The use of administrative and other records for the analysis of internal migration

Stat Inf Bull Afr. 1983:(15):57-64.

Abstract

PIP: There are 5 main types of administrative records that are of potential use in the analysis of internal migration in Africa: 1) population registers, 2) electoral rolls, 3) school records, 4) labor or employment records, and 5) social security records. The population register provides legal identification for the individual and records his movements from 1 civil subdivision to another. The process of establishing a population register is not a simple one. All 5 of these records are incomplete, defective, and in most cases decentralized; yet, in spite of these limitations, administrative records are potential sources of migration data. Because of their imcompleteness, major biases are likely to arise in their use. The 1st step is for National Statistical Services to assist in improving the coverage of events expected to be registered in any of these records. The 2nd step is to try to use the data through some form of ratio of regression estimation. If use is not made of the records for migration data, it is unlikely that the quality of the migration data in the records will ever improve.

MeSH terms

  • Africa
  • Delivery of Health Care
  • Demography
  • Developing Countries
  • Electronic Data Processing*
  • Emigration and Immigration*
  • Population
  • Population Characteristics
  • Population Dynamics*
  • Records*
  • Registries
  • Research*