The American Dream is apparently boarding a one-way flight to Lisbon.
For the first time since the Great Depression, the US saw net negative migration in 2025, losing ~150,000 people, as in-migration fell to ~2.6-2.7M, down from nearly 6M in 2023, per the Brookings Institution.
At least 180,000 Americans moved to 15 tracked countries last year alone, part of an estimated 4-9M-strong exodus abroad, according to a WSJ analysis.
Portugal's US population has jumped 500% since Covid, Ireland welcomed 10,000 Americans in 2025 (double 2024), and US renunciation requests surged 48% in 2024.
That figure is expected to be higher when the final numbers come in for 2025.
Meanwhile, 40% of American women ages 15-44 say they'd permanently move overseas if they could, per a Gallup poll.
And the UK is seeing receipts.
A record 8,790 Americans applied for British citizenship in 2025, up 42% YoY, with 2,490 applications in Q4 alone, per Home Office data.
Add in record Irish passport applications and a >20% jump in US academics seeking overseas jobs, and it's clear this isn't a digital nomad gap year.
Cheaper healthcare, safer schools, remote-work flexibility, and political fatigue are fueling the shift.
Europe gets dollar-earning talent while Americans get walkable cities and lower hospital bills.
Looks like Uncle Sam is watching a growing slice of his middle class trade backyard barbecues for balcony apertivos.