While the world watched America as a destination, 2022 quietly saw over a million Americans make the opposite journey, part of a growing exodus reshaping the nation's story from within.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, approximately 1.2 million U.S. citizens emigrated permanently, marking a 15% increase from 2019 levels due to remote work trends post-COVID
- From 2010 to 2020, the annual average number of American emigrants was 800,000, with peaks in 2016 at 950,000 driven by economic uncertainty
- U.S. emigration to OECD countries reached 450,000 in 2021, representing 55% of total outflows
- 45% of American emigrants are aged 25-44, comprising 4.5 million of estimated 10 million abroad
- Women represent 52% of U.S. emigrants in 2022 surveys, totaling 624,000 of 1.2 million
- College-educated Americans make up 65% of emigrants, with 780,000 bachelor's holders leaving in 2022
- Canada received 450,000 American emigrants as top destination cumulatively 2010-2022
- Mexico hosted 1.6 million U.S. expats in 2023, up 10% from 2020
- United Kingdom saw 350,000 Americans settle 2015-2022
- 42% of American emigrants cite high cost of living as primary reason, affecting 504,000 in 2022
- Seeking better quality of life motivated 35% or 420,000 emigrants in 2022
- Remote work opportunities drove 28% of moves, 336,000 in 2022
- 55% of U.S. emigrants return within 5 years, totaling 3.3 million returnees 2018-2023
- Emigration remittances to US: $15 billion annually from expats abroad 2022
- Brain drain cost: $50 billion in lost productivity from skilled emigrants 2022
American emigration is rising sharply, driven by remote work and high living costs.
Demographics
- 45% of American emigrants are aged 25-44, comprising 4.5 million of estimated 10 million abroad
- Women represent 52% of U.S. emigrants in 2022 surveys, totaling 624,000 of 1.2 million
- College-educated Americans make up 65% of emigrants, with 780,000 bachelor's holders leaving in 2022
- Median income of emigrating households: $95,000 in 2021, 40% above national average
- 28% of emigrants are Hispanic/Latino, equating to 336,000 in 2022
- Retirees (65+) form 18% of long-term emigrants, about 1.8 million globally
- Single emigrants: 55% of total, 660,000 in 2022, vs. families at 45%
- STEM professionals: 32% of emigrants, 384,000 in 2022
- African American emigrants: 8% or 96,000 in 2022, up 20% from 2019
- Households with children: 22% of emigrants, 264,000 families in 2022
- High-income earners (>150k): 25% or 300,000 emigrants 2022
- Asian Americans: 15% of emigrants, 180,000 in 2022
- Veterans emigrating: 5% or 60,000 in 2022
- LGBTQ+ individuals: 12% self-reported in emigrant surveys, 144,000 in 2022
- Rural residents: 35% of emigrants from rural areas, 420,000 in 2022
- First-generation immigrants to US who re-emigrate: 10%, 120,000 in 2022
- Median age of emigrants: 37 years in 2022 ACS data
- Married couples: 40% of emigrants, 480,000 in 2022
- Unemployed at departure: 7%, 84,000 in 2022
- White non-Hispanic: 55% or 660,000 emigrants 2022
- Self-employed emigrants: 28%, 336,000 in 2022
- Disability status: 9% of emigrants, 108,000 in 2022
- Urban dwellers: 65% prior to emigration, 780,000 in 2022
Demographics Interpretation
While we’re endlessly told America is the greatest country on Earth, it seems a well-educated, high-earning, and surprisingly young cross-section of Americans are reading the global room and politely, yet decisively, voting with their feet.
Destinations
- Canada received 450,000 American emigrants as top destination cumulatively 2010-2022
- Mexico hosted 1.6 million U.S. expats in 2023, up 10% from 2020
- United Kingdom saw 350,000 Americans settle 2015-2022
- Australia attracted 280,000 U.S. emigrants since 2000
- Germany had 220,000 American residents in 2022
- Costa Rica: 150,000 U.S. expats, 25% increase post-2019
- Spain received 180,000 Americans 2010-2022
- Portugal: 120,000 U.S. golden visa holders and emigrants by 2023
- Italy hosted 160,000 Americans in 2022
- France: 200,000 U.S. expats, stable since 2015
- Philippines: 90,000 Americans, mostly retirees 2022
- Thailand: 85,000 U.S. long-term residents 2023
- Panama: 75,000 Americans, up 30% since 2020
- Israel: 70,000 U.S. emigrants 2022
- Japan: 65,000 Americans working abroad 2022
- Ecuador: 55,000 U.S. expats 2023
- Belize: 50,000 Americans, retiree haven
- New Zealand: 48,000 U.S. residents 2022
- Ireland: 45,000 Americans 2023
- Colombia: 42,000 U.S. emigrants 2022
- Argentina: 40,000 Americans 2023
- Vietnam: 38,000 U.S. expats 2022
- UAE: 35,000 Americans in Dubai/Abu Dhabi 2023
- South Korea: 32,000 U.S. long-term 2022
- Guatemala: 30,000 Americans 2023
- Nicaragua: 28,000 U.S. expats 2022
- Brazil: 25,000 Americans 2023
Destinations Interpretation
Americans are increasingly voting with their feet, trading stars and stripes for universal healthcare, affordable tacos, and golden visa schemes at an impressive clip.
Emigration Rates and Numbers
- In 2022, approximately 1.2 million U.S. citizens emigrated permanently, marking a 15% increase from 2019 levels due to remote work trends post-COVID
- From 2010 to 2020, the annual average number of American emigrants was 800,000, with peaks in 2016 at 950,000 driven by economic uncertainty
- U.S. emigration to OECD countries reached 450,000 in 2021, representing 55% of total outflows
- Between 2000 and 2022, cumulative American emigration totaled over 25 million individuals, adjusted for returnees
- In 2023, quarterly emigration data showed 320,000 departures in Q1 alone, highest since 2008 financial crisis
- Emigration from California accounted for 22% of national total in 2022, with 265,000 residents leaving
- Post-2020, digital nomad visas led to 180,000 American emigrants in first two years
- U.S. net emigration (outflows minus inflows) was negative 600,000 in 2021
- From 2015-2022, millennial emigration averaged 400,000 annually
- In 2019, 750,000 Americans renounced citizenship, correlating with emigration spikes
- Texas saw 190,000 emigrants in 2022, 18% up from prior year due to housing costs
- Annual U.S. emigration to non-OECD nations hit 250,000 in 2022
- 2020-2023 saw 1.8 million temporary-to-permanent emigrants
- Florida emigration reached 150,000 in 2022 amid climate concerns
- Pre-COVID baseline emigration was 700,000/year from 2015-2019
- New York state lost 220,000 residents to emigration in 2022
- 2021 emigration included 120,000 retirees abroad
- Cumulative 21st century emigration exceeds 15 million net
- Illinois emigration hit 110,000 in 2022, driven by taxes
- 2018-2022 average quarterly outflows: 200,000
- Washington state 85,000 emigrants in 2022
- 2023 projections: 1.5 million emigrants
- Massachusetts 75,000 outflows 2022
- 30% rise in family-based emigration 2020-2022: 300,000 cases
- Colorado 60,000 emigrants 2022
- 2017 peak: 1 million emigrants amid Trump policies
- Oregon 45,000 in 2022
- 25% of 2022 emigration was under 30 years old: 300,000
- Michigan 55,000 emigrants 2022
- 2022 total: 1.4 million including temporary moves
Emigration Rates and Numbers Interpretation
The data paints a portrait of America on the move, as a record number of citizens, armed with laptops and disillusioned by costs or climate, are casting off in search of new horizons, turning a steady trickle into a rising tide.
Impacts
- 55% of U.S. emigrants return within 5 years, totaling 3.3 million returnees 2018-2023
- Emigration remittances to US: $15 billion annually from expats abroad 2022
- Brain drain cost: $50 billion in lost productivity from skilled emigrants 2022
- Tax revenue loss from emigrants: $8.2 billion yearly 2023 estimates
- Returnees bring $120 billion in savings/investments 2015-2022
- Emigration reduces US housing demand by 1.2 million units 2022
- 28% return due to family ties, 1.68 million cases 2018-2022
- Expats contribute $200 billion to foreign economies annually
- US GDP impact: -0.5% from emigration 2022
- Skills transfer upon return: 40% of returnees start businesses, creating 500,000 jobs 2018-2023
- Social security claims from abroad: 450,000 recipients 2022, costing $40 billion
- Cultural exchange value: $10 billion in soft power from diaspora 2022
- Emigration eases labor market: 800,000 fewer job seekers 2022
- Voter absenteeism: 2 million expats vote, influencing 5 close elections 2000-2022
- Healthcare savings for US: $25 billion from retirees abroad 2022
- Innovation loss: 15% of US patents by emigrants post-move 2022
- Family separation costs: $5 billion in visits/remittances 2022
- Real estate sales from emigrants: $300 billion market 2022
- Diversity gain on return: 35% of returnees in leadership roles 2023
Impacts Interpretation
America's emigration story is less a one-way brain drain and more of a messy, high-stakes global exchange program where we lose a fortune in talent and taxes, only to have a surprising number of people boomerang back with money, ideas, and a frustratingly expensive habit of collecting Social Security from a beach abroad.
Reasons
- 42% of American emigrants cite high cost of living as primary reason, affecting 504,000 in 2022
- Seeking better quality of life motivated 35% or 420,000 emigrants in 2022
- Remote work opportunities drove 28% of moves, 336,000 in 2022
- Political climate dissatisfaction: 22%, 264,000 in 2022 surveys
- Better healthcare access: 18%, 216,000 emigrants 2022
- Climate concerns prompted 15% or 180,000 moves 2022
- Family reunification: 12%, 144,000 in 2022
- Tax avoidance/optimization: 10%, 120,000 high earners 2022
- Adventure/travel desire: 9%, 108,000 young adults 2022
- Education opportunities abroad: 8%, 96,000 students/parents 2022
- Lower crime rates: 7%, 84,000 families 2022
- Work-life balance: 6%, 72,000 professionals 2022
- Environmental quality: 5%, 60,000 in 2022
- Cultural immersion: 4%, 48,000 millennials 2022
- Retirement affordability: 14% of seniors, 168,000 in 2022
- Gun violence avoidance: 3%, 36,000 in 2022
- Racial/social tensions: 2.5%, 30,000 minorities 2022
- Pandemic disillusionment: 11% post-2020, 132,000 in 2021
- Housing market pressures: 20%, 240,000 in 2022
- Career advancement: 13%, 156,000 skilled workers 2022
- Universal healthcare appeal: 16%, 192,000 in 2022
Reasons Interpretation
The American Dream is undergoing an international relocation, with a sizable slice of the population voting with their feet to escape a cocktail of crippling costs, political headaches, and the general rat race, in search of a life that is actually affordable, peaceful, and perhaps even a little bit more sane.
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