LOS ANGELES – A record number of Americans are packing up and heading overseas — not for a vacation, but for good.
An estimated 180,000 U.S. citizens moved abroad last year, according to a 2026 U.S. Census Bureau analysis cited by the Wall Street Journal. That shift pushed the number of people entering the country — minus those leaving — into negative territory for the first time since the Great Depression.
The desire to leave is growing
A 2025 Gallup Poll found 20% of Americans say they would like to leave the U.S. permanently. Among women ages 15 to 44, that number jumps to 40%.
Those feelings are showing up in real life. At a hotel conference center in California, dozens of residents recently gathered to explore their options for living in Portugal. Events like this one — organized by firms like Optimize Investment Partners — are becoming a booming business.
“They want specific answers like, what is the taxation? You know, how does taxes work? How soon do I get my residency? What’s the timetable?” said David Govaker, who represents Optimize Investment Partners.
Steve Zipper, one of the attendees, put it simply: “Time for a change, something more exciting.”
It’s not just politics
Despite a wave of Americans vowing to move after the 2024 presidential election, politics typically isn’t the biggest driver, according to Tufts University sociologist Dr. Helen Marrow.
“I think that the economics and the cultural exploration and interests and the social networks really drive a lot of the trends more so than political concerns do, although those can always change,” Marrow said.
Real families making the leap
For Jessica Cuevas, the decision came down to jobs. After a year-long search, she and her family left Chicago for Mexico last summer. Now, she uses social media to help others do the same.
@vivalamami_ It took us three trips to Mexico for us to make the decision to move here. 🇲🇽 I gotta say, it was the best decision we made in 2025! If 2025 didn’t work out for you, make 2026 the year of change or the year where you’ll make the best decision for you and your family. Follow me for more inspo on what our life in Mexico is all about! 💜 #livinginmexico #lifeinmexico #2026goals #latinamom #latinamotherhood
♬ original sound - Jessica Cuevas
“I think it’s allowing people to have that creativity and wanting to have a different experience,” Cuevas said. “And if anything, I’m a huge proponent of that.”
Her story reflects a growing sentiment: that for some Americans, the path to a better life runs through another country.
Worth keeping in perspective
Dr. Marrow notes that while many Americans express a desire to move abroad, historically only a very small percentage actually follow through.