Estimation of the Size of the Second Generation of Migrants in Russia and the West

The article addresses the issue of statistical accounting for the population category known as second generation of migrants. Descendants of migrants constitute a significant portion of the population in many countries, often representing a group in a vulnerable socio-economic position. Integrating this category into national statistical systems enables direct estimates of second-generation migrant populations in several countries of the West. The study presents a critical analysis of the Russian demographic data sources, which lack specialized classifications for identifying second-generation migrants, thereby complicating reliable population estimates. As an alternative approach, this work employs cohort-component analysis to model the number of second-generation migrants born in Russia between 2001 and 2020. The model results indicate that this group is over 1 million individuals. The findings underscore the need to improve existing statistical methodologies in Russia. This article is the output of a research project implemented as a part of the Basic Research Program at the National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE University).