Washington, Feb 26 (NationPress) As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, it is experiencing a significant shift. For the first time since the Great Depression, more Americans departed the country than arrived in the previous year, according to a major financial publication.

The United States recorded a net outflow of approximately 150,000 individuals in 2025, based on data compiled by the Brookings Institution. Projections indicate that this trend may worsen in 2026. In-migration figures plummeted to between 2.6 million and 2.7 million in 2025, a stark decline from nearly 6 million in 2023, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

In an analysis covering 15 countries that have partial or complete data from 2025, the Wall Street Journal found that at least 180,000 Americans relocated to these nations, and the actual figure is likely higher when all data is accounted for.

There is no comprehensive dataset that encompasses the estimated 4 to 9 million Americans already residing abroad. The State Department estimated that around 1.6 million Americans were living in Mexico as of 2022, while Canada hosts over 250,000. The United Kingdom is home to more than 325,000 Americans, contributing to a total of over 1.5 million Americans now residing in Europe, according to the report.

In Portugal, the population of American residents has surged by over 500% since the onset of the COVID pandemic, with a notable 36% increase in 2024 alone. Ireland welcomed approximately 10,000 American newcomers in 2025, nearly double the figures from the previous year. The number of Americans moving to Germany exceeded the number of Germans relocating to the United States last year, the publication noted.

Relocation agencies report a significant uptick in demand. During a recent conference call hosted by Expatsi, nearly 400 Americans expressed interest in relocating to Albania.

“In the past, those leaving the country were typically adventurous and well-educated,” stated Expatsi founder Jen Barnett. “Now, they are everyday individuals, just like myself.” She mentioned the company's ambition is “to assist one million Americans in their relocation.”

This movement has been dubbed the “Donald Dash” by some commentators, especially as the numbers rose during Donald Trump’s second term. However, the trend has been developing for years, driven by factors such as remote work opportunities, escalating living costs, and evolving lifestyle choices.

A representative from the White House asserted that the US economy is surpassing other developed nations, and the administration is enforcing deportations of hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants while bringing in “countless ultra-high-net-worth individuals,” some of whom are reportedly paying “$1 million for a Gold Card to settle in the United States.”

The Department of Homeland Security indicated that there were 675,000 deportations alongside 2.2 million “self-deportations” in the last year.

According to The Wall Street Journal, requests for renunciation of US citizenship are also on the rise. The government is facing a month-long backlog of Americans wishing to relinquish their citizenship, whether to obtain a foreign passport or to evade taxation on international earnings. Such requests surged by 48% in 2024 and are expected to have increased further in 2025, according to immigration firms.

Relocation agencies report that today’s migrants include families and mid-career professionals. “You no longer have to worry about your 5-year-old participating in a kindergarten active shooter drill,” remarked Chris Ford, who moved to Berlin. “While salaries may be higher in the US, the quality of life in Europe is superior.”

In Spain, officials have acknowledged the growing influx. “Many Americans arrive, and there are numerous love stories,” said Spanish government spokesperson Elma Saiz Delgado. “After four glasses of wine, they often choose to stay.”

Shifts in educational trends further illustrate this migration. The number of international students coming to the US fell by 17% last autumn and is anticipated to decline further. Conversely, more Americans are enrolling in European universities. Applications for British citizenship reached 6,600 in the year leading up to March 2025, while Irish passports issued to Americans climbed to 31,825 in 2024, with an estimated 40,000 issued last year.

“In Albania, one can currently live comfortably on just $1,000 a month,” shared Kelly McCoy, who relocated from New York and now offers advice to other Americans contemplating a move.

The last occurrence of more Americans leaving the United States than entering was in 1935, during the Great Depression, when many sought employment in the Soviet Union. Historical Census data records that period as an unusual moment when the US experienced net emigration, as highlighted by the financial publication.