Disillusionment with the “American Dream”: An Analysis of Trends in U.S. Emigration
Summary: A growing number of Americans are choosing to leave the United States in what some are calling the “Great American Exodus.” According to the March 20, 2025 article from UnHerd, this trend is no longer limited to retirees or temporary digital nomads. Increasingly, middle-class professionals, young families, and politically disillusioned citizens are moving abroad permanently. While the U.S. government does not publish exact emigration figures, estimates suggest that around 8 to 10 million U.S. citizens live outside the country. Data from the Internal Revenue Service and the State Department support the idea that the number is rising. In 2023 alone, 1,481 Americans renounced their citizenship. While this figure does not appear to be particularly significant, analysts believe this underrepresents the broader shift, as most Americans living abroad retain their citizenship. Recent polling data collected by Talker Research further underscores the depth of dissatisfaction among American citizens: Approximately 40% of
