UNHCR STATISTICS TECHNICAL SERIES: 2019/1 populations, estimates of de facto stateless populations, and figures derived from statelessness determination procedures. Most of these figures are reported for middle and high income countries. The figures are compiled from various sources and consolidated by statistics department in some cases, and from estimates of stateless persons from parliamentary requests for information without further methodological elaboration in others. In addition to ambiguities between unspecified techniques and other estimation techniques, two main problems persist for reporting statelessness determination procedures. First, statelessness determination procedures do not have a consolidated place within UNHCR’s existing databases: some are listed here, others under registration, and others still are not recorded. This creates reporting gaps and renders counting verification processes and nationality campaigns difficult. Second, while such procedures reflect attempts to improve statelessness data, resulting figures are often reported while the procedure is still underway. This can lead to fluctuations in estimates that are purely a result of the ongoing process of the statelessness determination and not of any actual changes in the number of stateless persons. Some member states also report ongoing statelessness determination processes but categorize their methodology as government registration rather than “various/other”. These ambiguities and gaps highlight both the need for better reporting and for clarified standards and best practices amid insufficient information on statelessness determination and similar procedures. Other Sources In addition to UNHCR and government data, 2018 figures derive from three NGO sources and seven unspecified sources. Corresponding populations include three de jure stateless populations, five de facto stateless populations, one undetermined population, and one combinations of de facto stateless and undetermined populations. Estimates from this list range substantially in quality as information on methodology is spotty amid inconsistent reporting and descriptions across databases. Data quality among NGO sources is particularly uneven. While NGO data collection in collaboration with UNHCR for some countries seems to have been relatively thorough albeit regionally concentrated, others cite estimates of only a handful of persons of undetermined nationality over several years without any updates. “Various/other” or unspecified sources, like “various/other” or unspecified bases, may refer to data derived from various sources but generally serves as a miscellaneous category containing unknown or unspecified methodology. These estimates correspond to various populations and comprise three primary categories: The first can be seen for countries with substantial gaps in recording over the years, some of which had no update at least since 2009. The second category contains cases that are pending further study by UNHCR and government auspices, especially in fragile and conflict situations. These factors indicate political will and UNHCR attention amid likely collaboration with government and civil society. The third includes countries where confusion persists with regard to reporting. Reporting of stateless figures for some countries cites both stateless and de facto stateless populations across years, despite the figures staying the same over the years and presumably referring to the same population. Some countries are reluctant to report undetermined populations due to potential overlap with other categories and the likelihood that this overstates the level of statelessness within its territory. On the other hand, citing both 8 UNHCR / October, 2019