How Country Experts Assess Regional Differences Within a Country

Why Regional Differences Can Matter in COI Research

Country of Origin Information can cover a wide range of issues, including security conditions, treatment of particular groups, access to state institutions, political developments and social conditions.

These conditions may vary geographically.

For example, circumstances in a major city may differ from those in a rural area. Conditions in one province may also differ from those in another because of factors such as local governance, security activity, infrastructure or the presence of particular groups.

This does not mean that every country has significant regional variation on every issue. The relevance of geographic differences needs to be considered in relation to the particular question being researched.

What Types of Regional Differences Might Be Relevant?

The appropriate areas of research will depend on the country and the issue under consideration.

Security and conflict conditions

Security conditions can differ between parts of a country.

Research may therefore consider whether particular regions have experienced different levels or types of:

• Armed conflict
• Political violence
• Criminal activity
• Security-force operations
• Activity by armed or non-state groups
• Civil unrest
• Displacement

The relevant period is also important. Security conditions can change over time, so older country information might not necessarily describe current conditions.

Political and administrative differences

Governance structures and political dynamics may vary between regions.

Research may examine issues such as:

• Local administrative structures
• Regional political control
• The presence of government authorities
• Local political organisations
• Relationships between central and local authorities
• Implementation of relevant laws or policies

The existence of a national law or policy does not necessarily provide complete information about how it operates in every locality. Where this distinction is relevant to the factual question, regional sources may warrant examination.

Treatment of particular groups

The treatment or circumstances of a particular group may vary geographically.

Relevant research could concern ethnic, religious, political or other groups, depending on the issue being examined.

For example, a group may be concentrated in particular areas, or its relationship with local authorities or communities may differ between locations.

Care is needed to avoid assuming that evidence concerning one locality automatically applies to an entire country.

Access to services and institutions

Regional differences can also concern practical access to institutions and services.

Depending on the case, research might consider:

• Police and other security institutions
• Courts and administrative bodies
• Healthcare facilities
• Transport infrastructure
• Accommodation
• Education
• Employment opportunities

The availability of a service at a national level does not necessarily establish that it is equally accessible in every part of the country.

How Does a Country Expert Approach Regional Research?

A country expert undertaking regional research would generally need to define the geographical question before selecting and assessing sources.

The approach may involve several stages.

Defining the relevant location

The first step is to identify the geographical area that is relevant to the instruction.

This could be:

• A country as a whole
• A particular province or state
• A city
• A district
• A rural area
• A particular route or area of movement

The more specific the question, the more important it may be to identify the relevant location accurately.

Identifying appropriate sources

The expert can then identify sources that address the relevant geographical issue.

Depending on the subject, these might include publicly available material from government bodies, international organisations, research institutions, reputable non-governmental organisations, academic sources and other relevant publications.

The value of a source depends on the question being asked and factors such as its methodology, date, geographic scope and reliability.

Comparing information from different locations

Where regional variation is relevant, information concerning different areas may need to be compared.

This can help identify whether an apparent national trend is reflected consistently across the country or whether meaningful differences exist between locations.

Comparison should be undertaken carefully. Differences between sources may result from different dates, methodologies or research questions rather than an actual contradiction.

What Should Be Considered When Assessing Regional COI?

A useful regional country research exercise should distinguish between several related questions.

Is the information geographically specific?

A source describing a national situation may not answer a question about a particular city or province.

The geographical scope of each source should therefore be considered before applying its information to a particular location.

Is the information sufficiently current?

Country conditions can change at different rates in different regions.

A source that accurately described conditions at an earlier point may not necessarily describe the same conditions later.

Is the source addressing the same issue?

Two sources may appear to disagree while actually addressing different questions.

For example, one source may examine general security conditions while another focuses on treatment of a particular group. Their findings should be understood within their respective contexts.

Is the regional distinction supported by available evidence?

Where appropriate, relevant information can be considered alongside other available sources.

The appropriate number and type of sources will depend on the subject, availability of information and scope of the research.

Regional Differences and Internal Relocation

Geographic differences can become particularly relevant where internal relocation is being considered.

Research may need to distinguish between conditions in the person's original location and conditions in a proposed alternative location.

Country information might therefore examine matters such as:

• Security conditions in the proposed area
• Presence of relevant authorities or groups
• Treatment of the relevant profile
• Availability of accommodation
• Access to essential services
• Transport and practical accessibility
• Local social or community conditions

However, country information alone does not determine whether internal relocation is legally available or reasonable in an individual case. Legal representatives and decision-makers must consider the applicable legal framework and the facts of the particular case.

Where appropriate, a COI research report can focus on defined country-specific questions within the scope of the expert's instructions.

Regional Differences in CPINs and Other Country Information

Home Office Country Policy and Information Notes (CPINs) may address particular countries and subjects, and some notes may examine issues involving specific regions or internal relocation.

The existence and scope of regional information will vary between individual CPINs. A CPIN should therefore be read according to its subject, sources, geographic coverage and publication date rather than assumed to address every regional issue.

Other COI may provide information about particular regions that is relevant to a question not addressed in detail by a particular CPIN.

This does not necessarily mean that other sources contradict the CPIN. The sources may have different purposes, publication dates, geographical scopes or underlying evidence.

Common Issues When Using Regional Country Information

Regional research can present several challenges.

Applying national information to a local question

National-level information may be too broad to answer a question about a particular locality.

Relying on outdated regional evidence

A regional security or political situation can change. The date of the evidence should therefore be considered carefully.

Assuming conditions are uniform

A country should not automatically be treated as geographically uniform simply because a source describes it at national level.

Treating one source as conclusive

Individual sources have their own scope and limitations. Comparing relevant evidence can provide a more complete picture where sufficient information is available.

Confusing factual evidence with legal conclusions

Country experts can provide evidence and analysis within their expertise. Determining the legal significance of that evidence is a matter for the relevant legal process.

A Practical Framework for Regional COI Research

When examining regional differences, the following questions can help structure the research:

1. What location is relevant?
   Define the city, province, district or other geographical area being examined.
2. What factual issue needs to be researched?
   Identify whether the question concerns security, political activity, treatment of a group, access to institutions or another country-condition issue.
3. What period is relevant?
   Consider the dates of the available information and whether circumstances may have changed.
4. What sources address the location?
   Look for sources that provide information at an appropriate geographic level.
5. Are there meaningful differences between locations?
   Compare relevant evidence rather than assuming that differences exist.
6. Are there limitations in the available information?
   Note where reliable and sufficiently specific information is limited or where sources provide differing accounts.

This approach can help keep country research focused on the factual questions that the available evidence can reasonably address.

Why Geographic Context Matters in Country Expert Research

Regional context can provide a more precise understanding of country conditions where the relevant evidence differs between locations.

A country expert may therefore consider geographic distinctions where they fall within the scope of the instruction and the expert's expertise. The purpose is to present relevant country information clearly and transparently, rather than to reach a predetermined conclusion about an individual's claim.

COI Experts' country coverage provides information about the geographic scope of its country research.

Conclusion

Country conditions should not automatically be assumed to be identical across every part of a country. Depending on the issue, differences in security, governance, treatment of particular groups, access to institutions and other conditions may have a relevant geographical dimension.

For this reason, regional analysis can be an important part of country of origin research where the factual question requires location-specific information.

A careful assessment should consider the relevant location, time period, sources, methodology and limitations of the available evidence. It should also distinguish country evidence from the legal conclusions that may ultimately be drawn from it.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about regional differences in Country of Origin Information and country expert research. It is not legal advice and does not determine how any particular asylum, human rights or immigration case should be assessed.

Last Reviewed: October 2026