Harmonized migration and birthpace variables

IPUMS provides harmonized migration and birthplace variables coded to match the corresponding harmonized place-of-residence variables. Harmonized migration variables are available for all countries whereas harmonized birthplace is currently available only for selected countries.

The work to develop spatially harmonized birthplace variables is ongoing. At this time, several countries still reflect an older method of organizing this information. These variables are harmonized over time and by name only. Codes do not necessarily identify regions with the same spatial footprint over time, and the codes may not match the household place of residence variables in those samples.

IPUMS has phased out the old country-specific migration and birthplace (for selected samples only) variables that were not fully harmonized spatially. Original unharmonized sample-specific migration and birthplace data will remain available via the source variables.

A complete list of migration variables, with new and old names is available here

A list of birthplace variables for the selected countries, with new and old names is available here

Mapping migration and birthplace

All spatially harmonized migration and birthplace variables can be mapped. Click to download the appropriate GIS shapefile for first level and second level administrative units. Use the geography code in the attribute table to join the migration and birthplace data to the shapefiles. Note that foreign places and missing value codes do not have a corresponding geographical code in the GIS shapefile.

Global migration variables

A set of global migration variables combines all relevant country-specific codes into one variable to facilitate cross-national analysis of intra-national migration. The codes in the global migration variables correspond to those in GEOLEV1, the global place-of-residence variable. Although these are multi-national variables, they only record migrations within each country's borders. Their primary use is for comparative subnational migration research. International migration is available in a corresponding set of variables (e.g., MIGCTRY1, Country of residence 1 year ago).

Global birthplace variables are not yet available.

Country-specific migration and birthplace variables: Cuba example

The basic set of migration and birthplace variables for an IPUMS country includes the following (using Cuba as an example):

Migration variable Label Note
MIG1_P_CU Province of previous residence, Cuba; consistent boundaries, GIS Corresponds to GEO1_CU; previously known as MIGCU
MIG2_P_CU Municipality of previous residence, Cuba; consistent boundaries, GIS Corresponds to GEO2_CU; previously known as MIGCU1
MIGRATEP Migration status, previous residence Calculated from source migration variables
MIGCU/MIGCU1 Province/Municipality of previous residence, Cuba Has been phased out, see MIG1_P_CU and MIG2_P_CU
BPL1_CU Province of birth, Cuba; consistent boundaries, GIS Corresponds to GEO1_CU; previously known as BPLCU
BPL2_CU Municipality of birth, Cuba; consistent boundaries, GIS Corresponds to GEO2_CU; previously known as BPLCU2
BPLCU/BPLCU2 Province/Municipality of birth, Cuba Has been phased out, see BPL1_CU and BPL2_CU

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