Americans Are Leaving the US in Record Numbers

Source: Slashdot

Overview

An anonymous reader shares a report: In its 250th year, is America—the historic land of immigration—becoming a country of emigration? Last year the U.S. experienced something that hasn’t definitively occurred since the Great Depression: more people moved out than moved in (source).

The Trump administration hailed the exodus—negative net migration—as the fulfillment of its promise to ramp up deportations and restrict new visas. Beneath the optics of that immigration crackdown lies a less‑noticed reversal: America’s own citizens are leaving in record numbers, relocating to lands they find more affordable and safe.

Data Gaps and Emerging Trends

• Since the Eisenhower administration, the U.S. has not collected comprehensive statistics on the number of citizens leaving.
• Data on residence permits, foreign home purchases, student enrollments, and other metrics from more than 50 countries indicate that Americans are voting with their feet to an unprecedented degree.
• A millions‑strong diaspora is studying, telecommuting, and retiring overseas.

Illustrative Examples

• Lisbon, Portugal – Americans are snapping up apartments so rapidly that newcomers often hear English more than Portuguese.
• Dublin, Ireland – One of every 15 residents in the Grand Canal Dock district was born in the U.S., surpassing the proportion of American‑born residents during the 19th‑century Potato Famine influx.
• Bali, Colombia, Thailand – Housing demand from American remote workers paid in dollars has sparked local protests against gentrification.
• Higher Education – More than 100,000 young students are enrolled abroad seeking more affordable university degrees.
• Mexico – Nursing homes near the border are seeing an influx of elderly Americans looking for low‑cost care.

Recent Migration Statistics

• The U.S. experienced net negative migration—an estimated loss of about 150,000 people—in 2025.
• Brookings Institution calculations suggest the outflow could increase in 2026, though official U.S. data do not yet fully capture the total number of departures.
• Total in‑migration was between 2.6 million and 2.7 million in 2025, down from a peak of almost 6 million in 2023.
• The Department of Homeland Security reported 675,000 deportations and 2.2 million “self‑deportations” in 2025.
• A Wall Street Journal analysis of 15 countries with full or partial 2025 data showed that at least 180,000 Americans joined them—a figure likely higher as more countries release complete statistics.