Strengthening statelessness data: International Recommendations on Statelessness Statistics (IROSS)

Reliable data on statelessness remains a major global gap. While at least 4.4 million people were reported as stateless or with undetermined nationality at the end of 2024 worldwide – based on data from 101 States submitted to UNHCR, the true scale is significantly higher due to gaps in data collection, inconsistent methodologies, and limited state reporting. In many contexts, stateless populations remain invisible in official statistics – whether due to technical limitations, lack of prioritization, or political sensitivities. 

Against this backdrop, the International Recommendations on Statelessness Statistics (IROSS), adopted by the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC) in 2023, represent an important step forward. This guidance is highly relevant as states and partners seek to strengthen evidence-based responses to statelessness. 

Developed by the Expert Group on Refugee, Internally Displaced Persons and Statelessness Statistics (ERGISS), bringing together around 40 countries and 30 international and regional organizations, the International Recommendations on Statelessness Statistics (IROSS), published by EUROSTAT in March 2026, aim to improve the production, overall quality, coordination, and dissemination of statistics on stateless populations. 

The guidance provides a comprehensive statistical framework and recommendations to support national statistical systems and other relevant stakeholders in generating more reliable and comparable data. It encourages countries to systematically include statelessness in censuses, household surveys, and administrative data systems, and to better capture not only those formally recognized as stateless, but also people without a recognized nationality status. 

At national level, stronger data can support more effective policies, helping governments identify populations affected by statelessness, understand root causes, and design targeted solutions. At global level, improved data contributes to more coherent international responses and strengthens accountability and cooperation. 

The Global Alliance to End Statelessness welcomes IROSS as a practical and timely tool. Its implementation can help address persistent data gaps, improve visibility of affected populations, and support more effective advocacy and policy development. 

States are encouraged to make full use of this guidance, including by integrating its recommendations into national statistical systems and engaging with international and regional partners to strengthen capacity and peer learning.  

Improving data is not an end in itself – but it is a critical step towards ensuring that no one remains invisible, and that permanent solutions to statelessness can be achieved.