Do you remember the classic James Brown 1985 hit “Living in America”? The tune became a massive hit, reaching number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 5 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was also featured prominently in the movie Rocky IV, where Brown performed it during Apollo Creed’s ring entrance to emphasize the latter’s patriotism.
Unfortunately, there is increasing evidence today that many Americans feel living in the U.S. is no longer enjoyable. Recent polls and reports indicate that the vast majority of Americans report that they feel very dissatisfied and stressed out.
Key drivers accounting for these desires to move abroad include 1) an include dissatisfaction with the direction of U.S. society (69%) an increase from economic and social tensions, affordability and cost of living problems (54%), perceived limits to opportunities due to financial inequality (55%), work-life balance perceptions (57%), lower quality of healthcare system (65%), and a lower quality of the education system (66%).
A recent poll conducted by Talker Research examined whether or not these perceived negatives in the U.S. are now significantly changing the way many view living in America as opposed to living elsewhere. And to our surprise, 40% now say that they feel living in the U.S. is neither fun nor better than living elsewhere.
In the survey, almost 7 in 10 respondents (69%) worried about the United States reversing course, and 65% of respondents see American society as “toxic.”
Interestingly, 17% of adults are looking to move internationally in the next five years. In fact, 2% of adults have even started the process to do so, while 5% stated they are going to take some concrete steps to make a move.
Millennials especially want to move, with 25% citing challenges like economic downturns and student debt. And for some, living abroad has always been a dream, as 44% have desired to leave the country for quite some time.
In the same vein, a Reuters/Ipsos poll stated that 49% of Americans believe that the country is heading in the wrong direction, and the majority profess to be unhappy with the national economy and cost of living.
Where do disillusioned Americans want to live?
Canada has the top spot for potential expatriates due to its healthcare (41%), varied landscapes (28%), and work-life balance (21%). Italy checks in at 11%, primarily for food (68%) and culture (66%). England ranked third at 10% for culture and history. Other notable mentions were Australia, Ireland, France, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Scotland, and Germany.
Top Ten Countries Dissatisfied Americans Want to Move To:
• Canada
• Italy
• England
• Australia
• Ireland
• France
• Switzerland
• Costa Rica
• Scotland
• Germany
What’s surprising about that list is the absence of any of the Scandinavian (Sweden, Norway, and Denmark) countries, as they frequently appear prominently in ‘Happiest Countries on Earth’ polls.
Talker Research polled 2,000 general population Americans; the survey was administered and conducted online from Feb. 7 through Feb. 10, 2025.