Bulgaria - The social impact of seasonal migration

Table 7. If you were intending to go and live permanently abroad, which country would
you prefer to leave for?
1992 1996 2001
Germany - 12% 11.5%
The U.S.A. - 22% 11.0%
Australia - 8% 3.3%
Canada - 8% 3.2%
France - 3% 2.5%
Greece - - 2.4%
Italy - 5% 2.1%
Scandinavian countries - 3% 2.0%
Switzerland - 5% 2.0%
Great Britain - 2% 1.9%
Turkey - 19% 1.6%
Other Central or Eastern European countries - 2% 1.6%
Spain - - 1.6%
Other - 4% 0.9%
Russia - - 0.4%
Other CIS countries - - 0.2%
Austria - - 0.2%
The Netherlands - - 0.2%
Belgium - - 0.2%
Sweden - - 0.2%
The Czech Republic - - 0.1%
New Zealand - - 0.1%
Ireland - - 0.1%
Brazil - - 0.1%
Republic of South Africa - - 0.1%
Denmark - - 0.1%
Have not identified any - 4% 14.7%
No response - 3% 36.2%
The data show a difference between destinations of permanent migration and of
temporary migration. Apart from Germany, the rest of the preferred countries for
emigration for good are the USA, Australia and Canada. The identification of these
countries as attractive for emigration and settlement might be due to their active
immigration policies and the possibility for easier legal immigration. However, the fact
that they are at the greatest distance from Bulgaria might contribute to their image as
dream countries of emigration, related more to fantasy and contemplation rather than
to real mobility. Real mobility, as it is seen on the first table, concerns more the
neighbouring countries and the EU member-states.
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