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Generally, people in countries that are industrialized stop emigrating in large numbers (eg. Irish and Italian immigration to the New World has slowed since Ireland and Italy are now rich), so rich countries generally stop getting immigration from other rich countries but instead get immigration from poorer countries. Many New World countries, from Canada to Argentina once received very large numbers of European or British Isles immigrants but very few in modern times.
But for Australia and New Zealand, it seems immigration from the UK still seems high up into very recent times.
Why is that? It seems like in the US and Canada, most immigration is from poorer countries (Mexico, China, India) and few from developed ones any more (like Italy, Ireland, the UK, even Japan). Why does Australia and New Zealand still attract immigrants from a rich, western country?
Well Australia and New Zealand as until lately been attracting large amount of immigrants from the UK and Ireland as the weather there is not as cold as Canada. Many people from the UK and Ireland see Australia and New Zealand a lot safer to live compared to the USA. Plus many would have relatives living out here and it is another reason why they chose to live out here. Also much of the USA has a similar climate as Australia, yet the USA has a stricter immigration policy than Australia so it easier process for a person from the UK and Ireland to immigrate to Australia and New Zealand than the USA.
Yet Australia and New Zealand does not attract immigrants these days from places such as Netherlands, Germany and Italy unlike 50 years ago. It is because the economies of those countries have greatly improved.
Yet these days in both New Zealand and Australia receive more immigrants from Asia than from Europe.
Canada was a more popular destination for British migrants than Australia was until transportation and communication technology evolved and made Australia not so much a long haul. It was also easier to heat oneself than to cool oneself in the era before air conditioning was invented.
Note that Quebec draws a significant number of immigrants from France these days, and relative to population the number of them is off the top of my head about three times the number of British people who move to English-speaking parts of Canada these days. Migration to Quebec from France was a small trickle up until 10-20 years ago but has since then picked up significantly.
Note that Quebec draws a significant number of immigrants from France these days, and relative to population the number of them is off the top of my head about three times the number of British people who move to English-speaking parts of Canada these days. Migration to Quebec from France was a small trickle up until 10-20 years ago but has since then picked up significantly.
That's interesting. So immigration from France has actually picked up. It seems rare for immigration from rich countries to other rich countries to rise in contemporary times.
One of the significant things about immigration to Aus from the UK is the number who return home within a short time after arrival. Roughly one third return to the UK within a few years.
There have been a number of studies that have looked at the phenomenon, some more academic and sympathetic than others. The most common issues identified seem to centre on unrealistic or uninformed expectations and culture shock.
It's because Australia and NZ were colonies of UK, so for british people is very easy to go there. Also both countries have nice weather.
A lot of brits go to the US too (even more than AU and NZ), but as the US receives so much millons of immigrants each year, the brits represents only an small percentage of that number, but in absolute terms the number of brits in the US is higher than Australia.
Weather is the main reason, the fact our economy is doing well and until recently it was a lot easier for British migrants to move over here. Plus culturally we are the closest country to Britain, and family connections. Sure there are a lot of 'ping pong poms' which is hardly surprising given Australia's great distance and physical different from Britain. The UK is a tiny, crowded, cloudy, green island with lots of quaint historic buildings: Australia is new, wide, with a mostly dry, sunny climate (although most of the cities are in the temperate or sub-tropical zone) which is physically speaking almost the antithesis of Britain. This physical contrast masks the similarities that remain between the two cultures, although we are beginning to drift apart culturally, with strong influences from North America and Asia.
It's because Australia and NZ were colonies of UK, so for british people is very easy to go there. Also both countries have nice weather.
A lot of brits go to the US too (even more than AU and NZ), but as the US receives so much millons of immigrants each year, the brits represents only an small percentage of that number, but in absolute terms the number of brits in the US is higher than Australia.
According to the data here is the list of UK citizens of the following countries
1,208,000 - Australia
For the US - 701,000
For Canada - 675,000
For New Zealand -268,000
According to the data here is the list of UK citizens of the following countries
1,208,000 - Australia
For the US - 701,000
For Canada - 675,000
For New Zealand -268,000
Yeah the British presence in Australia is obviously a lot heavier than the US and Canada. I would also guess the British presence is quite heavily concentrated in NY/The Northeast and California, working in the entertainment, finance.etc industry. A lot of Brits who come here are actually 'blue collar'.
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