Geographical Mobility/Migration

There are four (unrelated) sources of migration data on our Internet site:

Current Population Survey
Survey of Income and Program Participation
Population Estimates and Projections
Decennial Census:
- Census 2000 Migration Data and Reports
- 1990 Census Migration Data

Fact Sheet: Differences between the Migration Estimates from the American Community Survey
and the Annual Social and Economic Supplement to the Current Population Survey

The Current Population Survey

The Current Population Survey (CPS) includes data on the annual rate of moving, and the characteristics of movers and nonmovers by type of move.

Definitions and Explanations

CPS March 2003
- Report - Geographical Mobility: 2002 to 2003 (P20-549) [PDF 118k]
- Detailed Tables - Geographical Mobility: 2003
- ASEC User Note: Metro/Nonmetro migration correction
CPS March 2002
- Detailed Tables - Geographical Mobility: March 2001 to March 2002
- ASEC User Note: Metro/Nonmetro migration correction
CPS March 2001
- Detailed Tables - Geographical Mobility: March 2000 to March 2001
CPS March 2000
- Report - Geographical Mobility: March 1999 to March 2000 (P20-538) [PDF 122k]
- Detailed Tables
- Report - Why People Move: Exploring the March 2000 Current Population Survey: March 1999 to March 2000 (P23-204) [PDF 126k]
- Detailed Tables
- Press Release/Product Announcement
CPS March 1999
- Report - Geographical Mobility: March 1998 to March 1999 (Update) (P20-531) [PDF 127k]
- Detailed Tables
- Press Release/Product Announcement
CPS March 1998
- Report - Geographical Mobility: March 1997 to March 1998 (P20-520) [PDF 109k]
- Detailed Tables
- Press Release/Product Announcement
CPS March 1995
- Report (Special Studies) - Geographical Mobility: March 1990 to March 1995 (P23-200) [PDF 100k]
- Detailed Tables
Historical Geographical Mobility Reports

Historical data from the CPS are here:

Annual Geographical Mobility Rates, By Type of Movement: 1947-2003
Excel (28k) | PDF (65k) | CSV (9k)
Annual Inmigration, Outmigration, Net Migration, and Movers from Abroad for Regions: 1980-2003
Excel (27k) | PDF (62k) | CSV (6k)
Inmigration, Outmigration, and Net Migration for Metropolitan Areas: 1985-2001
Excel (25k) | PDF (154k) | Plain text (8k)
Geographical Mobility by Tenure: 1987-2003
Excel (39k) | PDF (73k) | CSV (15k)

Survey of Income and Program Participation

The Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) includes a Migration History module that asks data on previous residences, timing of moves, and citizenship of the foreign born.

1996 SIPP
- Population Working Paper #69 - Seasonality of Moves and The Duration and Tenure of Residence: 1996
- Information on the SIPP
1993 SIPP
- Report - Seasonality of Moves and Duration of Residence (P70-66) [PDF 44k]
- Press Release/Product Announcement

Population Estimates and Projections

Our population estimates and projections offerings show net domestic migration and net international migration components. The net international component shown in these data sets is comprised of:

legal immigration from abroad
net undocumented immigration from abroad
emigration
net movement between Puerto Rico and the U.S. mainland

1990 Census

Some 1990 census state data are here:

Percent of Population Born in State of Residence and Rank: 1990 (6K)
State of Residence in 1990 by State of Birth: 1990 (66k)
State of Residence in 1980 by State of Birth: 1980 (58k)
State of Residence in 1990 by State of residence in 1985: 1990 (67k)
Inmigrants, Outmigrants, and Net Migration Between 1985 and 1990 and Movers from Abroad, for States: 1990 (6k)

You can get more geographic detail from the 1990 census, from Summary Tape File 3 (STF3). See Tables P42, P43, and P44 which display place of birth, and residence 5 years ago. Use our American FactFinder.

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