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As more than one million migrants arrived in Germany in the last year, new data reveals 138,000 Germans left in 2015. More than 1.5million Germans have left the country in the last decade, with many of them highly educated. Academics and students are among the Germans deciding to move leaving holes in the local economy.

GETTY Germans are leaving Germany 'in droves' amid backlash from Angela Merkel's open door migrant policy

More than 1.5million Germans have left the country in the last decade

Statistics released by German statistics agency Destatis said the number of people arriving in Germany “was as high as never before” with the increase in numbers “due to increased immigration of foreign nationals”. The number of migrants expected to arrive in Germany is set to continue, according to officials. Frank-Jürgen Weise, the head of the country's migration office, BAMF, predicted at least 300,000 more migrants will arrive in Germany in 2016.

AFP More than one million migrants arrived in Germany in the last year

As the migrant crisis engulfs the EU, German Chancellor Mrs Merkel has seen her popularity plunge to a record low. Demonstrations have been held against her as the right-wing Alternative for Deutschland party made significant gains in the Berlin elections.

EPA German Chancellor Mrs Merkel has seen her popularity plunge to a record low

'Merkel must go!' Protest in Dresden as Merkel arrives to celebrate German Unity Day Mon, October 3, 2016 Protesters jeered at German Chancellor Angela Merkel as she attended celebrations in Dresden to mark 26 years since Germany's reunification called German Unity Day. Play slideshow 1 of 14

The under-fire Chancellor has joined forces with her European counterparts to step up their efforts to curb illegal migration from African countries with the aim of replicating their success in halting inflows from Turkey over the past year. While migrants reaching Greece from Turkey have dropped to a trickle after a deal with Ankara in March, arrivals in Italy from Africa are increasing so far this year.

GETTY More than 1.5million Germans have left the country in the last decade

To curb flows along the so-called central Mediterranean route, where thousands of migrants drown every year as they make the dangerous journey, the EU is offering trade deals and investment to African countries. Mrs Merkel said: "It is not just about money, it is about substantially improving the capabilities and the chances of people in these African countries and to give hope.”

Migrant Crisis: Mass exodus from the migrant camp continues Tue, October 25, 2016 Hundreds of migrants are continuing to arrive in Europe as they flee the scenes of chaos and brutality of the Islamic State in the Middle East. Play slideshow 1 of 224