Some 37 million Indians say they would like to leave their country and move to Canada permanently making it among the top destinations for potential migrants around the world, according to a new poll.

The US remains the most popular destination in the world for potential migrants, the Gallup opinion poll agency said likely because of economic opportunities in the country and the established networks of potential migrants.

About 13% of the world’s adults -- or about 630 million people -- say they would like to leave their country and move somewhere else permanently. For roughly 138 million people, that somewhere else would be the U.S. -- the No. 1 desired destination for potential migrants. The U.K., Canada, and France also rank among the top choices for potential migrants, Gallup said.

The Britain (42 million), Canada (37 million), and France (10 million) also rank among the top choices for potential migrants.

The 154 countries in which the poll was done represent more than 98 percent of the world’s adult population; 3 percent of that population would like to relocate to the US permanently.

Indians form the third largest group of people after China (19 million) and Nigeria (13million) who would like to move to the US permanently, the Gallup said noting potential migrants are logically the most likely to come from some of the most populous countries in the world.

However, other populous countries such as Iran and Pakistan do not have large groups of people who say that they would like to move to the US permanently.

Instead, Pakistanis most desire to relocate to Saudi Arabia and Britain and Iranians would prefer to move to Jordan or Lebanon.

This is not surprising, as Iranians and Pakistanis have some of the lowest US leadership approval ratings in the world, Gallup said.

Three countries with the highest percentages of people who would like to relocate to the US permanently are in Africa, seven are in Central America and the Caribbean, with the remaining country, Cambodia, in Asia.

The poll comes as Immigration Canada said more people than ever before from Asian countries are moving to live, study and work in Canada, especially from China, the Philippines and India. China was the number one source country for immigration to Canada in 2012, with 32,990 permanent residents admitted. Canada also issued a record 235,000 visitor visas to Chinese applicants in 2012, an increase of 158% compared to 2004, and the record 25,245 study permits approved represents an increase of 235% since 2004, reports Expatforum.com

The Philippines was the second largest source country for immigration to Canada in 2012 with 32,704 permanent residents admitted, an increase of 146% since 2004. Canada also issued a record 44,000 visitor visas to Filipino applicants in 2012, an increase of 68% compared to 2004, and the record 941 study permits approved represents an increase of 429% since 2004.

India was the third largest source country for immigration to Canada in 2012, with 28,889 permanent residents admitted, an increase of almost 15% since 2004. Canada also issued a record 130,000 visitor visas to Indian applicants in 2012, an increase of 58% compared to 2004 with a record 13,000 study permits approved, an increase of 530% since 2004.

This significant increase in each of these categories reaffirms Canada as a top destination of choice for visitors and students from these countries, according to Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney. ‘We plan to grow the economy and create more jobs by attracting an increasing number of visitors and the world’s best and brightest talent to Canada. For this reason, we strive to issue visas and permits as quickly as possible to facilitate travel for immigrants, visitors and students,’ he said.