The country of immigration seems to be turning into a country of emigration: Americans are leaving the US in numbers

Americans are leaving the United States in numbers not seen since the Great Depression, The Mirror writes.

According to a new report by the Wall Street Journal, more people left the US than moved in last year.

The Trump administration has credited the net negative migration to its immigration crackdown that has resulted in increased deportations and limited visas.

However, stats show that beyond this, American citizens are leaving the country in record numbers, uprooting their families and pursuing lives in other countries they deem safer and more stable.

According to the WSJ, the US has not collected comprehensive data on the number of citizens leaving since the Eisenhower administration (1953-1961).

However, data on residence permits, foreign home purchases, student enrollments and other metrics from more than 50 countries represents the true volume of Americans moving away.

More than 100,000 American students are enrolled abroad for a more affordable university degree. Other driving factors for moving abroad include a significantly lower cost of living, better and more affordable healthcare, and an enhanced work-life balance.

A Wall Street Journal analysis of 15 countries providing full or partial 2025 data showed that at least 180,000 Americans joined them last year. They expect this number to be far higher when other countries report full statistics.

The mass exodus over the past year looks set to continue, and even increase in 2026. More aggressive policies from the current administration have created civil unrest that threatens to drive more Americans to countries with social democracies.

The US saw 675,000 deportations and 2.2 million “self-deportations” last year, according to data from the Department of Homeland Security. Trump bragged about the numbers during his State of the Union address on Tuesday night.