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Report identifies favourite destinations for British migrants heading overseas
| Published: | 30 Nov at 6 PM |
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Tagged: France, Spain, Property Abroad, Australia, UK, New Zealand, Canada, Citizenship, Ireland, England
A Home Office report has identified the most popular destinations and the reasons for leaving for the number of dissatisfied Britons migrating overseas.
According to the report by the Office of National Statistics, some 150,000 UK citizens left the country for long-term or permanent stays abroad. The majority were of working age, with the move expected to further their careers, although a significant number were planning to retire in countries which offered a better quality of life.
Australia was the most popular destination, as it has been for the last 20 years, with South Australia’s recent expansion of its skills list expected to draw more British migrants in the near future. Other popular destinations were France, the Republic of Ireland and New Zealand, with the US, Spain and Canada featuring strongly.
During recent years, the number of migrants from the UK has fallen, peaking from around 200,000 at the beginning of the 21st century to 207,000 in 2006, and falling back from the start of the financial crisis onwards. According to the report, some 4.7 million Britons now live overseas, with most happy to remain where they are.
The reasons behind the fall in migration figures from their all-time high in 2006 is believed to be connected with the fall in disposable income in the average household, leaving less spare cash with which to undertake a major move. The difficulty of selling property since the credit crunch took hold may also be affecting international mobility.
According to the report by the Office of National Statistics, some 150,000 UK citizens left the country for long-term or permanent stays abroad. The majority were of working age, with the move expected to further their careers, although a significant number were planning to retire in countries which offered a better quality of life.
Australia was the most popular destination, as it has been for the last 20 years, with South Australia’s recent expansion of its skills list expected to draw more British migrants in the near future. Other popular destinations were France, the Republic of Ireland and New Zealand, with the US, Spain and Canada featuring strongly.
During recent years, the number of migrants from the UK has fallen, peaking from around 200,000 at the beginning of the 21st century to 207,000 in 2006, and falling back from the start of the financial crisis onwards. According to the report, some 4.7 million Britons now live overseas, with most happy to remain where they are.
The reasons behind the fall in migration figures from their all-time high in 2006 is believed to be connected with the fall in disposable income in the average household, leaving less spare cash with which to undertake a major move. The difficulty of selling property since the credit crunch took hold may also be affecting international mobility.
Comments » There is 1 comment
Duncan Horne wrote 12
years ago:
As a British citizen, this is of interest to me. I left Britain originally as I was marrying a Malaysian who was still studying in Malaysia. I soon discovered the lifestyle here (in Malaysia) to be far superior to that of Britain, in every respect, so I have no plans of ever returning to my homeland. The average person in Britain like me just can't live such a great life like I'm doing now, in Malaysia!
