For the first time since the Great Depression, more Americans are packing their bags and leaving the country than arriving to call it home. In 2025, at least 150,000 Americans moved abroad, creating the first net migration loss in nearly 90 years. Some reports put the number even higher at 180,000 people who relocated overseas.
America faces its first net migration loss since the Great Depression as 150,000 citizens departed in 2025.
This trend represents something America hasn’t experienced in 250 years. Immigration into the United States dropped dramatically from 6 million people in 2023 to roughly 2.7 million in 2025. Net international migration, which peaked at 2.7 million in 2024, fell to 1.3 million by last summer before turning negative. Goldman Sachs noted an 80% decline in net migration compared to historical averages.
Between 4 and 9 million Americans now live abroad. Mexico hosts the largest group with 1.6 million American residents as of 2022. Canada counts over 250,000 Americans, while the United Kingdom has more than 325,000. Portugal saw its American population grow fivefold from 4,768 in 2020 to 26,000 in 2025. Americans moving to Ireland doubled from 4,900 to 9,600 in just one year. British citizenship applications from Americans reached a record 8,790 in 2025, jumping 42% from the previous year.
Americans are leaving for several reasons. Lower living costs make US incomes stretch further overseas. European lifestyle perks and stronger social safety nets attract many families. Political concerns also play a role. The share of American adults wanting to move abroad permanently doubled to 20% between 2010 and 2025. Among women aged 15 to 44, that number reaches 40%.
Requests to renounce citizenship are rising so fast that month-long backlogs have developed. Applications jumped 48% in 2024 and continued climbing in 2025.
This exodus creates real economic problems. Declining immigration reduces labor supply and threatens long-term growth. The Congressional Budget Office projected that 8.7 million immigrants over five years would add 2.9% to GDP. With native population growth slowing due to low fertility rates, fewer newcomers puts pressure on the $38.8 trillion national debt. Inflation, measured by changes in the Consumer Price Index, can also erode purchasing power and influence migration decisions.
