The United States, long known as a nation of immigrants, is experiencing an unprecedented reversal. For the first time, the number of people leaving America exceeded those entering last year—the first net outflow since 1935, during the depths of the Great Depression.
The Wall Street Journal reported on May 26 that American emigration has reached historic levels, based on a comprehensive analysis of residence permits from 50 countries, overseas real estate transactions, and international student data. The newspaper emphasized this trend began before the current administration took office.
The Brookings Institution estimates last year's net outflow at approximately 150,000 people. Immigration to the U.S. has also declined sharply, falling from a peak of 6 million in 2023 to between 2.6 and 2.7 million last year.
The Trump administration has interpreted these figures as evidence of its successful crackdown on illegal immigration. A White House spokesperson said hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants have been deported, while wealthy foreigners are purchasing $1 million "gold cards." However, WSJ's data indicates that voluntary American departures represent an independent phenomenon.
Europe dominates as the destination of choice. Nearly all 27 EU member states have recorded all-time highs in American residents. Portugal's U.S. population has grown more than fivefold since the pandemic, surging 36% in 2024 alone. Spain and the Netherlands have doubled their American residents over the past decade, while the Czech Republic has more than doubled. Germany and Ireland saw more Americans arrive than their own citizens depart for the U.S. last year. In the United Kingdom, American citizenship applications reached their highest level since records began in 2004.
Motivations for leaving are multifaceted. Emigrants interviewed by WSJ commonly cited high living costs, violent crime, political instability, and Europe's comparatively better quality of life.
Chris Ford, 41, a real estate investment firm employee living in Berlin, said: "Even though wages are lower in Europe than in America, the quality of life is higher. I don't want to live in a country where my 5-year-old has to practice active shooter drills in kindergarten."
Kelly McCoy, a New York insurance analyst who earned $80,000 annually, relocated to Albania in summer 2024 due to financial strain. "Here, $1,000 a month is enough to live on," she said.
The demographic profile of emigrants has also shifted. What was once the domain of adventurous professionals has rapidly expanded to include middle-aged workers, retirees, and students.
Jen Barnett, founder of emigration consultancy Expacy, said: "The old emigrants were exceptional people. Now they're just ordinary people." Nearly 400 Americans attended the firm's online seminar last month seeking information about moving to Albania.
Assisted living facilities are proliferating near the Mexican border as elderly Americans seek affordable care services. Brody Walks, a student at Scotland's University of St Andrews, said: "Living here is better than dealing with the ridiculous housing prices in LA."
Citizenship renunciations are also rising. Applications from Americans seeking to avoid overseas income taxation or obtain foreign passports surged 48% in 2024, creating months-long backlogs at emigration firms. The figure is expected to climb higher in 2025.
European countries are welcoming the influx of Americans. Several nations have relaxed digital nomad visa requirements and introduced temporary tax incentives for foreign income, viewing newcomers as beneficial to economic vitality.
A Gallup survey found that the share of Americans wanting to leave the country doubled from 10% during the 2008 financial crisis to 20% last year.
Caitlin Joyce, a researcher at Temple University, said: "The exceptionalist belief that 'America is the best in the world' is being shaken, and more Americans are preferring overseas life centered on welfare benefits."