Trends in British Emigration: What do the official data show? Pamela Dent and Joanna Wroe Migration Statistics Unit Population Statistics Division

Presentation Outline Who is an emigrant, according to which official data? What are the latest trends in British emigration? Who is emigrating? Why are they emigrating? Where are they emigrating to? What about Brits coming (back) to the UK? Summary and questions

Who is an emigrant – the UN Definition ‘A person who moves to a country other than that of his or her usual residence for a period of at least a year (12 months), so that the country of destination effectively becomes his or her new country of usual residence. From the perspective of the country of departure the person will be a long-term emigrant and from that of the country of arrival the person will be a long-term immigrant.’ United Nations (1998)

Which official data? International Passenger Survey (IPS) Long-Term International Migration (LTIM) estimates; around 90% IPS data but with additional data for: Asylum Seekers (Home Office) Cross border flows into and out of Northern Ireland (Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, NISRA) Those who change their intentions Other sources of official emigration data include: Eurostat OECD

Trends in emigration over the decades

What are the latest trends in British emigration? Long-term international migration estimates of British citizens, UK, 2003–2012 Source: Long-term International Migration – Office for National Statistics Please note that LTIM data for 2012 are provisional

Comparing British and Non-British Citizens Source: Long-term International Migration – Office for National Statistics Please note that LTIM data for 2012 are provisional

Emigration of British citizens from the UK by age group, 2001 to 2011 Source: International Passenger Survey – Office for National Statistics

Reasons for Emigration Work-related reasons (including ‘definite job’ and ‘looking for work’) Accompany/join Formal study Other No reason stated

Main reason for emigration, British citizens, 2002 to 2012 Source: International Passenger Survey – Office for National Statistics

Where are British emigrants going to? Source: International Passenger Survey – Office for National Statistics

Where do emigrants leave from? Source: International Passenger Survey – Office for National Statistics British emigrants by area of origin within the UK,

British nationals coming to the UK Source: Long-term International Migration – Office for National Statistics Please note that LTIM data for 2012 are provisional

British nationals coming to the UK by age group Source: International Passenger Survey – Office for National Statistics

Where have British nationals come to the UK from? Source: International Passenger Survey – Office for National Statistics

In summary, the official data show: 144,000 Brits emigrated from the UK in 2012 Emigration of Brits has decreased since peaking at 207,000 in 2006 Most common age to emigrate is Most common reason to emigrate is having a definite job to go to Australia is the most popular country to emigrate to – and has been since 1985