Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Eurostat, The Statistical Office of the European Union.
1.2. Contact organisation unit
F2: Population and Migration
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
2920 Luxembourg LUXEMBOURG
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
20 February 2026
2.2. Metadata last posted
20 February 2026
2.3. Metadata last update
20 February 2026
3.1. Data description
Eurostat's annual collections of statistics on international migration flows are structured as follows:
NOWCAST: Annual collection of provisional monthly data on live births and deaths covering at least 6 months of the reference year (Article 4.3 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 205/2014) and provisional monthly data on migrants covering at least 6 months of the reference year on a voluntary basis.
DEMOBAL(Demographic balance): Annual collection of provisional data on population, total live births and total deaths at national level (Article 4.1 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 205/2014) and provisional data on total migrants at national level on a voluntary basis.
POPSTAT (population statistics): The most in-depth annual national and regional data collection on demography and migration, for population, births, deaths, immigrants, emigrants, marriages and divorces by a large number of breakdowns. (Article 3 of Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 and Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007).
The aim is to collect annual mandatory and voluntary data from the national statistical institutes. Mandatory data are those defined by the legislation listed under ‘6.1. Institutional mandate — legal acts and other agreements’.
The quality of the demographic data collected on a voluntary basis depends on the availability and quality of information provided by the national statistical institutes.
For more information on mandatory/voluntary data collection, see 6.1. Institutional mandate — legal acts and other agreements.
The following data on migrants are collected under the POPSTAT data collection:
Immigrants by age, sex and:
Country of citizenship;
Country of birth;
Country of previous residence.
Immigrants by country of citizenship and country of birth.
Emigrants by age, sex and:
Country of citizenship;
Country of birth;
Country of next residence.
3.2. Classification system
For GEO (reporting country), CITIZEN (citizenship), C_BIRTH (country of birth) and PARTNER (country of previous/next residence) classifications, the two-letter ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) 3166 alpha-2 code is used. However, Greece and the United Kingdom are exceptions to this, for which the abbreviations EL and UK are used.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Not applicable.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Immigration: the action by which a person establishes his or her usual residence in the territory of a Member State for a period that is, or is expected to be, of at least 12 months, having previously been usually resident in another Member State or a third country.
Emigration: the action by which a person, having previously been usually resident in the territory of a Member State, ceases to have his or her usual residence in that Member State for a period that is, or is expected to be, of at least 12 months.
Usual residence: the place where a person normally spends the daily period of rest, regardless of temporary absences for purposes of recreation, holidays, visits to friends and relatives, business, medical treatment or religious pilgrimage or, in default, the place of legal or registered residence. The following persons alone are considered to be usual residents of the geographical area:
those wo have lived in their place of usual residence for a continuous period of at least 12 months before the reference time; or
those who arrived in their place of usual residence during the 12 months before the reference time with the intention of staying there for at least one year.
Immigrant: a person undertaking an immigration.
Emigrant: a person undertaking an emigration.
Citizenship: the particular legal bond between an individual and his/her State, acquired by birth or naturalization, whether by declaration, choice, marriage or other means according to national legislation.
Foreigner: recipient of a citizenship different to the citizenship of the country that person is living in. A foreigner is either a citizen of another Member State or a citizen of a non-EU country.
Non-national: recipient of citizenship other than the citizenship of the country that person is living in, or a stateless person. A non-national is either a citizen of another Member State or a citizen of a non-EU country, or a stateless.
Stateless: A stateless person is not considered as a national by any State under the operation of its law, as set out in article 1 of the 1954 Convention relating to the status of stateless persons.
Recognised non-citizens: Persons who are not citizens of the reporting country, nor of any other country, but who have established links to the reporting country, which include some but not all of the rights and obligations of full citizenship. This category consists mainly of former Soviet citizens living in the Baltic States who have not applied for the citizenship of their current country of usual residence.
Country of birth: the country of residence (in its current borders, if the information is available) of the mother at the time of the birth or, in default, the country (in its current borders, if the information is available) in which the birth took place.
Countries by inclusion/exclusion in immigration flows of live births by resident mother/father but occurred outside the reporting country:
Included: CZ**, NL***, PL*, SK*
Excluded:BE, BG, DK, DE, EE, IE, EL, ES, FR, HR, IT, CY, LV, LT, LU, HU, MT, AT, PT, RO, SI, FI, SE, UK, IS, LI, NO, CH
*If registered in the reporting country.
**: If live birth is registered in the reporting country later than February T+1, and within 3 years after birth.
***: If the child enters the country later than 8 days after his birth.
Age definition of migration statistics under Article 3 of Regulation (EC) 862/2007 for Reference Year 2024:
Age reached (age at the end of the year): BE, BG, CZ, DK, DE, EE, ES, FR, HR, IT, CY, LV, LT, LU, HU, NL, PL, PT, SK, FI, SE, IS, LI, NO, CH, ME, MK
Age completed (age on the last birthday): BE, BG, DK, DE, IE, EL, ES, HR, IT, LT, LU, HU, MT, AT, PL, RO, SI, SK, FI, SE, NO, ME, MK
Level of development: the relative degree of development of a country as defined by statistical measures of three basis dimensions - health, education and standard of living. The list of countries and citizenships to be included in each groups by level of development is given in Annexes.
Refugee: person granted refugee status (as defined in Art.2(e) of Directive 2011/95/EC within the meaning of Art.1 of the Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 28 July 1951, as amended by the New York Protocol of 31 January 1967) or person granted subsidiary protection (as defined in Art.2(g) of Directive 2011/95/EC and person covered by a decision granting authorisation to stay for humanitarian reasons under national law concerning international protection.
Asylum seeker: First-time asylum applications are country-specific and imply no time limit. Therefore, an asylum seeker can apply for first time in a given country and afterward again as first-time applicant in any other country. If an asylum seeker lodge again an application in the same country after any period of time, (s)he is not considered again a first-time applicant.
Countries by inclusion/exclusion in the data on population reported to Eurostat of asylum seekers and refugees (latest available year):
Included (population):
Asylum seekers usual residents for at least 12 months: BE, DE, EE, IE, EL, ES, FR, IT, CY, LU, MT, NL, AT, PT, SI, LI, CH
Refugees usual residents for at least 12 months: BE, BG, CZ, DK, DE, EE, IE, EL, ES, FR, HR, IT, CY, LV, LT, LU, HU, MT, NL, AT, PL, PT, RO, SI, FI, SE, UK, IS, LI, NO, CH
Refugees from Ukraine who benefit from temporary protection in the EU: BE, BG, CZ, DK, DE, EE, IE, EL, ES, FR, HR, IT, CY, LV, LT, LU, HU, MT, NL, AT, PT, RO, SI, FI1, SE, IS, LI, NO, CH
Excluded (population):
Asylum seekers usual residents for at least 12 months: BG, CZ, DK, HR, LV, LT, HU, PL, RO, SK, FI, SE, IS, NO
Refugees usual residents for at least 12 months: SK
Refugees from Ukraine who benefit from temporary protection in the EU: PL, SK
(1) Only those who have applied for permanent residence are included.
Countries by inclusion/exclusion in the data on migration reported to Eurostat of asylum seekers and refugees in the data on migration (latest available year):
Included (migration):
Asylum seekers usual residents for at least 12 months: BE, DE, EE, IE, EL, ES, FR, IT, CY, LU, MT, NL, AT, PT, SI, LI, CH
Refugees usual residents for at least 12 months: BE, BG, CZ, DK, DE, EE, IE, EL, ES, FR, HR, IT, CY, LV, LT, LU, HU, MT, NL, AT, PL, PT, RO, SI, FI, SE, UK, IS, LI, NO, CH
Refugees from Ukraine who benefit from temporary protection in the EU: BE, BG, CZ, DK, DE, EE, IE, EL, ES, FR, HR, IT, CY, LV, LT, LU, HU, MT, NL, AT, PT, RO, SI, FI1, SE, IS, LI, NO, CH
Excluded (migration):
Asylum seekers usual residents for at least 12 months: BG, CZ, DK, HR, LV, LT, HU, PL, RO, SK, FI, SE, IS, NO
Refugees usual residents for at least 12 months: SK
Refugees from Ukraine who benefit from temporary protection in the EU: PL, SK
(1) Only those who have applied for permanent residence are included.
3.5. Statistical unit
The statistical unit used is ‘number’ as indicated in the online database or by the titles of tables.
3.6. Statistical population
The statistical population is the total population. For more information on the population concepts used, see the population reference metadata (demo_pop).
3.7. Reference area
The migration statistics are disseminated by single country as follows:
The available time series collected and published in the Eurostat database varies depending on the migration breakdowns, with the longest time series starting in 1990 by age and sex, in 1998 by country of citizenship, country of previous/next residence and in 2008 by country of birth.
The completeness of the time series for the migration statistics collected on a voluntary basis before the entry into force of the regulations listed in ‘6.1 Institutional mandate — legal acts and other agreements’ and for the statistics that continue to be supplied to Eurostat on a voluntary basis depends on the availability of data the national statistical institutes send Eurostat.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Data on migrants are disseminated in integer numbers.
The reference period for migration flows data is the calendar year in which the migration occurred.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Documents
Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 July 2007 on Community statistics on migration and international protection and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 311/76 on the compilation of statistics on foreign workers, Article 3.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 351/2010 as regards the definitions of the categories of the groups of country of birth, groups of country of previous usual residence, groups of country of next usual residence and groups of citizenship, with 1 January of the reference year as the reference date for drawing up the list of countries to be included in each of the groups. However, given Regulation (EU) 1260/2013 on European demographic statistics had entered into force and for the sake of consistency, it was decided by gentlemen’s agreement to take the end of the reference year as the reference date and to exclude stateless people from the category of non-EU nationals.
For the series listed in ‘3.1. Data description’, data collected on a voluntary basis are:
Immigration and emigration data by age, sex and country of citizenship, country of previous/next residence before reference year 2008;
Immigration by age, sex and single country of citizenship/country of birth/country of previous residence since reference year 2008;
Immigration by country of citizenship and country of birth since reference year 2008;
Emigration by age and sex since reference year 2008;
Emigration by age, sex and single country of citizenship/country of birth/country of next residence since reference year 2008.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 states that there is a need to establish common principles and guidelines to ensure the confidentiality of the data used to produce European statistics and to ensure access to these confidential data. This must be done taking due account of technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society and Amending Regulation (EU) No 2015/759 of 29 April 2015 on the violation of statistical confidentiality.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Not applicable.
8.1. Release calendar
March T+1: Migration flows by age, sex and citizenship/country of birth/country of previous/next residence for reference year T-1.
Notes:
Migration data refer to the amount of immigration and emigration that occurred during the reference period of one calendar year T-1 from 1 January until 31 December of year T-1;
Migration data are collected by Eurostat annually by 31 December of year T;
Migration data are disseminated by Eurostat annually by March of year T+1.
Eurostat disseminates online revisions of data (from provisional to definitive data, for example) as soon as they are sent. The date of the online table may therefore differ from March T+1.
More information regarding methodology by country can be found in the national metadata files online, linked inside the Eurostat Population metadata and in the annexes.
According to Art. 12 of the Regulation (EC) No 862/2007, "starting August 2012 and every three years thereafter, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the statistics compiled pursuant to this Regulation and on their quality":
every 3 years thereafter. Next report by August 2027.
These reports evaluate the quality of the data Member States and EFTA countries send to Eurostat and the data collection methods used. If appropriate, the reports should be accompanied by proposals to improve the legal framework for migration statistics under this Regulation.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Migration statistics and demographic statistics in general are widely used to plan actions, evaluate programmes and monitor trends in a number of social and economic policy fields. They play an important role in areas such as:
Evaluating the economic, social and environmental impacts of demographic change;
Analysing population ageing and its effects on sustainability and welfare;
Calculating per capita indicators;
Studying population trends in Europe.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
No user satisfaction surveys are carried out.
12.3. Completeness
Data completeness depends on the availability of data from the national statistical institutes.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Not available.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
For the timeliness of data release see8.1Release calendar.
14.2. Punctuality
Not applicable.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The recommended definition of population, in line with Regulation (EC) No 862/2007, is the ‘usually resident population’, meaning all the people usually resident in a Member State on the reference date. On the basis of this definition, the following people alone are considered usual residents of the geographical area in question: those who have lived in their place of usual residence continuously for at least 12 months before the reference date or those who arrived in their place of usual residence during the 12 months before the reference date with the intention of staying there for at least 1 year. If the circumstances described above cannot be established, ‘usual residence’ can be taken to mean the place of legal or registered residence.
According to Regulation (EC) No 862/2007, migrants should be defined the same way as population. For example, if population is defined in terms of usual residence, then the number of immigrants should be the number of those who establish their usual residence in the territory of a Member State for a period that is, or is expected to be, of at least 12 months, having previously been usually resident in another Member State or a non-EU country.
The metadata provided by the countries in question confirm that migration statistics are calculated according to the harmonised definition given above.
Countries by time criteria used for the definition of migration and typology of flow for reference year 2024:
Notes: The national statistical definition of emigration of FI and SE is based on a six-month criterion for some countries of next residence (Nordic agreement), although the impact is declared negligible. The national statistical definition of immigration and emigration of NO is based on a six-month criterion.
EEA European Economic Area (EU plus IS, LI, NO).
15.2. Comparability - over time
Breaks in data series could compromise comparability over time. The breaks in migration series due to methodological changes, data processing changes or revisions in migration counts reported by the countries in question are documented in Eurostat’s database with the flag b (break in series).
The reason the migration flows data available between reference years 2008 and 2009 is flagged as a break in the series is a change in methods of production, described as a first shift from the national definition of migration to the 12-month definition.
The migration data for 2021 and thereafter take into account the results of the population census held in 2021/2022.
Improvements in and changes to administrative systems and statistical methodology may also cause breaks in the time series.
There is more information on methodology by country in the annex.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
First residence permits statistics issued to third country nationals are often considered by the general public as equivalent to long term international immigration of third country nationals' statistics.
However, the two data sources are not fully coherent. Main reasons are differences in concepts and methods. In particular, there are two main types of effects from those differences:
A residence permit is also considered as a first residence permit if it is a renewal permit issued for the same reason but with a time gap of at least 6 months between expiry of the old and the start of the validity of the new permit, irrespective of the year of issuance. Therefore, first residence permits statistics include cases who were already present in the country and have been issued a renewed residence permit after an expiry of their previous permit. In addition, a person whose initial residence permit may be valid for less than 12 months, is however included in the immigration flow, if their residence permits (or consecutive residence permits) are extended to a total of 12 months during the year.
Data on migratory events should be provided with reference to the time of occurrence, unlike data on residence permits where the date of reference is that of the administrative act. Most likely, there is a time gap between the two events (factual migration and issuance of the residence permit), and the closer the factual migration is to the end of the year, the higher the probability that the two events will be reported in two different reference years. This is also the case in periods where there are high inflows which put the regular administrative system under unusual burden.
For conceptual variations, please refer to 3.4. Statistical Concepts and definitions in International migration and Residence Permit statistics metadata.
For details regarding methods and errors, please see in 18. Statistical processing and in 13. Accuracy in International migration and Residence Permit statistics metadata.
There is more information on the difference in the annexes.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The datasets [migr_imm8] and [migr_emi2] are based on the unified demographic data collection (previously UNIDEMO, now POPSTAT). From 2008 onwards the annual migration data fall under the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council on Community statistics on migration and international protection. This means that these statistics are collected by countries according to harmonised definitions listed in 3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions.
For the annual demographic balance data collection (DEMOBAL), Eurostat produces net migration figures by taking the difference between total population change and natural change. This is referred to as net migration plus statistical adjustment.
In other words:
Net migration plus statistical adjustments (T-1) = population change (T-1) — natural change (T-1), where:
Population change (T-1) = population as of January T — population as of 1 January (T-1)
Natural change (T-1) = live births (T-1) — deaths (T-1)
The statistics on ‘net migration plus statistical adjustment’ might therefore be affected by statistical inaccuracies or by methodological differences in the two components of this equation. From one country to another ‘net migration plus statistical adjustment’ may cover, besides the difference between inward and outward migration, other changes observed in the population figures between 1 January in 2 consecutive years that cannot be attributed to births, deaths, immigration or emigration.
This explains the difference between the calculation of net migration by the user, using harmonised definitions, and ‘Net migration plus statistical adjustment’ presented in the dataset [demo_gind] using the national definition and as the difference between the population and natural change. See the reference metadata Population change — Demographic balance and crude rates at national level.
Not applicable.
17.1. Data revision - policy
The policy of Eurostat is to update the information it provides as soon as data are received and at any time during the year.
Member States shall inform the Eurostat of any planned revision of the data already supplied no later than one week before the release of the revised data in the Member State concerned.
Member States shall provide any revised data to the Eurostat no later than one week after the release of these data.
Member States shall ensure that any revised data provided to the Eurostat is consistent with the whole set of data already provided.
The policy of Eurostat is to make updates as soon as data is received and at any time during the year.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Migration statistics are revised on a continuous base according to the most recent data released and transmitted to Eurostat by the National Statistical Institutes. The geographical aggregates and the indicators are accordingly revised.
The status of the data is indicated using flags (p = provisional data; e = estimated; b = break in time series).
The revision practice effectively corresponds to the revision policy of the domain listed under sub‑concept 17.1 Data revision – policy.
All reported errors (once validated) result in corrections of the disseminated data.
Reported errors are corrected in the disseminated data as soon as the correct data have been validated.
Data may be published even if they are missing for certain countries or flagged as provisional or estimated for certain countries. They are replaced with final data once transmitted and validated. European aggregates and indicators are updated for consistency with new country data.
Whenever new data are provided and validated, the already disseminated data are updated and European aggregates and indicators are accordingly revised.
Data are usually revised for the last period. Countries however may choose the length of the revisions depending on the need. In principle, aggregates and components are revised at the same time or soon after a data revision is received by Eurostat. For most of the countries data are considered final with the first sending, except in case of errors discovered after transmitting data to Eurostat. Revisions are published continuously as soon as received by Eurostat. Routine revisions are documented and monitored internally and communicated in the metadata files available in dissemination.
The impact of major revisions is analysed in working documents produced for experts' meetings held with representatives of National Statistical Institutes. Time series breaks caused by major revisions are not flagged, to provide break-free data, back-calculation is applied.
Major revisions are pre-announced and documented in the metadata files available in dissemination. The impacts of major revisions are communicated in working documents produced for experts meetings held with representatives of National Statistical Institutes.
18.1. Source data
Eurostat collects migration data from national statistical institutes who remain free to use any appropriate data sources, according to national availability and practice, as long as they adhere to the harmonised definitions of migration statistics in Regulation (EC) No 862/2007. Member States generally base their migration flow data on administrative sources, sample surveys, census data, mirror data, mathematical methods or a combination of data sources.
BE: Belgian population register.
BG: National Population Register, Ministry of Interior, National Revenue Agency, National Social Security Institute.
CZ: Foreigners Information System (non-nationals), Health Insurance Register (nationals).
DK: Central population register.
DE: Residents' registration offices for nationals; Central Register of Foreigners for non-nationals.
EE: Administrative data sources, register-based census.
IE: Labour Force Survey (LFS), Immigration in a census year will eventually be based on census results.
EL: For Immigrants, an estimation method is used for the total immigration flow. Moreover, administrative data are drawn from the Ministry of Migration and Asylum regarding persons seeking international protection if fleeing from several non-EU countries or temporary protection if fleeing from Ukraine. For Emigrants, an estimation method is used for the total emigration flow which is then distributed over sex/age and EU/non EU destination countries.
ES: Migration and Change of Residence Statistics is obtained from the Population Censuses and the variations recorded in the Municipal Register database.
FR: For immigrants, census (annual census survey). For emigrants, census and population estimations.
HR: Migration statistics are carried out based on data collected by the Ministry of the Interior (database on permanent and temporary residence; database on foreigners).
IT: Municipality registers up to 2017. Basic Register of Individuals alligned with Census from 2018 onward.
CY: Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection, Passengers Survey, Social Insurance Data, Other surveys and sources available by the Statistical Service.
LV: Register of Natural persons and data from other administrative sources.
LT: Population Register managed by the State Enterprise Centre of Registers; Register of Aliens.
LU: Population Register.
HU: National Directorate General for Aliens Policing, National Health Insurance Fund.
MT: Compilation of demographic statistics is carried out mainly using administrative data, although mathematical models and survey-based estimates are used for the compilation of some migration flows.
NL: Population register.
AT: Central Residence Register, since 1 January 2002.
PL: In accordance with the Regulation (EC) No 1260/2013 – administrative data. In accordance with the Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 – estimated data based on administrative data, mirror statistics, national statistical surveys.
PT: Immigrants: LFS annual estimates and residence permit issued data from Immigration and Borders Service. Emigrants: Emigration survey (LFS module).
RO: Data on immigrants flows were estimated based on multiple data sources, the main ones being: the data provided by national statistical offices of Italy and Spain, the "mirror statistics” on international migration (the emigrants to Romania declared by other countries representing immigrants for national statistics), data from administrative sources. It should be noted that mirror statistics are used to evaluate general trend of immigrants figures for the reference year.
Data on emigrants flows were estimated based on multiple data sources, the main ones being: the data provided by national statistical offices of Italy and Spain, the "mirror statistics” on international migration (the immigrants from Romania declared by the other Member State representing emigrants on Romanian statistics). It should be noted that mirror statistics are used to evaluate general trend of emigrants figures for the reference year.
SI: Central Population Register, other data sources.
SK: Exhaustive monthly statistical survey on migration in terms of change of the address of usual residence (including foreign and internal migration) organised by the Statistical Office of SK by means of the Statistical Report on Migration(OBYV5-12) - it is an individual form to be completed for each single person undertaking migration. Reporting units: residence registration offices of municipal and city authorities for SK nationals, Foreign Police Department of the Ministry of Interior for foreigners.
FI: Population information system of the Digital and population data services agency.
SE: The Total Population Register.
IS: Population Register(s).
LI: Population Register.
NO: National Population Register.
CH: Cantonal and communal population registers and federal registers of persons.
UK: Main data sources are: 1. International Passenger Survey (ONS). 2. Asylum seeker approvals (Home Office). 3. Northern Ireland Health card data (NISRA). 4. Labour Force Survey (ONS – calibration only).
ME: The data source is administrative – registers of temporary and permanent resident by the Ministry of Interiors.
MK: Administrative data.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Data are collected annually.
18.3. Data collection
National statistical institutes collect the statistics and send them to Eurostat. Data are requested from national statistical institutes as part of the unified demographic data collection. The unified demographic data collection contains both mandatory and voluntary data (see section 3.1. Data description).
18.4. Data validation
The validation checks carried out on raw data sent to Eurostat by the national statistical institutes are either checks of internal consistency within each table, or checks of external consistency between different tables reporting the same data differently disaggregated.
Eurostat also asks data providers to supply specific metadata describing the definitions used and the quality of the statistical outputs to assess uniform standards. To ensure the consistency and comparability of the statistics produced, Eurostat checks if the data it receives are consistent internally and over time, and if they are in line with the principles of the European Statistics Code of Practice and Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics.
In the context of the annual demographic balance, Eurostat produces net migration figures by taking the difference between total population change and natural change at EU level. This is referred to as net migration plus statistical adjustment. The statistics on ‘net migration plus statistical adjustment’ are affected by the impact of adjustments (statistical inaccuracies, or methodological differences in the two components of this equation), as compared to ‘net migration’ (immigrants minus emigrants) that are affected by the impact of mirror errors (comparison between two independent measurements of the same migration flow, one reported by the receiving and one by the sending country). In theory, intra-EU migration statistics based on the 12-month time criterion should be fully comparable among reporting countries. The number of emigrants from Member State A to Member State B, as reported by A, should be almost equal to immigrants into B from A, as reported by B. However, care should be taken when comparing intra-EU migration statistics. National data suppliers can have different practices and are free to use any appropriate data sources available. There may therefore be discrepancies. Migration flow data are largely based on administrative data sources. Population register systems recording migration movements of people into and out of the countries concerned differ greatly from country to country. The propensity to register and de-register is also an issue.
Eurostat's annual collections of statistics on international migration flows are structured as follows:
NOWCAST: Annual collection of provisional monthly data on live births and deaths covering at least 6 months of the reference year (Article 4.3 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 205/2014) and provisional monthly data on migrants covering at least 6 months of the reference year on a voluntary basis.
DEMOBAL(Demographic balance): Annual collection of provisional data on population, total live births and total deaths at national level (Article 4.1 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 205/2014) and provisional data on total migrants at national level on a voluntary basis.
POPSTAT (population statistics): The most in-depth annual national and regional data collection on demography and migration, for population, births, deaths, immigrants, emigrants, marriages and divorces by a large number of breakdowns. (Article 3 of Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 and Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007).
The aim is to collect annual mandatory and voluntary data from the national statistical institutes. Mandatory data are those defined by the legislation listed under ‘6.1. Institutional mandate — legal acts and other agreements’.
The quality of the demographic data collected on a voluntary basis depends on the availability and quality of information provided by the national statistical institutes.
For more information on mandatory/voluntary data collection, see 6.1. Institutional mandate — legal acts and other agreements.
The following data on migrants are collected under the POPSTAT data collection:
Immigrants by age, sex and:
Country of citizenship;
Country of birth;
Country of previous residence.
Immigrants by country of citizenship and country of birth.
Emigrants by age, sex and:
Country of citizenship;
Country of birth;
Country of next residence.
20 February 2026
Immigration: the action by which a person establishes his or her usual residence in the territory of a Member State for a period that is, or is expected to be, of at least 12 months, having previously been usually resident in another Member State or a third country.
Emigration: the action by which a person, having previously been usually resident in the territory of a Member State, ceases to have his or her usual residence in that Member State for a period that is, or is expected to be, of at least 12 months.
Usual residence: the place where a person normally spends the daily period of rest, regardless of temporary absences for purposes of recreation, holidays, visits to friends and relatives, business, medical treatment or religious pilgrimage or, in default, the place of legal or registered residence. The following persons alone are considered to be usual residents of the geographical area:
those wo have lived in their place of usual residence for a continuous period of at least 12 months before the reference time; or
those who arrived in their place of usual residence during the 12 months before the reference time with the intention of staying there for at least one year.
Immigrant: a person undertaking an immigration.
Emigrant: a person undertaking an emigration.
Citizenship: the particular legal bond between an individual and his/her State, acquired by birth or naturalization, whether by declaration, choice, marriage or other means according to national legislation.
Foreigner: recipient of a citizenship different to the citizenship of the country that person is living in. A foreigner is either a citizen of another Member State or a citizen of a non-EU country.
Non-national: recipient of citizenship other than the citizenship of the country that person is living in, or a stateless person. A non-national is either a citizen of another Member State or a citizen of a non-EU country, or a stateless.
Stateless: A stateless person is not considered as a national by any State under the operation of its law, as set out in article 1 of the 1954 Convention relating to the status of stateless persons.
Recognised non-citizens: Persons who are not citizens of the reporting country, nor of any other country, but who have established links to the reporting country, which include some but not all of the rights and obligations of full citizenship. This category consists mainly of former Soviet citizens living in the Baltic States who have not applied for the citizenship of their current country of usual residence.
Country of birth: the country of residence (in its current borders, if the information is available) of the mother at the time of the birth or, in default, the country (in its current borders, if the information is available) in which the birth took place.
Countries by inclusion/exclusion in immigration flows of live births by resident mother/father but occurred outside the reporting country:
Included: CZ**, NL***, PL*, SK*
Excluded:BE, BG, DK, DE, EE, IE, EL, ES, FR, HR, IT, CY, LV, LT, LU, HU, MT, AT, PT, RO, SI, FI, SE, UK, IS, LI, NO, CH
*If registered in the reporting country.
**: If live birth is registered in the reporting country later than February T+1, and within 3 years after birth.
***: If the child enters the country later than 8 days after his birth.
Age definition of migration statistics under Article 3 of Regulation (EC) 862/2007 for Reference Year 2024:
Age reached (age at the end of the year): BE, BG, CZ, DK, DE, EE, ES, FR, HR, IT, CY, LV, LT, LU, HU, NL, PL, PT, SK, FI, SE, IS, LI, NO, CH, ME, MK
Age completed (age on the last birthday): BE, BG, DK, DE, IE, EL, ES, HR, IT, LT, LU, HU, MT, AT, PL, RO, SI, SK, FI, SE, NO, ME, MK
Level of development: the relative degree of development of a country as defined by statistical measures of three basis dimensions - health, education and standard of living. The list of countries and citizenships to be included in each groups by level of development is given in Annexes.
Refugee: person granted refugee status (as defined in Art.2(e) of Directive 2011/95/EC within the meaning of Art.1 of the Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 28 July 1951, as amended by the New York Protocol of 31 January 1967) or person granted subsidiary protection (as defined in Art.2(g) of Directive 2011/95/EC and person covered by a decision granting authorisation to stay for humanitarian reasons under national law concerning international protection.
Asylum seeker: First-time asylum applications are country-specific and imply no time limit. Therefore, an asylum seeker can apply for first time in a given country and afterward again as first-time applicant in any other country. If an asylum seeker lodge again an application in the same country after any period of time, (s)he is not considered again a first-time applicant.
Countries by inclusion/exclusion in the data on population reported to Eurostat of asylum seekers and refugees (latest available year):
Included (population):
Asylum seekers usual residents for at least 12 months: BE, DE, EE, IE, EL, ES, FR, IT, CY, LU, MT, NL, AT, PT, SI, LI, CH
Refugees usual residents for at least 12 months: BE, BG, CZ, DK, DE, EE, IE, EL, ES, FR, HR, IT, CY, LV, LT, LU, HU, MT, NL, AT, PL, PT, RO, SI, FI, SE, UK, IS, LI, NO, CH
Refugees from Ukraine who benefit from temporary protection in the EU: BE, BG, CZ, DK, DE, EE, IE, EL, ES, FR, HR, IT, CY, LV, LT, LU, HU, MT, NL, AT, PT, RO, SI, FI1, SE, IS, LI, NO, CH
Excluded (population):
Asylum seekers usual residents for at least 12 months: BG, CZ, DK, HR, LV, LT, HU, PL, RO, SK, FI, SE, IS, NO
Refugees usual residents for at least 12 months: SK
Refugees from Ukraine who benefit from temporary protection in the EU: PL, SK
(1) Only those who have applied for permanent residence are included.
Countries by inclusion/exclusion in the data on migration reported to Eurostat of asylum seekers and refugees in the data on migration (latest available year):
Included (migration):
Asylum seekers usual residents for at least 12 months: BE, DE, EE, IE, EL, ES, FR, IT, CY, LU, MT, NL, AT, PT, SI, LI, CH
Refugees usual residents for at least 12 months: BE, BG, CZ, DK, DE, EE, IE, EL, ES, FR, HR, IT, CY, LV, LT, LU, HU, MT, NL, AT, PL, PT, RO, SI, FI, SE, UK, IS, LI, NO, CH
Refugees from Ukraine who benefit from temporary protection in the EU: BE, BG, CZ, DK, DE, EE, IE, EL, ES, FR, HR, IT, CY, LV, LT, LU, HU, MT, NL, AT, PT, RO, SI, FI1, SE, IS, LI, NO, CH
Excluded (migration):
Asylum seekers usual residents for at least 12 months: BG, CZ, DK, HR, LV, LT, HU, PL, RO, SK, FI, SE, IS, NO
Refugees usual residents for at least 12 months: SK
Refugees from Ukraine who benefit from temporary protection in the EU: PL, SK
(1) Only those who have applied for permanent residence are included.
The statistical unit used is ‘number’ as indicated in the online database or by the titles of tables.
The statistical population is the total population. For more information on the population concepts used, see the population reference metadata (demo_pop).
The migration statistics are disseminated by single country as follows:
The reference period for migration flows data is the calendar year in which the migration occurred.
Not available.
Data on migrants are disseminated in integer numbers.
Migration variables
In the context of the annual demographic balance, Eurostat produces net migration figures by taking the difference between total population change and natural change at EU level. This is referred to as net migration plus statistical adjustment. The statistics on ‘net migration plus statistical adjustment’ are affected by the impact of adjustments (statistical inaccuracies, or methodological differences in the two components of this equation), as compared to ‘net migration’ (immigrants minus emigrants) that are affected by the impact of mirror errors (comparison between two independent measurements of the same migration flow, one reported by the receiving and one by the sending country). In theory, intra-EU migration statistics based on the 12-month time criterion should be fully comparable among reporting countries. The number of emigrants from Member State A to Member State B, as reported by A, should be almost equal to immigrants into B from A, as reported by B. However, care should be taken when comparing intra-EU migration statistics. National data suppliers can have different practices and are free to use any appropriate data sources available. There may therefore be discrepancies. Migration flow data are largely based on administrative data sources. Population register systems recording migration movements of people into and out of the countries concerned differ greatly from country to country. The propensity to register and de-register is also an issue.
Eurostat collects migration data from national statistical institutes who remain free to use any appropriate data sources, according to national availability and practice, as long as they adhere to the harmonised definitions of migration statistics in Regulation (EC) No 862/2007. Member States generally base their migration flow data on administrative sources, sample surveys, census data, mirror data, mathematical methods or a combination of data sources.
BE: Belgian population register.
BG: National Population Register, Ministry of Interior, National Revenue Agency, National Social Security Institute.
CZ: Foreigners Information System (non-nationals), Health Insurance Register (nationals).
DK: Central population register.
DE: Residents' registration offices for nationals; Central Register of Foreigners for non-nationals.
EE: Administrative data sources, register-based census.
IE: Labour Force Survey (LFS), Immigration in a census year will eventually be based on census results.
EL: For Immigrants, an estimation method is used for the total immigration flow. Moreover, administrative data are drawn from the Ministry of Migration and Asylum regarding persons seeking international protection if fleeing from several non-EU countries or temporary protection if fleeing from Ukraine. For Emigrants, an estimation method is used for the total emigration flow which is then distributed over sex/age and EU/non EU destination countries.
ES: Migration and Change of Residence Statistics is obtained from the Population Censuses and the variations recorded in the Municipal Register database.
FR: For immigrants, census (annual census survey). For emigrants, census and population estimations.
HR: Migration statistics are carried out based on data collected by the Ministry of the Interior (database on permanent and temporary residence; database on foreigners).
IT: Municipality registers up to 2017. Basic Register of Individuals alligned with Census from 2018 onward.
CY: Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection, Passengers Survey, Social Insurance Data, Other surveys and sources available by the Statistical Service.
LV: Register of Natural persons and data from other administrative sources.
LT: Population Register managed by the State Enterprise Centre of Registers; Register of Aliens.
LU: Population Register.
HU: National Directorate General for Aliens Policing, National Health Insurance Fund.
MT: Compilation of demographic statistics is carried out mainly using administrative data, although mathematical models and survey-based estimates are used for the compilation of some migration flows.
NL: Population register.
AT: Central Residence Register, since 1 January 2002.
PL: In accordance with the Regulation (EC) No 1260/2013 – administrative data. In accordance with the Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 – estimated data based on administrative data, mirror statistics, national statistical surveys.
PT: Immigrants: LFS annual estimates and residence permit issued data from Immigration and Borders Service. Emigrants: Emigration survey (LFS module).
RO: Data on immigrants flows were estimated based on multiple data sources, the main ones being: the data provided by national statistical offices of Italy and Spain, the "mirror statistics” on international migration (the emigrants to Romania declared by other countries representing immigrants for national statistics), data from administrative sources. It should be noted that mirror statistics are used to evaluate general trend of immigrants figures for the reference year.
Data on emigrants flows were estimated based on multiple data sources, the main ones being: the data provided by national statistical offices of Italy and Spain, the "mirror statistics” on international migration (the immigrants from Romania declared by the other Member State representing emigrants on Romanian statistics). It should be noted that mirror statistics are used to evaluate general trend of emigrants figures for the reference year.
SI: Central Population Register, other data sources.
SK: Exhaustive monthly statistical survey on migration in terms of change of the address of usual residence (including foreign and internal migration) organised by the Statistical Office of SK by means of the Statistical Report on Migration(OBYV5-12) - it is an individual form to be completed for each single person undertaking migration. Reporting units: residence registration offices of municipal and city authorities for SK nationals, Foreign Police Department of the Ministry of Interior for foreigners.
FI: Population information system of the Digital and population data services agency.
SE: The Total Population Register.
IS: Population Register(s).
LI: Population Register.
NO: National Population Register.
CH: Cantonal and communal population registers and federal registers of persons.
UK: Main data sources are: 1. International Passenger Survey (ONS). 2. Asylum seeker approvals (Home Office). 3. Northern Ireland Health card data (NISRA). 4. Labour Force Survey (ONS – calibration only).
ME: The data source is administrative – registers of temporary and permanent resident by the Ministry of Interiors.
MK: Administrative data.
Migration statistics are continuously revised according to the most recent data released and sent to Eurostat by the national statistical institutes.
Data are disseminated in line with 8.1 Release calendar and 17.1 Data revision-policy.
For the timeliness of data release see8.1Release calendar.
The recommended definition of population, in line with Regulation (EC) No 862/2007, is the ‘usually resident population’, meaning all the people usually resident in a Member State on the reference date. On the basis of this definition, the following people alone are considered usual residents of the geographical area in question: those who have lived in their place of usual residence continuously for at least 12 months before the reference date or those who arrived in their place of usual residence during the 12 months before the reference date with the intention of staying there for at least 1 year. If the circumstances described above cannot be established, ‘usual residence’ can be taken to mean the place of legal or registered residence.
According to Regulation (EC) No 862/2007, migrants should be defined the same way as population. For example, if population is defined in terms of usual residence, then the number of immigrants should be the number of those who establish their usual residence in the territory of a Member State for a period that is, or is expected to be, of at least 12 months, having previously been usually resident in another Member State or a non-EU country.
The metadata provided by the countries in question confirm that migration statistics are calculated according to the harmonised definition given above.
Countries by time criteria used for the definition of migration and typology of flow for reference year 2024:
Notes: The national statistical definition of emigration of FI and SE is based on a six-month criterion for some countries of next residence (Nordic agreement), although the impact is declared negligible. The national statistical definition of immigration and emigration of NO is based on a six-month criterion.
EEA European Economic Area (EU plus IS, LI, NO).
Breaks in data series could compromise comparability over time. The breaks in migration series due to methodological changes, data processing changes or revisions in migration counts reported by the countries in question are documented in Eurostat’s database with the flag b (break in series).
The reason the migration flows data available between reference years 2008 and 2009 is flagged as a break in the series is a change in methods of production, described as a first shift from the national definition of migration to the 12-month definition.
The migration data for 2021 and thereafter take into account the results of the population census held in 2021/2022.
Improvements in and changes to administrative systems and statistical methodology may also cause breaks in the time series.
There is more information on methodology by country in the annex.
