Children in Immigrant Families in Eight Affluent Countries

Among the critical knowledge gaps concerning children is a lack of systematic and validated evidence on the situation of children who have migrated with their parents. While this gap exists for virtually all countries, it is particularly striking for industrialised countries where data on children and families is otherwise generally complete. This Innocenti Research Centre (IRC) study presents internationally comparable statistics on the family contexts in industrialised countries in which different groups of immigrant and native children live. It is intended to promote a greater understanding of the situation of these children and the barriers to inclusion they may face, and to make policy recommendations. The research is complemented by a review of literature on the experiences of immigrant children outside the home: their access to social services, vulnerability, situations of conflict with the law, and inclusion and socialization in resident societies. Sources of information include national censuses and surveys.