Integrating Data on Displacement into the 2022 Census

The 2022 Population Census

The third Population and Housing Census in Armenia [2] was conducted in October 2022, with final results anticipated before the end of 2023. As part of Armenia’s ongoing process to transition to a register-based statistical system, following the approach used in various Nordic countries [3], the census utilised a combined methodology, bringing data together from key national registers and a samplebased household survey covering 25% of the addresses.  

The census was designed to include the identification of refugees and displaced persons. Although previous census in 2011 had tried to capture displaced populations, results were not reliable due to challenges with the wording of questions in the questionnaire and use of paper-based forms; however, this new approach presented new opportunities. Data from several registers, including the State Population Register and the Armenian Border Management Information System facilitated this. The subsequent survey provided another opportunity to collect more targeted data on internal and international migration, including reasons for migration, arrival in settlement, citizenship status, family circumstances, amongst others.  

 – Ministries of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, of Foreign Affairs, of Defense, of Labour and Social Affairs, of Education, Science, Culture and Sport

– Passport and Visa Department of the Police (OVIR)

– Cadastre Committee, Migration Service (now Migration and Citizenship Service)

– Institute of Economics of National Academy of Sciences

– State University of Economics and other stakeholders, who together agreed on the content of the census programme.

 The census documentation (questionnaire, organisational instructions, methodological and other documents) was designed by ARMSTAT and approved by the decisions of State Council on Statistics.

The use of the International Recommendations 

The IRRS and IRIS were directly used to inform the development of the census’s methodology as it pertains to displaced populations. The recommendations provided the “main source of guidance” to inform the questionnaire and advice on the use of administrative sources for producing statistics on refugees, asylum seekers and other displaced populations.  

The census uses the recommendations from chapter 4 of the IRRS to design the relevant questions from the section B “2. Proposed core identification questions” to measure the number of refugees and to capture variables such as country of birth (COB), dual citizenship, refugee status (or recognition), and differentiation between asylum seekers and undocumented persons, as well as stateless populations. In addition, section “3. Administrative data including population registers” of chapter 4 of the IRRS was used to produce administrative data from the register on International Protection.

The latter, which is maintained by the Migration Service of the Republic of Armenia, is the main data source for statistics on asylum applicants and decisions taken during the asylum application process and it enables the measurement of data on persons granted refugee status, rejected claims and country of citizenship. In this regard, challenges were encountered in the process (some inconsistences with information), as there is no direct connection or identification measure (e.g., ID numbers) with the State Population Register. ARMSTAT is also regularly receiving data on acquisition of Armenian citizenship and its termination from the OVIR/Citizenship department (also under the Migration and Citizenship Service). 

Beyond this, recommendations concerning coordination from the IRRS were also implemented. ARMSTAT together with UNHCR set up a dedicated Roundtable on forced displacement and statelessness data that brought experts together to examine existing data gaps and challenges. [3] Results of this roundtable were considered while drafting the 2022 Census programme and presented to the National Commission of the 2022 Population Census preparation and undertaking – with the platform steering the census process.