Although the economy of Spain has sprouted some green shoots recently, more citizens than ever are vacating the country in favour of trying their luck abroad.
Official data shows that no fewer than 50,844 Spaniards left in the first six months of 2015.
If the trend continues, the annual total is likely to exceed that of 2014 (80,440) and 2013 (73,329).
This year has seen the largest exodus since the economic crisis began in 2008.
Total departures for a life abroad since then number 424,004. The real number is likely to be considerably higher as not everyone registers with Spanish consulates when they move abroad.
Five long years of recession saw unemployment rates top 25% at times. Emerging from recession in 2014, the rates are only now beginning to come down and then at a snail’s pace. Joblessness is likely to have been a key factor for many of the migrants.
The majority went to the UK – 6,000 in the first half of this year, followed by 4,025 choosing France, 4,850 Germany and 4,500 the USA.
At the same time, the number of foreigners moving to Spain coupled with Spaniards returning home was up on the upswing for the first time since the crisis began.
The National Statistics Institute said some 134,000 were registered as moving to Spain from January to June this year.
