Compared with the 2 other main demographic variables, fertility and mortality, the procedures for the collection and tabulation of migration statistics are not well developed or standardized. The 1980 UN recommendations on international migration proposed the identification of 4 major categories of arrivals, namely: 1) long-term term immigrants, 2) short-term immigrants, 3) short-term immigrants returning, and 4) nomads. The same statistics could also be collected for departures. In order for African countries to implement all or some aspects of the 1980 international recommendations, which are considered long-term goals, a step-by-step or phased approach has been proposed as the best stragegy to follow. This approach emphasizes border data collection rather than field investigations to generate statistics on a continuous basis. Another feature of the phased approach is that countries should formulate programs separately for the development of immigration, emigration, and stock international migration statistics. The following factors could be taken into account when devising the phased program: 1) whether the country is a net immigration or emigration country, 2) the extent and magnitude of immigration to the country, 3) the effects of the immigrant populations on the socioeconomic and demographic features of the population and their consequences for social amenities. The 1st step in the development of a phased program should involve a meticulous evaluation of the current state of the national statistics on immigration. The primary objective at the 1st stage should be the collection by all countries of information that will enable the identification of the internationally recommended categories of immigrants from among all persons entering the country. The next phases should have the objectives of collecting information on the characteristics of persons included in the recommended categories of immigrants.

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