For first time in 90 years, more people are leaving the U.S. than moving in

"The U.S. experienced a net negative migration of roughly 150,000 people in 2025, according to the Brookings Institution. The Washington, D.C. think tank expects even more Americans than that will leave in 2026. A Wall Street Journal analysis of data from just 15 countries found that at least 180,000 Americans citizens left the U.S. to live abroad last year."

"Telecommuters and retirees are reportedly finding that their U.S. incomes go further outside of the 50 states. The Journal also cites safety as a top reason Americans are increasingly opting to live abroad. You don't face the prospect of your 5-year-old going into a kindergarten and doing an active shooter drill, said 41-year-old Chris Ford, who works for a Dallas-based company and lives in Berlin."

"The Journal reports the number of Americans living in Spain, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic has roughly doubled in the past decade. Twice as many U.S. citizens moved to Ireland in 2025 than in 2024. Germany took in more Americans than the reverse last year, while the number of U.S. citizens living in Portugal reportedly increased by 500% since the Covid pandemic."

The United States has entered a period of net negative migration for the first time in approximately 90 years, with roughly 150,000 more people departing than arriving in 2025. American citizens are increasingly relocating abroad, with at least 180,000 leaving to live in just 15 countries analyzed, though the global total is likely higher. Key destinations include Spain, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Ireland, Germany, and Portugal, with some countries experiencing significant increases in American residents over the past decade. Primary motivations include economic advantages where U.S. incomes stretch further, safety concerns including school security, and improved quality of life. Simultaneously, the U.S. recorded 2.875 million deportations and self-deportations in 2025.

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