From Germany in 2004...almost 150,000 left. Stat’s show 2005 at least that much if not more. The gov’t is readily putting 2006 numbers but some believe they are in the 175,000 range. In the fifteen years after reunification....1.8 million have left. This is out of 80 million total Germans.
The best guess between now and 2015...at least 1.5 million will leave the country. The key things are...these are all Germans under the age of 50....and they aren’t returning. In 2005 alone...the gov’t had to admit that 5,000 doctors packed and left...which aren’t easily replaced. The chief reason given, is the state-run healthcare system which mandates what a doctor can be paid.
When you examine the cost of living...there simply isn’t a way for a guy to live off $14k a year, which is what most pension folks are receiving in social security per year. They won’t allow a 401K or IRA deal...because they can’t possibly offer tax credits like the US gov’t. And they can’t cut the German budget because of gov’t mandated programs and manpower. To stay...is simply a lose-lose situation.
My German relatives moved to Almaria, Spain years ago. It’s a nice place to live. They take the train to Torremolinos and hang around the resorts on the Med. I miss that warm blue ocean. Benidorm is the best place. American women are the ones with the white titties:)