9 | Training handbook . Statelessness 1. Introduction 2. Guidance 3. Legal context (...) Given the immense difficulties in generating reliable statistics, any statistics on statelessness should be treated with caution. For example, just because available figures suggest a particular country has no or low levels of statelessness does not mean a person coming from that country is not, or is not likely to be stateless. Better statistics therefore plays a crucial role in COI research, including identifying what population is affected by statelessness. To improve its capability for compiling data on populations of stateless people, UNHCR and the United Nations Population Fund have decided to collaborate with national statistical organisations.13 A group of experts was formed to create and accept consensus norms and definitions for statelessness: the Expert Group on Refugee, Internally Displaced Persons, and Statelessness Statistics (EGRISS) International Recommendations on Refugee Statistics (IRRS, published in 2018)14 – an internationally accepted framework for statistics on refugee and refugee-related populations. Amongst other things, the recommendations covered subjects including Legal framework for statelessness; definition of statelessness for the purpose of statistical measurement; assessment of data sources and methods and ways to improve them; analysis of the characteristics of stateless populations; and steps to improve statistical coordination. In the UK, the Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on those who come to the UK, stay, gain citizenship, apply for asylum, and are detained or removed, including those who come for work, study, or family reasons.15 The Home Office provides statistics on asylum applications categorised by nationality, which includes figures for stateless applicants. Yet, there aren't dedicated datasets detailing the number of applications for stateless leave under paragraph 403. 4. Research strategy 5. Appendices The census, undertaken by the UK Office of National Statistics (ONS)16, is the most comprehensive source of data on the UK population. The information includes the size, age, sex, and geographic distribution of the population in the UK, as well as information on international migration and within the country, population changes, and the factors that have contributed to these changes.17 In Europe, the statistical agency of the European Union is called Eurostat.18 It provides data and statistics on Europe. Its duty is to deliver statistics to the EU at the EU level that allow for comparisons between nations and regions. Data on emerging and international flows, citizenship gains and losses, and other information are published. These data are broken down in a variety of ways, including citizenship, country of birth, and other factors. What does this mean for COI research? • Almost no countries of origin outside of Europe collect wholly reliable statistics on statelessness. Be cautious in the use of any data you do find. Just because a country does not seem – in the statistics – to have a significant problem with statelessness, or just because it identifies the problem as located in a particular community, does not mean there are no other risks of statelessness. Qualitative, contextual research must always be part of the research. 13. UNHCR, Better statistics to help end statelessness, Jan 21, 2020 14. Expert Group on Refugee and Internally Displaced Persons Statistics, International Recommendations on Refugee Statistics, March 2018 15. UK Government: Migration statistics, last updated 25 May 2023 16. Office for National Statistics (NOS), Population and migration, Data and analysis from Census 2021 17. Although completing the census is compulsory, stateless people may not self-identify as stateless, and may not live in stable accommodation, which is likely to lead to undercounting. 18. Eurostat, statistics and data on Europe © Asylos, 2023 Back to contents