CHAPTER 8 - Measurement of Internal Migration from Census Data

Abstract

This chapter discusses methods of measuring internal migration from census data. Methods of measuring internal migration from census data such as the census survival ratio method and the place of birth method have been tested in a variety of data situations, and their strengths and weaknesses have been pointed out. These tests have indicated that although, these methods have a built-in capacity to absorb some of the errors of the basic data, uncritical applications of them, without taking into consideration the nature and extent of errors in the basic data and without checking whether the assumptions involved in the method are fulfilled or not, can lead to erroneous conclusions about the pattern of migration in a country. It is therefore, necessary to check measures of migration derived from one type of census data against those derived from other types, and with estimates from sources other than census. Such consistency checks are particularly necessary in countries where the census data are subject to errors of under enumeration, misreporting, digit preference, and where regional differences in mortality levels are great.