Statistics ministry to launch migration survey from July next year

New Delhi: The statistics ministry will conduct a survey on migration from July 2026 to June 2027, capturing the reasons for migration, short-term migration, out-migration rate and other related characteristics of households and individuals across the country.

The survey will aim to provide data on migration patterns across rural and urban areas, as well as inter-state movements. It will collect information on the duration of stay, return migration, employment and income profiles of migrants, and the impact of migration on households left behind.

A migrant is defined as a person whose last usual place of residence, at any point in the past, is different from the current place of enumeration.


"The results will be instrumental in understanding labour mobility, urbanisation trends, remittance flows and the social and economic integration of migrant populations," the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) said in a statement.

According to a 2024 report by the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council, the number of domestic migrants fell 11.8% to 402 million between 2011 and 2023.

"This was on account of improved conditions and opportunities at the places of origin," it said.

The last data on migration was collected through the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2020-21 and the Multiple Indicator Survey (2020-21).

During 2020-21, the overall migration rate was 28.9%. It was higher among women at 47.9%, compared with 10.7% for men. Marriage was the primary reason for migration among women, while employment was the main factor for men.

The ministry has invited feedback on the draft survey schedule from policymakers, researchers and academic institutions by November 30.