Poorer Countries Feel Effects of 'Brain Drain'
"Brain drain" might sound like something painful that a doctor would do to you.
In fact, it can be painful — but not for the reasons you might think.
Brain drain is when large numbers of educated, skilled people leave their country to go to work in another country, usually for better conditions and pay.
It doesn't hurt the body — it hurts the economy.
It may mean that the country they leave does not have enough workers in a particular industry.
Search Google for articles about brain drain and you'll find that there are a lot of countries that complain about brain drain, from the richest to the poorest.
But the data shows that it's smaller and poorer nations that are worst affected.
According to the most recent data, the country that experienced the worst brain drain between 2007 and 2023 was Samoa.
The small Pacific island nation loses many of its educated workers to New Zealand, where there are many more jobs. It's not difficult for Samoans to get work in New Zealand and many have family members living there.
The brain drain data was collected from a number of different sources by a group called Fund for Peace.
Jamaica was next on the list. In the past, the Caribbean country has tried to encourage skilled workers who have left the island to return, with promises of paid flights back to Jamaica and special subsidies.
Many of the other countries worst affected by brain drain don't have the resources — or the stability — to offer such benefits.
Most of the other nations that have seen large numbers of educated workers leave are in crisis, including Palestine and Ukraine, Somalia and Afghanistan.
Albania is the exception but after Ukraine it's the European country that's worst affected by brain drain.
At the other end of the list, Australia, Sweden, Norway and Canada are the least affected.
