In recent years, the conversation around Americans moving abroad has grown considerably, with increasing media attention and rising public interest. More and more individuals are exploring their options for living, working, and retiring in other countries.
This trend is not merely anecdotal; it is reflected in substantial research data. According to Gallup’s 2024 worldwide survey of migration intentions,
21% of Americans stated that, given the opportunity, they would move permanently to another country—an increase of 4% from 2023 and 11% higher than in 2010.
Recognizing the significance of this shift, I am excited to introduce the American Expatriation Observatory (AER). AERis designed to serve as a data-driven resource dedicated to tracking and analyzing trends in American expatriation. This initiative builds on my experience of helping over 2,500 Americans obtain European dual citizenship and conducting five years of research studies on this unique population (https://www.luxcitizenship.com/research). With AER, we aim to broaden the scope of inquiry, incorporating data sources from multiple regions and perspectives to provide a comprehensive understanding of this evolving phenomenon.
The launch of AER comes at a particularly timely moment. Public discourse on American mobility—whether driven by economic opportunities, lifestyle considerations, retirement planning, or personal aspirations—has never been more relevant. Yet, despite its increasing visibility, this topic remains under-explored in a systematic and data-driven way. AER seeks to fill that gap by aggregating and analyzing information from diverse sources, including government data, media reports, academic research, and firsthand accounts from expatriates themselves.
To keep our audience informed, we are excited to announce that, in the short term, we will be rolling out a weekly newsletter through Substack. This newsletter will provide regular insights into key trends,new data findings, and significant developments related to American expatriation. By offering structured and timely updates, we hope to create a valuable resource for individuals, policymakers, businesses, and researchers interested in the topic.
AER is committed to a non-partisan, fact-based approach. Our goal is not to advocate for or against expatriation but to provide objective analysis and reliable data that contribute to a better understanding of why, where, and how Americans are moving abroad. We look forward to sharing this journey with our readers and engaging with those interested in deeper exploration of this subject.
Stay tuned for more updates, and be sure to subscribe to our upcoming newsletter to follow our research and insights as they unfold
