Opis
One of the most important categories in general population censuses used to determine the size of the migrant community in a given country and its socio-demographic characteristics
is the question of ‘country of birth’. The need to include this question in population
censuses around the world arose relatively early, as the United Nations Statistical
Office recommended as early as the beginning of the 1950s that questions about country of birth and place of birth to be included in censuses. These were considered basic census topics, and the results were to enable international comparisons. The answers
to these questions were intended to provide, on the one hand, data on the origin of immigrants (i.e. persons born outside the country) and, on the other hand, information
on the ethnic structure of the population being surveyed, by combining the answers
to this question with the answers to questions about nationality, citizenship and language. The question about ‘place of birth’ was considered important for the inhabitants
of a given country (natives) due to their spatial distribution and migration within the country (United Nations, 1949: 45).
With regard to the question about ‘country of birth’, it was immediately noted that it may be difficult to “obtain accurate and consistent data on persons born in countries whose borders have changed since their birth. Many people are likely to report their country of birth according to the borders that existed at the time of their birth or at the time of their emigration, even if their place of birth has become part of another country”
(United Nations, 1949: 49-50).
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