LONDON, Oct. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- Britain has lost more skilled workers to the global brain drain than any other country, said a World Bank report.

    More than 1.44 million graduates, or one in six graduates from British universities or schools, are living and working in other countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia.

    About 200,000 more graduates have left than entered Britain from other nations, said Tuesday's Independent newspaper, adding that the report will fuel concerns Britain is failing to retain its educated workers.

    The most attractive destination is the US, which has 400,000 Britons followed by Canada and Australia with 365,000 each, and 200,000 in the rest of European Union countries.

    Frederic Docquier, coauthor of the report, said the growing number of departures could damage the country's long-term productivity.

    "It may impact the rate of growth and the number of innovations that create growth in the long-run."

    Docquier said the problem was made worse by the relatively low level of students taking degrees, which is about 20 percent.

    The paper said the report would especially worry employers, like engineering and pharmaceutical companies, who need qualified workers. Enditem