Researchers at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) have devised a novel tool, the Global Migration Data Explorer, aimed at tackling the dearth of information regarding global migration movements. This resource offers a visual platform for comprehending migration patterns on a global scale.
The Global Migration Data Explorer builds upon the achievements of its precursor, incorporating estimations for more recent timeframes through the utilization of advanced estimation techniques. Moreover, its scope has expanded to encompass diverse measures of migration and the ability to analyze migration patterns by gender.
Migration dynamics
Developed collaboratively by the Migration and Sustainable Development Research Group within the IIASA Population and Just Societies Program and Shanghai University, this website presents a distinctive opportunity for users to explore the intricate dynamics inherent in global migration.
The platform provides researchers with access to six distinct estimation methods, thereby enabling them to gain valuable insights into migration flows. Such estimation techniques prove indispensable due to the scarcity of reliable data on international migration flows, which has hitherto hindered the accurate measurement of trends and patterns within the realm of global migration.
“International migration is becoming an increasingly important component of population growth and a driver for socioeconomic change,” the team explains. “Good data on international migration are crucial for monitoring migration related components of international development agendas and agreements such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration. This website fills a critical gap by providing estimates of migration flows that are invaluable to researchers studying migration systems, demographics, climate change, and epidemiology.”
Migration patterns
The Global Migration Data Explorer empowers individuals to delve into global migration patterns through an intuitive and interactive interface. The code underlying the data display, developed by Bolló, is openly available on GitHub, promoting transparency and fostering collaboration. Notably, users can access the data underlying the visualizations, which are openly accessible via the website.
This tool integrates United Nations (UN) estimates of foreign-born populations, widely regarded as the most reliable data source concerning global migration. While the UN data offers a snapshot of the migrant population at a specific moment in time, the flow estimates provide valuable insights into migration trends over periods, rendering them particularly beneficial for researchers investigating the causes and consequences of migration.
The team harbors tentative plans to expand the visualization tool’s scope to encompass internal migration within various countries, such as China. Additionally, they aim to introduce supplementary visualizations, including a map-based approach, enhancing the user experience and facilitating a deeper comprehension of migration patterns.
“We hope that this visualization tool will be used by the public to gain a better understanding of migration patterns and the relative sizes of migration to and from any particular country,” the team continues. “It is particularly rewarding to hear that schoolteachers have expressed their interest in using the website to educate their students, highlighting the need for up-to-date data and the applicability of the tool beyond academia.”
