Americans Are Leaving the US in Record Numbers — Here's Where They're Actually Going (2026)

Something remarkable happened in 2025 — and most Americans missed it completely.

For the first time since the Great Depression, more people left the United States than moved in. According to the Brookings Institution, net migration turned negative for the first time since 1935, with an estimated loss of 150,000 people. And the outflow is expected to accelerate through 2026.

Key Takeaways:

• At least 180,000 Americans relocated abroad in 2025, per Wall Street Journal data from just 15 countries
• Net negative migration in the US for the first time since 1935
• American expats in Portugal up 500% since the pandemic; Ireland doubled in one year
• Main drivers: cost of living, safety concerns, remote work flexibility, political disillusionment
• One in five Americans said they wanted to leave the country in recent polling

Last updated: March 11, 2026

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This Isn't a Blip — It's a Structural Shift

At least 180,000 Americans relocated abroad in 2025 — and the real number is almost certainly higher.

A Wall Street Journal analysis of data from just 15 countries found that at least 180,000 US citizens left to live abroad last year. Since the analysis covered only a fraction of global destinations, the true figure is likely significantly higher. Some estimates put the total number of Americans living abroad at over 9 million.

What's changed is the type of person leaving. This isn't just retirees on pensions or tech workers at European offices. It's young professionals, families with school-age kids, freelancers, and remote workers who realized that their US salary goes 2-3x further in Lisbon than in Austin.

Where Are Americans Actually Going?

Here's what the data shows — and some of these numbers are staggering.

Portugal: The 500% Surge

American expats in Portugal have increased 500% since the COVID-19 pandemic, with another 36% jump in 2024 alone.

Portugal has become the default answer to "where should I move?" for American expats. The numbers back it up — a 500% increase since COVID, driven by affordable cost of living (€1,500-2,000/month for a comfortable life in Lisbon), a thriving expat community, excellent healthcare, and one of Europe's most welcoming visa frameworks.

The D7 passive income visa remains one of the easiest pathways for Americans, requiring just €760/month in passive income. Digital nomads can use the country's remote work visa with a minimum of €3,510/month.

Why it works: 300 days of sunshine, €3-4 espressos, world-class healthcare at a fraction of US costs, and a path to EU citizenship after 5 years.

→ Compare Portugal vs Spain for expats

Ireland: Doubled in a Single Year

10,000 Americans moved to Ireland in 2025 — double the number from 2024. A record 6,600 Americans applied for Irish passports last year.

Ireland's surge is partly heritage-driven (millions of Americans qualify for Irish citizenship by descent) and partly practical. An Irish passport means full EU freedom of movement — live and work in any of 27 countries without a visa.

The 6,600 passport applications represent a small fraction of those eligible. With an estimated 33 million Americans claiming Irish ancestry, this pipeline could sustain growth for decades.

Cost consideration: Ireland isn't cheap — Dublin rents rival San Francisco. But Cork, Galway, and Limerick offer significantly lower costs while maintaining excellent quality of life.

Spain: Nearly Doubled in a Decade

Spain's digital nomad visa (launched 2023, expanded 2025) has been a game-changer for remote workers. The number of American residents has nearly doubled over the past decade, with Barcelona and Valencia emerging as top hubs.

Spain offers a compelling combination: excellent healthcare (ranked 7th globally), low cost of living outside Madrid/Barcelona (€1,200-1,500/month in Valencia), and one of the best climates in Europe.

→ Explore Spain's cost of living

Czechia: More Than Doubled

American expat numbers in Czechia rose to over 11,000, more than doubling over the past decade.

Prague has quietly become one of Europe's best-kept secrets for American expats. The cost of living is roughly 50% of major US cities, the tech scene is thriving, and the central European location makes weekend trips to Vienna, Berlin, or Budapest effortless.

Czechia's Zivnostensky list (trade license) makes it relatively easy for freelancers to establish legal residency. Monthly costs for a comfortable life in Prague: roughly €1,400-1,800 including rent.

Other Rising Destinations

• Germany: More Americans moved to Germany in 2025 than Germans moved to the US — a historic reversal
• Netherlands: American residents have nearly doubled in the past decade
• Mexico: Remains the #1 destination by total numbers, with an estimated 1.6 million Americans living there
• Colombia: Growing rapidly among digital nomads, with Medellín and Bogotá leading

→ See our full country rankings

What's Actually Driving the Exodus?

1. The Math Just Works

A software engineer making $120,000/year in the US might take home $85,000 after taxes, health insurance, and retirement contributions. In Portugal, that same salary (working remotely) faces a 20% flat tax under the NHR regime, with healthcare costing €30-50/month instead of $500+. Rent in Lisbon: €1,200 vs. $2,500+ in Austin.

The purchasing power gap is real and growing. US inflation, housing costs, and healthcare expenses have pushed the breakeven point where living abroad becomes financially superior.

2. Safety Concerns

Multiple surveys show that expats cite violent crime and gun violence as a top reason for leaving. The US experienced over 650 mass shootings in 2025 — a statistic that simply doesn't exist in Portugal, Japan, or New Zealand.

3. Remote Work Made It Possible

The pandemic permanently unlocked location independence for millions of knowledge workers. An estimated 35 million Americans now work remotely at least part-time, and a growing percentage are realizing they can do that work from anywhere with reliable internet.

4. Political Disillusionment

While it cuts across political lines, many expats describe feeling like the social contract in America is fraying. Healthcare costs, student debt, political polarization, and a sense that quality of life is declining despite rising GDP.

The Practical Reality Most Articles Won't Tell You

Moving abroad isn't all wine and sunsets. Here's what the optimistic articles leave out:

• Taxes: Americans are taxed on worldwide income regardless of where they live. You'll likely need to file both US taxes and local taxes (though treaties prevent double taxation in most cases)
• Banking: Many international banks won't open accounts for US citizens due to FATCA compliance costs
• Healthcare gaps: Travel insurance ≠ real coverage. You need proper local health insurance or enrollment in the national system
• Social isolation: The first 6-12 months can be brutally lonely, especially if you don't speak the local language
• Bureaucracy: European bureaucracy is real. Getting a residence permit in Italy can take 6+ months

→ Read more about the messy reality of expat life

Should You Actually Do It?

If you're seriously considering the move, here's the honest framework:

It makes sense if:

• You work remotely and your employer allows international work (or you're self-employed)
• You have at least 6 months of savings as a buffer
• You're willing to deal with visa paperwork, tax complexity, and cultural adjustment
• You've visited your target country for at least 2-4 weeks (tourism ≠ living there)

Think twice if:

• You're running from something rather than toward something
• You have elderly parents or family obligations that require physical presence
• Your career requires US-based networking or in-person meetings
• You're expecting everything to be easier abroad (it's different, not necessarily easier)

The 180,000 Americans who left in 2025 aren't all going to stay. Some will return within a year or two. But the structural trends — remote work, cost arbitrage, declining US quality-of-life metrics — suggest this wave has staying power.

The question isn't whether more Americans will leave. It's whether you'll be one of them.

→ Take our expat readiness quiz | Compare destinations