Is an international exodus coming?
In a recent survey, 17% of Americans said they’d like to move outside the U.S. in the next five years, with Canada being the top destination.
The survey of 2,000 American adults found that another 5% said they’ll actually make moves soon to live abroad in the next few years.
And 2% of American adults already have plans in place and have started the process of transplanting to another country within the next five years.
Conducted by Talker Research, the survey found that more millennials (25%) than any other generation would like to move abroad soon.
Midwesterners (18%) were most likely to say they wanted to move internationally, compared to Americans in the Southwest, West, Southeast, and Northeast (all 16%).
More than four in ten respondents (44%) have always wanted to experience expat life, and seeing which destinations respondents have their eyes on, Canada (19%) topped the list as the country with the most appeal.
Reasons for this include Canada’s high-quality healthcare (41%), its landscape which offers ample opportunities for fun and exploration (28%), and the nation’s practical approach to work/life balance (21%).
Second on the list was Italy (11%). Italy’s top draw is its cuisine (68%), followed by its culture and people (66%) and scenery and terrain (40%).
England came in third place (10%). Respondents said they’d move to England because of its culture and way of life (66%), rich history (49%), landscape (25%) and top-notch healthcare (21%).
Other countries that respondents said they’d be interested in moving to include Australia (10%), Ireland (8%), France (6%), Switzerland (5%), Costa Rica (5%), Scotland (4%) and Germany (4%).
The study also investigated the “why” behind this international shift and found that Americans are increasingly open-minded about moving abroad for a variety of reasons.
“Many professionals, especially younger generations, are questioning whether the traditional ‘American Dream’ is still attainable,” said Max Shak, founder and chief executive officer of Zapiy. “Skyrocketing housing costs, student debt, and healthcare expenses have made it harder for people to feel financially secure in the U.S.
“In contrast, many countries offer more affordable living, universal healthcare, and better work-life balance, making the idea of relocating incredibly appealing. Ultimately, this openness to moving abroad reflects a larger shift — people are prioritizing quality of life over traditional career paths and seeking environments that better align with their personal and financial well-being.”
In the survey, almost seven in ten respondents (69%) said they’re worried about the direction the U.S. is moving in, and looking at American society as a whole, the majority of Americans (65%) feel it’s become toxic.
More than half (54%) said that living in the U.S. is no longer affordable and 55% said that the wealth gap limits their opportunities domestically.
Most respondents (57%) feel that the American work/life balance is substandard and agreed that the American healthcare (65%) and education (66%) systems are broken.
Nearly four in 10 (39%) admitted that improving their finances and state of life is more achievable in another country and 40% said that living in the U.S. is no longer enjoyable or preferable to other nations.
Clint Kreider, a licensed marriage and family therapist at Still Water Wellness Group, weighed in on this international exodus, saying: “Younger generations, in particular, are driving this trend. Raised in the shadow of the 2008 recession and pandemic-era instability, they’ve inherited skepticism toward traditional pathways to stability. Social media amplifies this by showcasing alternatives — countries with robust safety nets, affordable education, or mandated vacation time.
“In my therapy practice, I’ve witnessed clients grappling with what I call ‘invisible attrition’: a sense that no matter how hard they work, systemic barriers (skyrocketing healthcare costs, stagnant wages, and unrelenting hustle culture) erode their ability to thrive.”
Top 10 countries Americans want to move to:
- Canada
- Italy
- England
- Australia
- Ireland
- France
- Switzerland
- Costa Rica
- Scotland
- Germany
Survey methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 general population Americans; the survey was administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Feb. 7 and Feb. 10, 2025.
