Americans want to leave ‘toxic’ U.S, study finds

Nearly a fifth of Americans want to leave the U.S within the next five years, new research reveals

A survey of 2,000 adults found 17% would like to move to countries outside of the States, with five per cent taking steps to depart their homeland in the next few years.

Some two per cent already have plans in place and have started the process, a study by Talker Research suggests.

It also found that more U.S millennials (25%) than any other generation would like to move abroad soon.

And midwesterners (18%) were most likely to say they want 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, with Canada (19%) topping 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 was said to be 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. 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 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, added: “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.”

The Top 10 countries that Americans want to move to are:

Canada
Italy
England
Australia
Ireland
France
Switzerland
Costa Rica
Scotland
Germany

Image courtesy Jeffry S.S/Pexels