Australia still tops brit expat wishlist

8,000 more Brits are heading Down Under than in 2012, the latest data from the Office for National Statistics reveals, despite the tightening of Visa regulations, which include the 457 Temporary Worker Visa, which is popular among UK migrants.

France, Spain and Portugal are among UK emigrants' other favourite destinations, while those heading to New Zealand, South Africa or the USA fell slightly, reports <a href="http://www.johnmason.com/2014/05/infographic-leaving-the-uk-has-the-picture-changed/">John Mason</a>, who turned the data into an infographic:

Overall, though, the number of people deciding to leave the UK actually fell from 327,000 to 321,000.

Why are people leaving the country? Offers of employment remain the biggest driving force of migration, accounting for 35.8 per cent of departures, although "Look for Work" is the second most popular reason. Both saw their proportion dip slightly by 1.8 per cent and 3.5 per cent respectively.