Gallup’s 2010 Potential Net Migration Index -- covering 148 countries and involving some 350,000 interviews -- gave the Philippines a net score of -22% -- the estimated number of adults seeking to migrate permanently minus those who would like to move in, divided by the total Philippine adult population.

This was down from 2009’s -20%.

The top score of +219% recorded by Singapore, meanwhile, means the country would see its population more than triple, according to the poll which was released last Friday.

At the bottom of the Gallup list was Sierra Leone, with a score of -56%.

Gallup said that while the findings "reflect people’s wishes rather than their intentions, the implication of what could happen if these desires become a reality are serious consideration for leaders as they plan for the future."

Taking error margins into account, the Philippines’ score could hit as high as -26% or as low as -18%. The 2010 figure of -22% places the country just out of the bottom third of the list.

Sought for comment, University of Asia and the Pacific economist Victor A. Abola said the result was not surprising.

"There are a lot of Filipinos migrating because of unemployment here... This can be changed if we see more opportunity, if the government delivers the 7-8% growth [it has promised]," Mr. Abola said.

Sonny R. Coloma, Presidential Communications Operations secretary, said the new Aquino administration would follow through with its promise to provide jobs.

"The inaugural address of the president says that job generation is our priority so that there will be options other than wanting to go abroad... Migration started during the dark years of the Marcos administration and we will aim to reverse the trend," Mr. Coloma said.

Next to Singapore, New Zealand (+184%), Saudi Arabia (+176%), Canada (+160%), Switzerland (+150%), Australia (+148%) and Kuwait (+127%) topped the list.

At the bottom with Sierra Leone were Haiti (-51), Zimbabwe (-47%), Somaliland (-46%), Nigeria (-46%), Ethiopia (-46%), Liberia (-45%), El Salvador (-45%) and Comoros (-45%).

The United States, said to be the most preferred destination, ranked 14 with a score of +60%. Gallup said rankings are affected by population size.