Migration and the Law Database
A new global benchmark on integration policies
KNOMAD has compiled a global database of national legal frameworks affecting the integration of economic migrants and refugees. The project surveyed legal experts on integration laws affecting economic migrants in 152 economies and refugees in 134 economies to compare their respective treatment with that of citizens under formal national laws and regulations as of December 31, 2016. Data is provided for 20 qualitative indicators across four dimensions: economic opportunities, health care, housing, and political integration.
Economic opportunities: 13 indicators cover the ease of (i) accessing formal jobs in the labor market; (ii) navigating the labor market; (iii) accessing social protection; and (iv) exercising the right to join trade unions and freedom of association.
Health care: Two indicators cover access to health care services, and whether laws provide families and dependents of migrants/refugees access to health care services.
Housing: Three indicators cover the ability of economic migrants and refugees to (i) reside anywhere in the host country free of restrictions and to (ii) purchase or (iii) rent property in the host country.
Political integration: Two indicators cover whether migrants and refugees can become permanent residents or citizens.
Companion study on the Migration and the Law Project : From Immigration to Integration The Migration and the Law project is envisioned as a tool for strengthening evidence-based policymaking on integration measures across the globe. Even though developing economies receive a large proportion of immigrants each year, available data on integration measures are generally limited to high-income countries. For a summary of key findings and more information on the project, economies covered, classification of the indicators, please see the Companion Report, Methodology Note, Contributors, and FAQ.
Additional comments and suggestions are welcomed and can be addressed to the Migration and the Law team at migrationandremittances [at] worldbank.org (migrationandremittances[at]worldbank[dot]org).
Economic Migrants Database
Refugees Database