Estimation of Zimbabwean migration for the period 1992-2012

International migration is the movement of people across national boundaries, and it is an important mechanism for globalisation and economic development. However, in third world countries, it means a large proportion of the population leaving. It is hard to come by statistics on emigration due to the unavailability of sound administrative data systems that record the number of departures from the country. This research seeks to estimate the net number of Zimbabwean migrants for the period 1992 to 2012, by using census data from Zimbabwe and census data from the major receiving countries of Zimbabwean migrants (South Africa and the UK) and data from the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (United Nations 2017e) for other receiving countries. The research also explores alternative estimates of the net number of Zimbabwean migrants implied by other data sources and how they compare to the estimates derived by this research. This research found that the number of Zimbabweans that left the country during the period 1992 to 2012, is between 761,682 and 1,462,620. Furthermore, the results of this research suggest that Zimbabwe is a net emigration country and the net number of Zimbabwean decreased in the second intercensal period compared to the first intercensal period. In addition, the estimates derived in this research show that migration is concentrated in the economically active age groups. Also, a notable increase in the number of female migrants is observed. A comparison of estimates derived in this study to estimates by other data sources indicated that our estimates for the net number of Zimbabwean migrants for the two intercensal periods are plausible.

Grantor

Centre for Actuarial Research (CARE)

Year dc:date.issued

2021

Author dc:creator

• Nyathi, Mothabisi Nare

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Dorrington, Robert

• Demography

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/33944

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/33944