Sharp rise in Balearic emigration

Palma.—It was revealed yesterday that last year, 2,167 registered Balearic citizens emigrated from the Balearics, 56 percent more than in 2012. At a national level 79,306 Spanish residents emigrated in 2013, 40 percent more than during the previous year with every province in Spain reporting an increase in emigration.
As the Bulletin reported last month, over the next 20 years, the Spanish population is going to contract sharply with the Balearics being only one of five region where the population is forecast to grow, but part of that growth will involve a steady flow of people leaving, and moving to the region.
According to a new report by Spanish think tank Fundación Alternativas (Spanish link), more than 700,000 people - equivalent to roughly 1.5% of Spain’s population - have left the country since 2008.  Since 2011, Spain has seen more people emigrate to other countries than arrive.
And, there appears to be tendency towards European Union countries close by.
The UK, France and Germany have remained favorite destinations; in 2013, the three received 30% of Spain’s emigrants.
With  unemployment still hovering near 24% and the economy still struggling, stemming the urge to emigrate will not likely be an easy task - the unemployment rate for the under 29 age group in Spain stands at 49 percent.
According to a study by the Center for Sociological Investigations (CIS) last year, just under 50% of Spanish citizens said they would live abroad, and nearly 20% admitted that they are actively considering the possibility.
The country’s inability to keep accurate records has led to some stark discrepancies between its and other countries’ immigration numbers.