The elusive exodus: emigration from the United States.

Abstract

Sufficient information is available to determine that during the 20th century the US gained about 30 million immigrants and lost approximately 10 million people to emigration. Currently more than 150000 people mostly former immigrants leave each year. A close look at emigration trends alters the perception of the impact immigration has on US society. The facts appear to contradict the notion that everyone wants to move to the US but no one wants to leave. Some portion of the immigrant population evenutally departs. A relatively new phenomenon over the past few decades is that US citizens also are emigrating in increasing numbers. This review and compilation of emigration statistics covers the relationship between immigration and emigration the emigration of US citizens and public policy and statistical implications. The level of immigration of the US has fluctuated widely during the 20th century due to wars changing economic conditions and the limits on immigration imposed in the mid-1920s. Although emigration was not measured completely during all periods a substantial counterflow has accompanied immigration regardless of historical circumstances. Evidence indicates that hundreds of thousands of US citizens emigrated during the past few decades. The figures shown in a table tend to underestimate emigration particularly for the period since 1960. During World War I net migration came to a virtual halt. In 1918 and 1919 the number of emigrants exceeded the number of immigrants for possibly the 1st time in US history. After World War I both immigration and emigration increased sharply but remained below present levels. After World War II immigration gradually increased but levels of immigration and emigration were restrained by the economic effects of the war throughout Europe. Since 1965 immigration levels increased more rapidly due to changes in immigration laws and the large flows of refugees from Cuba Southeast Asia and other areas. The annual level of non-US citizen emigration also appears to have increased steadily during the past few decades passing the 100000 level in the late 1960s. In 1984 the number of US citizens living abroad was estimated at 1.8 million. The figure exludes US military personnel or their dependents but includes civilian employees of the US government and their dependents. State department estimates of US citizens abroad for 1983 indicate that about 37% resided in the nations of North and Central America and the Caribbean with nearly 16% living in Canada and 14% in Mexico. An estimated 9% resided in Latin America. 32% resided in Europe and Asia accounted for 16% of the total.