A growing demographic shift is emerging among American women, with unprecedented numbers considering permanent relocation abroad. Recent data from analytics firm Gallup reveals that 40% of women aged 15-44 would move overseas given the opportunity—the highest migration aspiration rate ever recorded and more than double the percentage of young men expressing similar desires.
This trend, developing over the past decade, represents a significant reversal from historical patterns where American women were less likely than their international peers to envision futures abroad. The phenomenon cuts across political affiliations, with women feeling caught between competing expectations from both conservative and progressive perspectives.
Personal narratives illustrate the multifaceted reasons behind this emerging exodus. Aubrey and her wife, homeowners from upstate New York, are preparing for relocation to Costa Rica in January after months of unease about the political climate and concerns about basic safety. Their story echoes that of Kaitlin, 31, who abandoned her Los Angeles 9-to-5 job four years ago for Portugal, citing inadequate work-life balance and seeking cultural immersion. Similarly, Alyssa, a 34-year-old mother from Florida, relocated to Uruguay earlier this year following the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade, explaining that ‘the increasing governance of women’s bodies terrified me.’
Beyond political concerns, economic pressures including student debt, rising healthcare costs, and housing affordability are contributing factors. A Harris Poll survey confirms that 40% of Americans have considered moving abroad, with Gen Z and Millennials being the most likely demographics. Lower living costs abroad frequently feature as primary motivators.
The institutional trust crisis further compounds these migration considerations. Gallup data indicates confidence in national institutions has plummeted to historic lows, with only 26% of Americans trusting the presidency and 14% trusting Congress. This decline has been most precipitous among young women, whose scores on the National Institutions Index have dropped 17 points since 2015—the sharpest decline of any demographic group.
Additional factors influencing relocation decisions include healthcare accessibility, climate concerns, and gun violence prevention. Marina, planning to move to Portugal with her boyfriend next May, notes: ‘Healthcare not being a human right in this country is a huge part of why we’re leaving.’ She also cites Portugal’s stricter gun laws and increasing extreme weather events in the US as determining factors.
Georgetown University Professor Nadia E Brown emphasizes that these pressures reflect broader global challenges facing women, though they appear particularly acute in the American context. The absence of robust social supports—including maternal care, parental leave, and healthcare systems comparable to those in Europe—frequently becomes apparent only after women have experienced alternatives abroad, creating a potentially irreversible brain drain of young American women seeking autonomy, dignity, and safety elsewhere.