THESIMTowards Harmonised European Statistics

on International Migration

Project financed by the 6th Framework Research Programme of the European Union

Statistics on international migration and asylum in Belgium

Nicolas Perrin

Situation in terms of migration statistics

• Belgium has efficient administrative databases• We should be able to produce most indicators• However, until recently:

– Potentially available data, but statistics are often neither produced nor published

– Harmonisation was not a priority

Recent efforts in terms of improvementand harmonisation

• Efforts were done to improve the situation– By Statistics Belgium– By Immigration Service (Office des Etrangers)– …

• It will take time …

• … but first results

Some results…

Foreigners and Belgian citizens, 1.1.2005

Nationals; 9.574.990; 92%

Foreigners; 870.862; 8%

Foreigners by country of citizenship, 1.1.2005

EU15; 571.636; 65%10 new member-states;

20.738; 2%

non-EU; 291.276; 33%

Foreigners by country of citizenship, 1.1.2005

Italy20%

France13%

The Netherlands12%

Spain5%

Germany4%

Poland2%

other new-EU member-states1%

other EU15-nationals2%

Portugal3%

United Kingdom3%

Greece2%

Morocco9%

Turkey5%

United States of America1%

Other third-country nationals EU nationals

16%

Congo, the Dem. Rep. Of the2%

Immigrations and emigrations of foreigners,1975-2004

0

10.000

20.000

30.000

40.000

50.000

60.000

70.000

80.000

1975

1976

1977

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

Immigrations

Emigrations

Immigrations and emigrations of foreigners by citizenship 1975-2004

0

1.000

2.000

3.000

4.000

5.000

6.000

7.000

8.000

9.000

10.000

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

Italy

France

The Netherlands

Morocco

Turkey

Evolution of the number of foreigners, 1948-2005

0

100.000

200.000

300.000

400.000

500.000

600.000

700.000

800.000

900.000

1.000.000

194

8

1950

1952

195

4

195

6

1958

1960

196

2

196

4

196

6

1968

197

0

197

2

197

4

1976

1978

198

0

198

2

1984

1986

198

8

199

0

199

2

1994

1996

199

8

200

0

2002

200

4

Evolution of the number of foreigners by main citizenship, 1962-2005

0

50.000

100.000

150.000

200.000

250.000

300.000

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

Italy

France

The Netherlands

Morocco

Turkey

Acquisitions of citizenship

0

10.000

20.000

30.000

40.000

50.000

60.000

70.000

1948

1950

1952

1954

1956

1958

1960

1962

1964

1966

1968

1970

1972

1974

1976

1978

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

8% of foreigners (1.1.2005)

Belgian citizens; 9574990; 92%

Foreigners; 870862; 8%

15% of foreigners and Belgian citizens by acquisition (1.1.2005)

Belgian citizens at birth; 8875377; 85%

Belgian citizens by acquisition; 699613; 7%

Foreigners; 870862; 8%

Foreigners and Belgian citizens by acquisition and citizenship of origin

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Turkey

Morocco

TOTAL

Italy

France

The Netherlands

Foreigners

Belgian citizens by acquisition

New asylum applications, 1988-2005

0

5.000

10.000

15.000

20.000

25.000

30.000

35.000

40.000

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Citizenship of new applicants

Congo (DRC)8,9%

Russia8,4%

Serbia-Montenegro7,6%

Irak6,4%

Armenia4,9%

Guinea4,6%

Nepal3,9%Rwanda

3,9%Cameroon

3,7%

Togo3,0%

Turkey2,8%

Slovakia2,8%

Bulgaria2,7%

Romania2,5%

China2,2%

Others31,8%

Lessons from the Belgium example:

– Statistics are useful to understand the migration process

– It is possible to improve those statistics

– Further efforts are needed

THESIM Towards Harmonised European Statistics on International Migration

Thank you

Project financed by the 6th Framework Research Programme of the European Union

THESIMTowards Harmonised European Statistics

on International Migration

Press conference

Project financed by the 6th Framework Research Programme of the European Union

When?   30th March 2006 at 10:30 Where?  Résidence Palace (lecture room, ground floor)                rue de la Loi, 155                 BrusselsWho?  - Michel Poulain (Unviersité catholique de Louvain) - Ann Singleton (University of Bristol) - Nicolas Perrin (Université catholique de Louvain)