The most recent figures from the National Statistics Institute indicate that 48,085 registered residents of the Balearics live abroad. This is over 40% more than ten years ago (27,176) and more than three times as many as in 2010, when the figure was 15,878. In the space of one year, the total has risen from 44,495.
Of these residents now living abroad, 11,174 were born in the Balearics. This figure has gone up from 6,479 since 2015. The main reasons for this emigration will be the cost of living in the Balearics and job opportunities. While there is plenty of employment in the Balearics, it isn't always well paid or the right type of work.
However, people do move to the Balearics for jobs, despite the cost of living and issues with housing. Over 4,000 people emigrated last year, but the population of the Balearics still increased by 9,700.
In the Balearic Parliament this week, the Partido Popular and Vox advocated a policy of 'remigration'. The figures for people leaving the islands might be said to be evidence of this happening naturally, but departing for reasons such as the cost of living is not what was being discussed. This is remigration of immigrants who commit crimes, who decide not to integrate into the culture of the islands and seek to impose their own.
As to where islanders emigrate to, 20,510 are in European countries other than Spain. There are more in the Americas - 25,525, a 50% increase compared with ten years ago.