“If you don’t like it here, leave” memes have started to recirculate the internet. As the 2024 presidential election nears, some Americans are seeking an exit plan. So, let’s just say that the “Santa Claus” write-in wins…where are citizens hoping to move? With Bali nomad trends, exotic beach dreams, and our nice neighbors of Canada, the world is our oyster (minus those pesky visa laws). So where will Americans go?
We asked 4,000 Americans if they would move abroad following a negative presidential outcome and where they’d like to go. We also asked a couple of other sentiment questions regarding motivations for moving, likelihood, and more.
Key findings:
1 in 5 Americans would choose Canada for immigration if the election results are negative
The UK was the 2nd most desirable place to relocate for Americans post-election
6 out of the top 10 countries were located in Europe, indicating a possible mass migration to this continent
The #1 most cited reason for wanting to move is culture followed by job opportunities (#2)
Canada Named Most Likely Place of Immigration for Americans
The lands up north aren’t looking so bad, eh? When it’s time to hit the road, Americans are seeking the easiest transition possible. The number one destination for post-election moves was Canada. Out of all 195 countries, 20% of respondents said that they’d choose Canada as their new home. Following the previous presidential election, the search term “move to Canada” skyrocketed 120% in the US after the results were announced showing that Canada has been top of mind for both this election cycle and the previous one. And it makes perfect sense. With the language being the same, the proximity, and the cultural fit, it’s an obvious choice.
What’s interesting is that proximity was only important on the surface. When compared to our other neighbors, Mexico, only a slim 2% of respondents said they’d move to the Land of the Sun. Of those respondents, the majority were from states neighboring Mexico: Texas and Arizona.
Pip, Pip, Cheerio! To the UK we go for 2nd place
What some of our ancestors didn’t know when they sailed over on the Mayflower was that it was actually a round trip. We’re trading in our cup of joe for tea parties, as The United Kingdom is the 2nd most likely place for US immigration post-election. We have the Brits to thank for many of the customs we have in the US, so why not trace it back to the origins? Similar to Canada, the UK shares a similar culture and language, making assimilation that much easier.
Of those that chose the UK as their top choice, 33% said they’d move for the culture, 27% for the employment opportunities, and 21% for the healthcare.
Japan is the third most popular relocation destination for Americans
The hustle and bustle of Tokyo contrasted with the calm of blossoming cherry blossoms: Japan has it all. With such a differing culture, Japan has quite the allure for Americans. 18% of all study-abroad students opt for Japan and Google Trends also shows a piqued interest search results showing an increase of 100% over the last five years. All of this to say: Japan is a booming destination for Americans.
Interest was already there for Americans to visit, but now a new idea starts to emerge: could I live there? Americans listed Japan as the #3 destination they would like to move to if the election results turn for the worst. Almost half of all the respondents who chose Japan said culture was the top reason for moving there.
On the Rosetta Stone Language Difficulty Scale, Japanese ranks in Category 5 as the most difficult, with only four other languages with the same level of difficulty. Based on the scale, native English speakers would require 2,200 hours of study to learn Japanese. With that in mind, it makes perfect sense that “language” was listed as the number one reason to not move there.
European vacation becomes European migration
Buongiorno, buenos dias, and bonjour, we’re looking at you, Europe! European destinations have always been a desired location for the big trips: honeymoons, college graduations, and more, but now it’s becoming more and more accessible. American travel to Europe has skyrocketed over the years with an increase of 55% just from last year alone. For some Americans, La Dolce Vita is no longer just a vacation mindset, but rather a newly adapted lifestyle in a new country.
According to our findings, 6 out 10 of the top desired countries to move abroad post-election were European. Beyond the top 3 previously stated, Italy comes in 5th, Ireland in 6th, Switzerland 8th, Spain 9th, and France in 10th. But how are those countries taking to the US? Pew Research Center’s Global Attitudes surveys reveal American unfavorability/favorability per country, with European highlights including:
France: 41% unfavorability towards Americans
Italy: 37% unfavorability towards Americans
Spain: 39% unfavorability towards Americans
Sweden: 41% unfavorability towards Americans
Germany: 40% unfavorability towards Americans
The research goes to show: although Americans are eager to live the Mediterranean way, Europeans aren’t quite as thrilled to open their doors.
Why Americans would leave after the election
The US has plenty to offer: breakfast burritos, baseball, and a suspicious obsession with using a non-metric system. With that said, not all is as it’s hyped up to be in the land of stars and stripes. What are some reasons that Americans would want to leave their home country?
30.40% would leave for the culture. America, in all its beauty, offers a great culture, but the grass is always greener on the other side, right? Whether they want to run with the bulls in Spain, celebrate carnival in Brazil, or castle hop in Ireland, Americans are happy to leave the US to experience new cultures.
Amidst waves of layoffs, job security becomes all the more important. 20.3% feel job opportunities are better abroad and cited that as the reason they would leave. The third most cited reason for moving abroad was healthcare at 19.4%.
Before you pack your bags
Life seems good on the other side, but don’t buy your plane tickets yet. 59% of respondents find it unlikely that they’ll actually move abroad after the election. With visa complications, moving costs, and the challenges of assimilating to a new country, most Americans are more likely to try to fix what they’ve got rather than seek greener pastures.
Methodology
We surveyed over 4,000 Americans in February 2024 to discover the sentiment of moving abroad after the 2024 Presidential election and where they would move. The age range was between 18-65 with all participants residing in the United States. Over half — 56% — were female, 42% were male, 1% identified as trans or non-binary, and 1% listed “other”.
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