Irish emigration is highest in EU

The Irish are emigrating in huge numbers.
Figures from Eurostat have revealed that Ireland has the highest emigration rate in the EU.
The figures show that Irish emigration rate during 2009 was 9%. This was twice the rate of emigration levels of the next country, Lithuania, at 4.6%.
Other countries showing high levels of emigration included Cyprus, Latvia and Bulgaria.
Recent forecasts from the ESRI have warned that up to 120,000 will leave the country by the end of 2011 if employment levels do not improve.
However, these statistics are balanced by the fact that Ireland’s birth rate, at 10%, is the highest. Britain and France follow, with Germany and Austria ranking lowest.
Eurostat is a Directorate General of the EU and is located in Luxembourg. It is responsible for the collation of all European statistics.
The EU's population, as of 1 January 2010, was 501.1 million. In 2009 over 5 million children were born across the EU. This can be compared with 499.7 million a year earlier, with 900,000 immigrants entering the bloc and a natural increase of 500,000.
The EU countries with the highest levels of immigration were Luxembourg, Sweden, Slovenia, Italy and Belgium, according to the report.