The 3rd International Forum on Migration Statistics (IFMS 2023) was organized by the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Statistics and Population Divisions, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Calls to improve migration data to formulate evidence-based migration policies and inform public discourse have become increasingly strong. However, basic data on the stocks, flows and characteristics of international migrants, as well as on the causes and impacts of international migration remain scarce or are not utilized to their full potential in many countries. The 3rd Forum took place in a year in which countries continue to face the consequences of the COVID-19 global pandemic and assess the effectiveness of their responses to this crisis, which presents opportunities and challenges in improving migration data availability and utilization. The key themes explored during plenary sessions of the Forum include paths to strengthen migration data for the follow-up of relevant global agreements; new approaches, methodologies and innovations in migration data; data on migrants in vulnerable situations; impact of COVID-19 on data on migrants and migration; strengthening statistical capacities and financing; and data communication, visualization and their utilization for evidence-based planning.

The Forum was hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in Santiago, Chile, on 24-26 January 2023 in a hybrid format, thereby offering an opportunity for amplifying the reach and connecting with a larger and more diverse audience. Virtual participants were able to follow plenary and selected parallel sessions.