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The MIG research group focuses on applying advanced data collection and estimation methods to quantify and better understand the trends, patterns, drivers, and consequences of different types of migration considering its interactions with the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.
Migration is a key demographic component underlying population change. As a multifaceted process, it is influenced by various factors such as economic opportunities, social and political drivers, environmental changes, and conflicts. Due to its high volatility and complexity, migration is difficult to assess and forecast, thus requiring a combination of data sources and methods. The MIG research group employs innovative approaches to provide comprehensive estimates of internal and international migration and its underlying factors at global, national, and sub-national levels. A particular focus of the research group is exploring how climatic changes and environmental factors directly and indirectly influence migration, and how these effects differ across geographical locations and population subgroups. In addition, the research group offers valuable insights into the interconnections between sustainability, human development, and well-being, highlighting their relevance for migration processes worldwide.
Publications
Gräser, M., Grimm, C., & Hoffmann, R. (2026). Humor for health: a randomized controlled trial of clown visits in Palestinian hospitals. World Development 200 e107263. 10.1016/j.worlddev.2025.107263.
Kummu, M., Niva, V., Chrisendo, D., Rocha, J.C., Hoffmann, R., Sandström, V., Solt, F., & Masoumzadeh Sayyar, S. (2025). Global subnational Gini coefficient (income inequality) and gross national income (GNI) per capita PPP datasets for 1990-2023 V3. 10.5281/zenodo.16410778.
Chrisendo, D., Niva, V., Hoffmann, R., Masoumzadeh Sayyar, S., Rocha, J., Sandström, V., Solt, F., & Kummu, M. (2025). Rising income inequality across half of global population and socioecological implications. Nature Sustainability 10.1038/s41893-025-01689-4.
Marois, G. , Potančoková, M. , Bezat, A., & Crespo Cuaresma, J. (2026). Projecting Labour Market Imbalances and Skill Mismatch Under Demographic Change in the EU. European Journal of Population 42 e4. 10.1007/s10680-025-09758-2.
Mosello, B., Viehoff, A., Hoffmann, R., Farnleitner, E., & Zens, G. (2025). Linkages between climate change, human mobility and security in South-Eastern Europe. Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE) , Vienna, Austria.
Tiggeloven, T., Pfeiffer, S., Matanó, A., van den Homberg, M., Thalheimer, L. , Reichstein, M., & Torresan, S. (2025). The role of artificial intelligence for early warning systems: Status, applicability, guardrails, and ways forward. iScience 28 (11) e113689. 10.1016/j.isci.2025.113689.
Models, tools, datasets
Wittgenstein Centre Human Capital Data & Graphic Explorer Version 3.3 (WCDE)
Global Annual Migration Data Explorer
Projects
Climate Change and Human (Im)Mobility: The Role of Compound and Cascading Risks (2C-RISK)
Quantifying the Impacts of Climate Change on Migration to and Within Europe (CCMIG-EU)
Strengthening the Evidence-Based Understanding of the Climate Change, Human Mobility, and Security Nexus in South-Eastern Europe (ClimMigSEE)
Sustainability Performances, Evidence and Scenarios (SPES)
Staff
Katja Scherbov
Program and Project Officer (POPJUS, MDM, H2A, MIG)
Jonas Peisker
Research Scholar (MIG, EQU)
Andrea Vismara
Guest Researcher (MIG)
Raya Muttarak
Guest Principal Research Scholar (MIG)
News
11 November 2026
New international panel on AI and digital innovation
IIASA researcher Dilek Yildiz will serve on the steering committee of a new international scientific panel exploring how artificial intelligence (AI), digital technologies, and emerging data sources are transforming demographic research and our understanding of population change.
09 November 2026
From Barbados to London: Advancing science diplomacy and international cooperation
IIASA Science Diplomacy Director and Head of Communications and External Relations Susie Kitchens led a delegation to Barbados to explore opportunities for scientific collaboration in support of the country's economic transformation ambitions. The visit was followed by high-level engagements in London aimed at strengthening international research partnerships and IIASA's ties with UK institutions.
26 October 2026
Extreme weather drives support for green voting in Europe
A new study co-authored by IIASA researchers Jonas Peisker, Roman Hoffmann, and Raya Muttarak has found that extreme heatwaves are changing how Europeans feel about climate change and influencing their voting choices. The results highlight the demographic heterogeneity of the effects and could provide valuable insights for policymakers, communicators, and advocates aiming to enhance climate action legitimacy and engagement across diverse populations in the region.
Events
University of Vienna
International Conference on Inequity in Education
University of Vienna
9th Conference on Migration Research in Austria
Carcavelos – Portugal
World Congress of Environmental and Resource Economists (WCERE)
Focus
05 August 2026
When Uganda’s refugee policy meets children’s everyday lives
What does integration mean for a refugee child? Manya Oriel Kagan reflects on the research behind her new book, Schooling Experiences of Refugee Children in Uganda: Rethinking Integration Policies. Drawing on months of research in schools and communities in Kampala, Uganda, she explores how children's everyday experiences reveal both the possibilities and the limits of one of the world's most progressive refugee policies.
Annual Report 2025
Annual Report 2025: Population and Just Societies Program Highlights
How can societies adapt to profound demographic, environmental, and social change while ensuring that no one is left behind? In 2025, the Population and Just Societies Program generated new evidence on aging, migration, labor markets, climate vulnerability, and the policies needed to build more inclusive and resilient societies.