While most attention appears to be focussed on the gain in immigration into the UK, the figures released also show that some 323,000 people left Britain last year.
The Office for National Statistics revealed that 318,000 more people arrived in the UK than left in 2014. It said this was a “statistically significant” advance in immigration over 2013.
But of the approximate 323,000 souls departing British shores, the ONS says the annual number has been more or less the same for the last few years and is a good deal lower than in the height of the financial crisis when 427,000 left in 2008.
British citizens usually make up the largest number – last year 139,000 Brits (43%) moved abroad. Since 2009, the number of British emigrants has remained consistent every year.
Fellow Europeans also left, with the ONS calculating that some 91,000 EU citizens left the UK last year.
People from countries outside the EU numbered about 94,000 in 2015.
Reasons for departure are harder to come by, but it is known that employment continues to be the key factor for emigration, accounting for about 56% of departures. Out of the 232,000 who left, 180,000 of them went for jobs.
"The evidence suggests emigration is mainly for work, and that the most common destinations for British citizens are Australia, Spain, the United States and France," according to the ONS.
“Going home to live” was another reason given for 33,000 emigrants last year.
Accompanying partners or relatives accounted for about 30,000 emigrants from Britain.
Foreign graduates of British universities comprised 25,000 last year.
Retirees heading out appear to be among the 52,000 departing souls who did not provide reasons.
