Although the United States still receives many more immigrants than it sends emigrants, the number of Americans leaving the country is growing.
The Expatsi Test is the first stop for many Americans who are thinking of expatriating, and the test asks them why they’re making the move. Respondents can choose all answers that apply as well as write in responses.
For Adventure / Enrichment / Personal Growth 75%
Most Americans are drawn to these positive reasons to move to a new country rather than only having reasons to leave.
For More / Different Freedoms 50%
Many Americans are seeking places with freedoms that they no longer have access to, primarily abortion rights.
The U.S. is Too Divided 50%
As the country becomes more polarized and divided into irreconcilable political parties, half of respondents say it’s driving them to leave.
To Save Money 46%
While Millennials seek countries where they can realize the dream of home ownership, and Gen Z kids pursue free college degrees abroad, baby boomers and Gen-Xers hope to retire. Twenty-three percent of Americans over 65 live in poverty.
The U.S. is Too Conservative 46%
Nearly half of respondents believe the United States is too conservative.
For Work 17%
Most Americans who move abroad are working adults. Some of them are able to find better wages or working conditions abroad.
For Education 17%
Only two nations charge more for a college education than the U.S. does: Singapore and Australia. Australians however have much higher median wealth per capita than Americans do (US$274,000 vs. US$93,000). Some countries have free college, even for foreigners.
For Love or Family 16%
It’s all in the family for 16% of respondents, who are traveling to be with (or meet) their true loves or be reunited with kin.
The U.S. is Too Liberal 6%
Finally, 6% of test takers find the United States to be too liberal.
Write-In Responses
Of those who wrote in answers, these were the top 10 responses for why Americans want to leave the U.S.:
- Avoiding gun violence
- Affordable or better healthcare
- Retirement
- Weather or climate
- Better quality of life
- Better life for LGBTQ+
- Better food / nutrition
- Escaping extreme conservatism, religion, or MAGA
- Culture
- Work-life balance
The 20 Best Countries for Americans To Move To, Based on Data
The Expatsi Test is an assessment tool for Americans who want to leave the United States. It asks the regions they’d like to move to, their budget, the kind of visa they might apply for (like retirement, digital nomad, or skilled worker) and their preferences for things like safety, healthcare, infrastructure, weather, geographical features, and personal freedoms, and reveals the top 10 countries that best meet their needs.
Based on 37,546 respondents in 2023, here are the top 20 countries for American emigrants.
➤ The 20 Best Countries for Americans To Move To, Based on Data
5 Easy Ways to Find the Best Country to Live In
How do you find the best country to live in?
It’s an impossible task, really; a great country for someone else might be a disaster for you. You might want low cost of living with universal healthcare and income equality. Maybe personal safety in an attractive destination where English is widely spoken. Perhaps you want a small country offering quality education in an international school system.
With nearly 200 countries to choose from, picking your top countries gets tough quickly. Here are a few ways to find the lifestyle that suits your needs:
➤ 5 Easy Ways to Find the Best Country to Live In
How to Leave America: 6 Steps to Your New Life
Are you thinking about leaving the United States? You’re not alone; as many as 15% percent of Americans say they want to leave the country permanently.
