IOM’s Global Data Institute, through its Global Migration Data Analysis Centre, has developed a guide called The Essentials of Migration Data (EMD), as part of its mission to encourage and enable government and partner stakeholders to produce and disseminate data and statistics on international migration and human mobility more generally. The EMD is based on a comprehensive review of available manuals, toolkits and guidelines from IOM, other international organizations, national statistical offices and academic institutions and on a number of consultations with data experts from IOM, other international organisations and national statistical offices. While the guide is primarily aimed at government stakeholders seeking to improve the dissemination of migration data and statistics at the national level, it will also be useful to practitioners from IOM and other international organizations, engaged in migration data capacity-building projects. The content of the EMD was developed between March 2023 and March 2024, undergoing several rounds of revision. However, given that the field of migration data is constantly evolving due to the standardization/revision of new/old concepts and measures and the harnessing of innovative data sources, the EMD will be made virtual, so that the content can be continuously expanded and updated.