provided by Statistics Finland. Both of these figures are based on the data from PIS. However, PIS contains a category called “data in plain language”;60 this category contains information on nationalities written in plain language and which does not appear in the statistics in the same way as nationalities do when recorded in the coded format. It appears that Migri has included three different categories, unknown nationality, nationality pending clarification and the “data in plain language” category all within the category of unknown nationality. Statistics Finland, on the other hand, has coded the “data in plain language” category and has been able to place this data in correct nationality categories.61 Furthermore, Statistics Finland uses two distinct categories of unknown nationality and nationality pending clarification whereas in the statistics published by Migri these two are contained in the same category of unknown nationality. Data from Statistics Finland therefore seems to be most detailed and accurate and was therefore chosen as the baseline statistical data for the purpose of this mapping. Statistics used and published by UNHCR on the stateless population in Finland62 are based on statistics provided by Migri; UNHCR has added together the numbers of stateless persons and those reported as unknown nationality by Migri when publishing statelessness statistics. However, in light of the above, this quite clearly leads to an incorrect and exaggerated number of stateless persons residing in Finland and it is recommended that in the future, statistics provided by Statistics Finland (which excludes the category “data in plain language”) are used. 2.2.2 The target population The origin and causes of statelessness mainly lie outside of Finland. There is very little information readily available regarding the exact origins and profiles of stateless persons, as this kind of information cannot be automatically generated from any of the sources used in this report. The statistical information on stateless persons and persons with unknown nationality cannot be broken down by countries of birth or countries of former residence, as this information is not recorded in the RA on separate fields. The only way of accessing information on countries of birth and former residence of persons recorded as stateless or of unknown nationality is to go into individual case files and look for information on the country of birth and former residence.63 Without this information, the face of statelessness in Finland remains very limited and the analysis as to which extent persons with certain profiles are correctly defined as stateless, would be lacking. Therefore, for the purposes of this mapping, Migri granted UNHCR a research permit, allowing the researcher access to asylum decisions made in recent years with regard to persons whom Migri considered as stateless, of “unknown nationality” or as having “nationality not known”. The figures below and the analysis is based on information gathered from the review of all decisions (excluding asylum applications handled in accordance with the Dublin regulation and annulled decisions) from 2009, 2010 and 2011 with regard to stateless persons and persons whose nationality was unknown/not known.64 In total, the researcher reviewed 34 cases of persons registered as stateless, 15 cases of persons registered as having unknown nationality, and 76 cases of persons registered as having nationality not know. 60 In Finnish: Tieto selväkielisesti. 61 Explanation and analysis provided by the Population Register Centre, email 13 September 2012 and the Statistics Finland, telephone conversation on 11 October 2011. 62 E.g. on UNHCR’s homepage, http://goo.gl/YFTT80 63 E-mail from Migri,10 September 2012. 64 The figures presented in this chapter do not correspond with those presented in the statistical review because of this exclusion of cases, which were not materially decided upon. UNHCR STOCKHOLM, NOVEMBER 2014 17