- By Shubham Bajpai
- Fri, 27 Feb 2026 05:21 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The United States of America saw more people leaving the country than those moved in in 2025, a trend opposite to the country's identity as 'land of immigration.'
It is for the first time after the Great Depression that more people left the north American country.
Before 2025, it was in 1935 when the US saw more people leave than arrive. Back then, many Americans moved to the Soviet Union in search of work.
According to Brookings, the US had a net negative migration of about 1,50,000 in 2025.
In 2026, the figure is expected to rise further as immigration rules have tightened, and deportation has surged. Last year, the total number of people moving into the US fell between 2.6 and 2.7 million from nearly 6 million in 2023.
Specific concerns for Americans living abroad include violence, the high cost of living, and political instability. For some, Trump's re-election influenced their decision to leave.
Why are people leaving US?
Among various reasons cited by the commentators for the trend are political instability, President Donald Trump's re-election, the high cost of living and violence.
Some even called the surge in people leaving the country 'Donald Dash', primarily because the trend started in his second term.
Most of the Americans have left the country for European lifestyles that feel affordable and accessible. The report suggests that several US nationals are buying apartments in Lisbon, Portugal.
In 2025, Ireland welcomed 10,000 Americans, which is double than 2024. Since 2024, the US nationals have been applying for British citizenship at the fastest rate.
International students coming to the US also dipped by 17 per cent, while the number of US nationals going to Europe for higher education has doubled since 2011.