This entry includes those persons residing in a country as refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs). The definition of a refugee according to a United Nations Convention is "a person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country, or to return there, for fear of persecution." The UN established the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1950 to handle refugee matters worldwide. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has a different, operational definition for a Palestinian refugee: "a person whose normal place of residence was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948 and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict." However, UNHCR also assists some 400,000 Palestinian refugees not covered under the UNRWA definition. The term "internally displaced person" is not specifically covered in the UN Convention; it is used to describe people who have fled their homes for reasons similar to refugees, but who remain within their own national territory and are subject to the laws of that state.
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008
Number of countries: 62

Immigration > Refugees and internally displaced persons > IDPs (per capita)

Definition: This entry includes those persons residing in a country as refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs). The definition of a refugee according to a United Nations Convention is "a person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country, or to return there, for fear of persecution." The UN established the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1950 to handle refugee matters worldwide. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has a different, operational definition for a Palestinian refugee: "a person whose normal place of residence was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948 and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict." However, UNHCR also assists some 400,000 Palestinian refugees not covered under the UNRWA definition. The term "internally displaced person" is not specifically covered in the UN Convention; it is used to describe people who have fled their homes for reasons similar to refugees, but who remain within their own national territory and are subject to the laws of that state. Per capita figures expressed per 1,000 population
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008
Number of countries: 40

Immigration > Net migration rate

Definition: The difference between the number of persons entering and leaving a country during the year per 1,000 persons (based on midyear population). An excess of persons entering the country is referred to as net immigration (e.g., 3.56 migrants/1,000 population); an excess of persons leaving the country as net emigration (e.g., -9.26 migrants/1,000 population). The net migration rate indicates the contribution of migration to the overall level of population change. High levels of migration can cause problems such as increasing unemployment and potential ethnic strife (if people are coming in) or a reduction in the labor force, perhaps in certain key sectors (if people are leaving).
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008
Number of countries: 225

Immigration > Refugees and internally displaced persons > IDPs

Immigration > Refugee population by country or territory of origin

Definition: Refugees are people who are recognized as refugees under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol, the 1969 Organization of African Unity Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, people recognized as refugees in accordance with the UNHCR statute, people granted a refugee-like humanitarian status, and people provided with temporary protection. Asylum seekers are people who have applied for asylum or refugee status and who have not yet received a decision or who are otherwise registered as asylum seekers. Country of origin generally refers to the nationality or country of citizenship of a claimant.
Source: World Development Indicators database
Number of countries: 77

Immigration > Refugee population by country or territory of asylum

Definition: Refugees are people who are recognized as refugees under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol, the 1969 Organization of African Unity Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, people recognized as refugees in accordance with the UNHCR statute, people granted a refugee-like humanitarian status, and people provided with temporary protection. Asylum seekers are people who have applied for asylum or refugee status and who have not yet received a decision or who are otherwise registered as asylum seekers. Country of asylum is the country where an asylum claim was filed.
Source: World Development Indicators database
Number of countries: 151

Immigration > Net migration

Definition: Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the total number of immigrants less the annual number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens. Data are five-year estimates.
Source: World Development Indicators database
Number of countries: 180

Immigration > International migration stock, total

Definition: Migration stock is the number of people born in a country other than that in which they live. It also includes refugees.
Source: World Development Indicators database
Number of countries: 205

Immigration > International migration stock > % of population

Immigration > Refugee population by country or territory of origin (per capita)

Definition: Refugees are people who are recognized as refugees under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol, the 1969 Organization of African Unity Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, people recognized as refugees in accordance with the UNHCR statute, people granted a refugee-like humanitarian status, and people provided with temporary protection. Asylum seekers are people who have applied for asylum or refugee status and who have not yet received a decision or who are otherwise registered as asylum seekers. Country of origin generally refers to the nationality or country of citizenship of a claimant. Per capita figures expressed per 1 million population.
Source: World Development Indicators database
Number of countries: 77