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Monthly CPS data are not currently being released amidst the U.S. federal government shut down. Once the September 2025 monthly data are available, we will process and release them as quickly as possible via IPUMS.
MIGRATE5
Migration status, 5 years
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Codes and Frequencies



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Description

For persons ages 5 and up, MIGRATE5 reports whether the person lives in the same residence as they did 5 years ago. Those who reported that they were living in the same residence five years ago were considered non-movers and asked no further questions about migration over the past five years. Those who reported they were living in a different residence five years ago were asked if it was a different residence within the U.S. or a residence outside of the U.S.

Beginning in 2005, movers were asked further questions about whether their residence changed at different geographic levels, including whether they lived in a different county, state, division, region, or abroad (MIG5DIFFAREA) or a different Census region (MIG5DIFFREG). They were also asked whether their metropolitan status changed (for example, from metropolitan to non-metropolitan) 5 years ago (MIG5DIFFCBST).

Information about the specific administrative location of residence was obtained for movers, including the state (MIGSTA5), division (MIG5DIV), and region (MIG5REGION) they lived in 5 years ago. Movers were also asked about the metropolitan status of the Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA) they lived in 5 years ago (MIG5CBST) and whether they lived in the principal city of a metropolitan CBSA or in the territory within a metropolitan CBSA that is not designated as "principal city", also known as the balance (MIG5CITYST).

Comparability

This variable is completely comparable between 1980 and 1985 and between 1995 and 2025. Beginning in 1995, the categories were much more simplified.

Comparability with IPUMS-USA

The IPUMS-CPS variable MIGRATE5 is completely comparable to the MIGRATE5 variable for the 1960 and 1980 censuses in IPUMS-USA. The 1970, 1990, and 2000 censuses also collected information about residence changes relative to a five-year reference date, but they included somewhat less information. Along with the codes specified above, the 1970 census included "place not reported" and "Same state (migration status within state unknown)." The 1990 census divided the population into movers and nonmovers, while the 2000 census added a third category for those who migrated from abroad. Since there is a same third category in the CPS 1995 and 2005, IPUMS-CPS variable MIGRATE5 in 1995 and 2000 is comparable to the IPUMS-USA variable in 2000.

Universe

  • Persons age 5+.

Availability

Years Jan Feb ASEC Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
1980 - - X - - - - - - - - -
1985 - - X - - - - - - - - -
1995 - - X - - - - - - - - -
2005 - - X - - - - - - - - -
2015 - - X - - - - - - - - -
2020 - - X - - - - - - - - -
2025 - - X - - - - - - - - -

Flags

This variable has no flags.

Unharmonized Variables