Emigration rate now exceeds 1980s levels

Over the course of the past five years, over 8,000 people from Londonderry and over 1,500 from Limavady have chosen to leave the country.

Across Northern Ireland, between 21,000 and 26,000 have been leaving on a yearly basis. This compares to rates of around 18,000 and 19,000 during the period from 1982 to 1986 - a five year spell which took in not only the aftermath of the hunger-strikes, but also widespread rioting, demonstrations, bombings and murder.

Figures provided by Finance Minister Simon Hamilton show that from the financial year 1982 through to the financial year 1986, a total of 94,801 people to decided to up and leave Northern Ireland. Those numbers are comparatively small, however, when put alongside the 117,474 who left from 2008 to 2012, according to figures taken from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.

In Limavady, which has a total population of around 33,000, there were 245 who chose to emigrate in 2012. In 2011 there were even more with 275 deciding to take the plunge and go. In 2010 and 2011 there were even more again with 345 and 311. The figure in 2008 was a whopping 398 for the small Borough of Limavady.

Meanwhile in Londonderry, where the population stands at around 108,000, there were 1,745 who chose to leave the country last year. The previous year there were 1,711 and in 2010 there were 1,713. In 2009 the figure was 1,405 and in 2008 there were 1,438.

A survey commissioned by the National Youth Council of Ireland on emigration showed, in May this year, that 300,000 had also left the Republic of Ireland in the four years leading up to 2013.