Are people leaving the country?
Posted by Overaverager@reddit | AskAnAmerican | View on Reddit | 50 comments
I am asking for anecdotal evidence. Did you notice people leaving because of politics and rising costs? And if so, where do they go and why?
In germany the afd (far right party) is gaining approval and I am trying to estimate what to expect.
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Scrappy_The_Crow@reddit
I know one individual and one family who have moved.
The individual moved to get married to her Dutch boyfriend. She didn't end up marrying him, but stayed in The Netherlands.
The family (white) moved to The Netherlands because they believed it would be safer for their adopted son (black).
Original_Wazilla@reddit
I know a few people who have.
IPreferDiamonds@reddit
I don't know anyone who has left the country.
Into-Imagination@reddit
The majority of folks don’t have the means.
There’s a subset who DO - they’re dual citizens easing the immigration burden, they have the money to afford the move, and so on. I’ve absolutely sen some of that subset firsthand actually move, or at least make plans for it to trigger if things get to a certain point, but that’s not to say it’s a material number of people VS the entire population. The majority of folks don’t move out of the country.
Significantly more people do move to other states within the country though: but again even that requires means (less than moving to another country but still), and it’s not a full majority of the country that has said means.
AgapeAnus@reddit
You don't really have to do that. Just move to a different state. Lots of people moved to Texas from California because they felt it was getting too liberal for them, same way lots of people move out of Texas to Cali because they feel it's getting too conservative for them.
Bright_Ices@reddit
From what I understand, the people leaving are the ones who had open immigration cases (meaning they were trying to stay here legally, but changed their minds and left instead).
That’s going to majorly fuck us over this summer, because our agribusinesses and other big industries rely on undocumented immigrants for cheap labor on farms, in meat packing plants, and in hotels and restaurants.
noprkingonthednceflr@reddit
I live in Germany and what is happening here is fascinating (not always in a good way). The standard parties - CDU, SPD - have pretty much put their heads in the sand regarding any real issue. The only party that talks about key issues at all is AfD. So more and more people feel frustrated and vote AfD - meanwhile, AfD leadership seems to think that having some real hateful people in their midst is a-OK so the whole party gets tainted by association (and rightly so, IMO).
Germany is desperate for a party that is empathetic, yet realistic. The core issues are not binary. You can want to keep taxes reasonable and also recognize that if someone makes 1M+ a year, they can afford a few more percentage points. You can want to help the poor and also believe that if you’re an able bodied adult, you should work and contribute. And you can absolutely want to create space for migrants and diversity while also recognizing that it can’t be an ungoverned free for all. Add to that the fact that there is a huge difference between Germany *wanting* to do the right think and accept people and Germany being organized in a way so that can happen smoothly.
It’s a bit like they just threw open the doors with good intention but had no plan on what to do when people arrived - especially those fleeing truly awful, traumatic situations.
Add to that the fact that Germany loves speaking German. Cool. It’s the national language and I agree people should learn if they live here. But the way to get there can be a hot mess, and there is little bridge in between.
I remain optimistic about the future here but also fully expect a big ole swing to AfD before the other side wakes up and realizes some tough conversations need to be had.
MajesticBread9147@reddit
AfD doesn't talk about "real issues". They mostly just blame immigrants for everything, what "real issues" are they addressing? This concern-trolling needs to end.
Die Linke is the party that is actually practical and addresses real issues like housing, jobs, and education, from any reasonable perspective.
noprkingonthednceflr@reddit
I don’t want to get into a political debate, especially since you clearly and willfully chose to misunderstand what I said.
I was trying to explain the lift in the AfD numbers. It’s not just that a bunch of people woke up and decided to be hateful. There are a surprising majority who lean that way because the other two major parties refuse to act on critical issues.
Note: I’m not saying I agree with AfD (I don’t) or this strategy. I’m explaining what I see happening. People are frustrated.
I will say I get a small bit of the frustration. I’m an immigrant and very liberal politically but I see stuff that just makes absolutely no sense. And I also see absolutely no willingness by current leadership to address the core issues.
Itisthatbo1@reddit
It’s not really an option for anyone I know, we simply don’t make enough money to afford to travel let alone move somewhere else. I’d like to leave the country eventually, I don’t want to live my entire life in the same place, but realistically I don’t have what it takes.
Ok_Orchid1004@reddit
Nobody’s going anywhere. Reports stating otherwise are greatly exaggerated and/or posted for click ratings.
SwaggingKnights@reddit
Nope, not at all. Some people say they want to which is why a few data points are high, but it's all just hot air. More dudes coming to get a slice of the pie, than leaving.
Rothovius@reddit
While that has been generally been true and we definitely can't speak of any great amounts of people, the net immigration to the USA was slightly negative in 2025.
source
I am not an American nor do I live there, so it really isn't my place to answer, but anecdotally I have met several Americans who have relatively recently moved out. This of course tells us nothing about the big picture.
ImDistortion1@reddit
No. If you think America is a bad place to be living you need to take a good hard look at other Countries. We have it easy compared to others.
OceanPoet87@reddit
No, have not seen this.
newhappyrainbow@reddit
I’m working on claiming my dual citizenship with Canada, but it’s more of an “in case of emergency” plan, rather than any immediate plans to move.
I feel like it gets casually talked about with mild regularity, but it’s actually quite an undertaking and a lot of the more desirable places have a pretty high bar for moving there. High level skill sets and/or significant bank accounts, sometimes requiring a sponsorship or employment lined up in advance.
ParticularBuyer6157@reddit
No
MissingGrayMatter@reddit
I left after university, but that’s because I got a job abroad.
I personally only know one other person who left, but he went back eventually for his elderly parents.
FarFarAway7337@reddit
Some, but it's far from being a mass exodus. I only know of people because my husband and I are examples. We're a special case because my husband is a joint EU country citizen. I'm only an American. His citizenship makes living in the EU easier for us than people who don't have this link.
We moved mostly because of rising costs. We simply couldn't afford where we used to live in NJ. And definitely couldn't retire there. Our savings go much further. Plus, there's the security and financial benefits of universal healthcare. Yes, it's a great thing!!! Republicans lie. In NJ, our property taxes were over $10,000 per year. Where we live in Europe, they are under $1,000. Though it doesn't apply to us, as we are older and never had children, university for qualified students is pretty much free here. Maternity leaves are long. Vacation time is longer from the start. Gas is more expensive here, but we have a plug-in hybrid and the public transportation is so good that we only need one car, while we needed two in NJ. Car insurance is also less experience here.
Yes, the politics is extremely divisive in the US. We still watch US news and care deeply about the situation, but the distance is a bit of a reprieve. In general, it's more peaceful and less hectic where we now live than in the US.
ComplexImportance794@reddit
Aussie here (yeah, I know). Moving to a new country is a long, very expensive process. A guy I met here from the US said he spend over 9 months working through paperwork. There is also the point that most Americans don't even have a passport.
stlcdr@reddit
People come and go. The reasons for leaving, in general, are nothing to do with where they are moving from but moving to.
Sometimes the American culture isn’t for everyone, and may prefer their destination lifestyle.
sendme_your_cats@reddit
Nah. Why would I leave? That means I couldn't vote against all the stupid shit going on nor convince people to do the same.
I ain't running. If we all did things would never get better
sessamekesh@reddit
I've heard a lot of people complaining online that they would. To date, I only know one person who's actually left the country over the last 15 years.
yetiinrio@reddit
A lot of people say that every election. Bryan Cranston has said it bunch of times but he’s still here.
yetiinrio@reddit
No?
Jillandjay@reddit
There was a net immigration of 150,000 people last year. That means 150,000 more people left than came in.
MinimumPosition979@reddit
My husband and I did recently, but he is European so it was easier for us. I can't say I know anyone else doing the same. We left due to job layoffs and Healthcare costs.
Few-Wrongdoer-5296@reddit
I am an undergraduate university student and nobody I know is leaving or particularly wants to. And I hope that things work out better for you in Germany than they are for us in the US, but there's nowhere to go with the same quality of life that doesn't have this same political movement looming. So why leave home and family?
Ms-Metal@reddit
No. A lot of people talk about it but let's face it, you can't just up and leave the country, you have to have done the work to try and live in another country and find one that will take you and get a Visa and all of that. I mean, it's not exactly like you can just up and move to another country because you want to lol, even Canada! There have been a few celebrities that have left or talked about leaving but they tend to be in the class of their own, either people like Ozzy Osbourne that had probably dual citizenship or at least the ability to live in more than one country because he was born in the UK or I forget her name but a famous songwriter who is super super wealthy and moved to Switzerland but also had to renounce her US citizenship to do it. 3rd Avenue is only usually available to the super wealthy. And even amongst them, a lot of people are not willing to give up their us citizenship.
So basically, I imagine if it were easier to do, more people would do it, but just because you're American doesn't mean you can pick up and move to whatever country you want!
Super-Lychee8852@reddit
Definitely not. Still way more people coming in then out
otterbarks@reddit
Last year there were more people leaving than immigrating, according to the WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/americans-leaving-the-us-migration-a5795bfa
Primary_Luck6165@reddit
I left the country but it was more so coincidental timing. I moved to Europe to be with my husband. My visa got approved much faster than we expected and I ended up moving last year May due to work, even tho I could have moved as early as October 2024. I have thoughts of living in the US part time as my visa permit allows but at this time, sadly, I don’t want to. Europe, and specifically where I’m living, are all struggling in different ways but I do feel safer here. I worry about my family and have comparative guilt because they have to endure the current admin more directly.
Theslowestmarathoner@reddit
I have one friend that did immediately. She moved to Australia with her husband and baby and successfully gained citizenship and had another baby. She is now dual US-AUS and no plans to return to the US.
Many many friends talk about it but don’t have firm plans or paths. We speak of it often but don’t see a clear path
otterbarks@reddit
Most people don't have the means to leave - either for financial or political reasons. Moving is expensive, and even if you can afford to move, that doesn't guarantee another country will let you live and work there.
But yes. Last year there were more people emigrating from the US than immigrating, which hasn't happened since the great depression (1929-1939).
Source: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/americans-leaving-the-us-migration-a5795bfa
Gengo0708@reddit
If they are im not noticing at all. Maybe Disneyland was unexpectedly less busy one day when I went recently but that’s it.
Antioch666@reddit
People talk all the time. But moving to another country and leaving family and friends behind not even talking about the hurdles of visas and residence permits etc is not somwthing you can easily do even if you want to.
EccentricCantelope@reddit
I did, but I left before the current nightmare was elected. I think a lot of people talk about wanting to leave, but very few go through with it. It's (sometimes prohibitively) difficult to move abroad if you're moving away from something rather than to something/someone.
DummyThiccDude@reddit
I havent seen it personally. People are more likely to move to a different state rather than leave the country as a whole.
yahskapar@reddit
Not really, and I've lived in both very left-leaning and very right-leaning places, while keeping in touch with people from all parts of the political spectrum. Not sure what this has to do with Germany...
The few people that I know that have left tend to be very wealthy and have dual citizenship, often choosing to live wherever their dual citizenship allows them to (e.g., the UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, etc). Politics may have played a role, but the reality is they have options that most Americans do not have. Many Americans can't even move between states if they wanted to, let alone countries.
PineapplePza766@reddit
Yep this and the good/bad part is there are many people moving to different states to flee cost of living mostly the large influx of people in my area right now it’s causing major issues with infrastructure and driving up the cost of living while not attracting good jobs because it’s mostly old people 😒
reyadeyat@reddit
I have a friend who left the country with his wife. They both worked had government-adjacent jobs in a field that was heavily impacted by funding cuts from the new administration and it was clear that they would need to change their career directions if they wanted to find other employment in the United States. Instead they moved to, funnily enough, Germany.
Otherwise, I don't know anyone who emigrated recently.
MM_in_MN@reddit
I was just granted my Canadian citizenship through my grandma.. just in case. Her family left Canada when she was 7 years old. Canada recently passed a law that you can reinstate citizenship if you can prove your lineage.
dapperlonglegs@reddit
I know several people who have moved or plan to move out of the country.
Canada seems to be a popular choice as lots of US citizens are from Canada/are married to/children of Canadian immigrants. I know one family that moved there and another that plans to this year.
I also know some folks who emigrated to Ireland.
Aggravating_Isopod19@reddit
I personally have 2 friends that have left the country due to the current administration.
Slow_D-oh@reddit
More are leaving than in the past. It’s still a very small number comparatively.
Brave_Speaker_8336@reddit
No, I don’t think I know anyone that is even considering leaving, especially not related to either politics or costs. I do think it’d be cool to live abroad for a while but I don’t think I’d end up actually doing it, and it would be for fun/new experiences and not either of those reasons
JCaird@reddit
Yes, many people who have the means have been leaving for the past year or so. There is data confirming this, and I also know people personally who have plans to move or have already moved.
HobGrot@reddit
Doesn’t look like it
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