LibGuides: Social Science Data and Statistics Resources: Immigration

Immigration

Immigration data varies widely depending on the research question. If working with a small population or a population defined by characteristics that aren't gathered in the census (religion or child of immigrants, for example), consider looking for researcher-gathered data that intentionally over-samples that group, rather than a nationally representative sample. ICPSR is an excellent source for this. Contact your librarian for more support.

ICPSR
ICPSR has microdata for both government datasets and researcher-gathered data; search by keyword or theme.

Stock Data

What is stock data?

Stock data is used to estimate the number of individuals of a certain population of interest at a specific point in time.

For example: The number of naturalized Colombian immigrants residing in the U.S as of July 2023.

IPUMS
IPUMS provides census and survey data from around the world integrated across time and space. IPUMS integration and documentation makes it easy to study change, conduct comparative research, merge information across data types, and analyze individuals within family and community contexts.You can access Census and American Community Survey (ACS) data here.
American Community Survey (ACS)
The ACS has been conducted annually since 2000. Multiyear sampling estimates are available since 2007-present.
Foreign-Born - United States Census
The U.S. Census Bureau conducts both the decennial census and the American Community Survey (ACS). This page offers the most recent data related to non-U.S. born residents of the U.S., including naturalized citizens.
Migration and Geographic Mobility - United States Census
The U.S. Census Bureau conducts both the decennial census and the American Community Survey (ACS). This page offers the most recent data related to migration.
Estimates of the Unauthorized Immigrant Population Resident in the United States - Department of Homeland Security
This report, conducted regularly by the Department of Homeland Security, estimates the size of the resident unauthorized immigrant population in the United States. Data is available from 2000-present.

Flow Data

What is flow data?

Flow data is an estimate of change (addition/subtraction) of a population of interest at a specified period of time.

For example: The estimate of the number of persons arriving to the U.S from Vietnam for the years of 1965-1975.

The Yearbook of Immigration Statistics - Department of Homeland Security
rovides data on foreign nationals granted lawful permanent residence, and those admitted into the United States on a temporary basis (e.g., tourists, students, or workers). It also includes data on those who applied for asylum or refugee status, or were naturalized and on immigration law enforcement. The Yearbook replaced the Statistical Yearbook of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in 2001. You can also access the INS Yearbook from 1996-2001 on this site.
Statistical yearbook of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) - HathiTrust
HathiTrust offers digital access to the following years of this yearbook, which recorded admissions into the United States on a permanent basis, temporary basis, asylum or refugee status, and naturalization annually. The dates covered are: 1978-1984, 1987, 1995, 1997-1998, 2000-2001

Additional Data Resources

American Immigration Council (AIC)
The AIC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to immigration reform. Their "Topics" tab and research tools may be helpful for your research.
Brookings Institute - Immigrants & Immigration
This site provides reports on immigrants and immigration written by Brookings Institute fellows. The Brookings Institute is a prominent, nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization.
Interdisciplinary Migration Initiative at University of California, Berkeley
This initiative hosted by UC Berkley provides policy briefs and data visualizations related to immigration.
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Access to reports and data related to international migration and refugee/asylum flows worldwide, refugee and asylum issues, and migration and economic development.
Joint Data Center on Forced Displacement
The Joint Data Center on Forced Displacement is a partnership between the World Bank Group and the UNHCR, the UN's Refugee Agency. The Center aims to collect, analyze, and share socioeconomic and population data to inform policy decisions.
Migration, Refugees, and Asylum Seekers Data Explorer - Our World in Data
This visualization tool uses data from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
Migration Information Source (MIS) - Migration Policy Institute
Provides authoritative data and concise overviews from numerous global organizations and governments, as well as global analysis of international migration and refugee trends. Includes articles on migration flows by sending and receiving country.
Migration Policy Institute (MPI) Datahub
Private, nonprofit and nonpartisan think tank in Washington D.C. Great resource for immigration statistics, maps and other reports. The "Who's Where in the United States" and "U.S. Historical Immigration Trends" are especially helpful. Summarizes recent American Community Survey data along with reports on immigration policy.
Pew Research Center Datasets
The Pew Research Center is an independent opinion research group that studies attitudes toward the press, politics and public policy issues.
Slave Voyages
Data about the broad origins and forced relocations of more than 12 million African people who were sent across the Atlantic in slave ships, and hundreds of thousands more who were trafficked within the Americas. Explore where they were taken, the numerous rebellions that occurred, the horrific loss of life during the voyages, the identities and nationalities of the perpetrators, and much more.

Social Explorer
Social Explorer provides quick and easy access to modern and historical U.S. census data and demographic information. The web interface lets users create maps and reports to help visually analyze and understand demography and social change throughout history.

The Urban Institute
The Institute gathers and analyzes data, conducts policy research, evaluates programs and services, and educates Americans on critical issues related to the built environment, immigration, employment, and more.