Foreign-born emigration from the United States: 1960 to 1970

Area of Science:

• Demography
• Sociology
• Population Studies

Background:

• Accurate estimation of international migration is crucial for demographic analysis.
• Previous studies have often overlooked or underestimated emigration, particularly of foreign-born populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the number of foreign-born emigrants from the U.S. between 1960 and 1970.
• To analyze emigration by age and sex.
• To discuss the implications of these findings for U.S. immigration policy and population estimates.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 1960 and 1970 census data on the foreign-born population.
• Applied adjusted life table survival rates.
• Incorporated annual alien immigration statistics from the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).

Main Results:

• An estimated 1,140,000 foreign-born persons emigrated from the U.S. during the 1960s.
• Women constituted 58% (663,000) of emigrants, while men accounted for 477,000.
• Nearly a quarter of foreign-born emigrants were women aged 25-44 in 1970; 175,000 emigrants were aged 65+ in 1970.

Conclusions:

• The substantial emigration of over one million foreign-born individuals significantly impacts U.S. population dynamics.
• Findings necessitate a revision of net immigration data used for population estimation.
• The results have critical implications for shaping future U.S. immigration policies.