EMIG 1.2 is a new, open‐source emigration database, based on over 6,500 observations covering 155 countries between 1850 and 2008, which can be used in both aggregate and TSCS analyses. Using comparisons, I show that EMIG 1.2 complements and extends alternative databases. Still, I need to solicit help from area specialists to broaden and deepen its coverage. In its aggregate form, I observe two important trends: (1) the level of emigration today is lower than it was prior to the First World War (when weighted by the number of countries or people); and (2) global emigration rates have been falling since 1994.