The US used to be a dream destination for the majority of people of the Indian Subcontinent in the past. Many tried to move to the US either for pursuing higher study or for searching jobs. However, the scenario has changed in recent times. Not only the expatriates from Asia, but the US citizens, too, have started leaving the country. Along with their family members, they are trying to settle mainly in Europe. Many of these people have started enjoying a new life in different European countries.

Statistics show that the number of US citizens living in the Netherlands increased from 15,500 to 24,000 in 12 years (2013-22). This number tripled to 10,000 in Portugal during the same period, while the number of US nationals increased from 20,000 to 34,000 in Spain. In 2022, 4,689 US citizens were granted permanent residency in Denmark, 4,513 in Switzerland, 3,831 in Ireland, and 2,513 in the Czech Republic. The number of US expatriates has increased in France and Germany, too, in the last few years. The number of US citizens living in Britain was 137,000 in 2013, and the figure touched 166,000 in 2021. More than 4,000 people immigrated from the US to Denmark and Switzerland in 2022 alone, and started living there.

There are several important factors behind the migration of the US citizens to Europe. Many believe that as the standard of living has fallen in the US, it has become increasingly difficult for many to live a comfortable and normal life. Hence, they are moving to Europe in search of a better life. The cost of living or rented accommodation has increased in the US in recent times. Land prices, too, have increased. However, the income of the US citizens has not increased in that proportion. Interestingly, the cost of living is relatively low in European countries.

The current political situation in the US is another reason for citizens to leave the country. Many US nationals are fed up with the country’s ongoing political turmoil. The majority of people were frustrated with the Donald Trump era. According to the US media reports, many decided to leave the country during Trump’s tenure as the US President. While 11% of the US citizens settled in Europe during the Presidency of Barack Obama, the percentage jumped to 16 during the tenure of Trump. This percentage increased to 17 by the end of 2022.

Europe is also ahead of the US when it comes to work-life balance. Statistics show that the average working hours in the US is 1,811 hours per year, while people work for 1,571 hours per annum on an average in Europe.

Racism is another major issue in American society, which still largely ignores the Black people. After the murder of George Perry Floyd Jr on May 25, 2020 by a Police Officer in Minneapolis, a number of coloured people moved to Europe. However, the trend of leaving the US for Europe got a huge boost in the post-COVID-19 Pandemic period. Many Afro-American people started facing a financial crisis after the Pandemic, as it rocked the US economy hard. The government is burdened with debt, while popular banks have gone bankrupt one after another. Therefore, many suffer from economic insecurity in the US. The economic complication has prompted a number of people to move to Europe.

Reports suggest that the US nationals are enjoying most carefree life in Portugal and Spain. Of course, the number of US citizens is constantly increasing in other European countries, as well.

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Published by Koushik Das

Koushik Das (born on May 16, 1976 in Kolkata) is a career journalist. Based in the Indian capital of New Delhi, Koushik writes mainly about foreign policies and current geopolitical issues, and rarely about other topics. His own political ideas are highly influenced by Antonio Gramsci, Louis Althusser, Michel Foucault, Michael Oakeshott and others. English philosopher and political theorist Oakeshott (Dec 11, 1901-Dec 19, 1990) says that “in political activity, men sail a boundless and bottomless sea. There is neither harbour for shelter nor floor for anchorage, neither starting-place, nor appointed destination. But we have to keep afloat”. (Rationalism in Politics, 1962) As a student of Political Science, Koushik loves to share his views on issues, which have great impacts on his thought process (and also on India, South Asia and of course on the global community), with his readers through his website – Boundless Ocean of Politics. By doing so, he tries to keep himself afloat. You will find some of his articles in https://inserbia.info/today/ (https://inserbia.info/today/author/kou_das13_i/), as he has been trying to assess the global geopolitics since 2003. You can also mail him at kousdas@gmail.com View all posts by Koushik Das