The article examines the issue of the statistical classification of a second generation of migrants as a category of population statistics. The descendants of migrants represent a substantial proportion of the population in numerous countries, yet they are simultaneously a demographic group facing considerable socio-economic challenges. The introduction of this category into national statistical systems enables the direct estimation of the number of second-generation migrant contingents in a number of Western countries.

The study presents a critical analysis of the existing Russian sources of demographic data, which lack the necessary specialized classifications for the direct identification of second-generation migrants, thereby making it challenging to ascertain their numbers with a reasonable degree of accuracy. As an alternative approach, this paper employs cohort-component analysis to model the number of second-generation migrants born in Russia between 2001 and 2020. The model results indicate that the size of this group is approximately 1 million individuals. The findings underscore the necessity for enhancements to existing statistical methodologies in Russia.

This article is an output of a research project implemented as part of the Basic Research Program at the National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE University).