Survey: Majority of Young Americans Consider Leaving the US.

12 hours ago7 min read3 comments

The numbers from the American Psychological Association’s Stress in America 2025 survey are stark, but they tell a story far deeper than a simple statistic: 63% of adults between 18 and 34 have seriously considered leaving the United States this year, a sentiment echoed by more than half of all parents. This isn't the whimsical daydream of a Parisian café or a tropical beach that has long been a staple of the American imagination; it’s a profound reckoning with 'the state of the nation,' a phrase that carries the weight of countless dinner table conversations, anxious text threads, and quiet moments of doubt I've heard while interviewing people across the country.The desire to leave is a symptom of a deeper malaise, a collective sigh from a generation grappling with the chasm between the promise of the American dream and the reality of their daily lives. I've spoken with a 28-year-old teacher in Ohio who meticulously researches visa requirements for Germany, not for adventure, but because she feels the education system is crumbling beneath her feet and she can no longer afford health insurance.A young couple in Austin, Texas, who work in tech and should be the picture of economic success, confide that they are actively planning a move to Canada, citing political polarization and a growing sense of societal unraveling as their primary motivators. This trend finds historical precedent in other moments of national crisis, like the draft exodus during the Vietnam War or the 'brain drain' of intellectuals fleeing rising fascism in 1930s Europe, but today’s exodus is different—it’s not driven by a single, tangible threat, but by a slow-burning accumulation of stressors: the paralyzing cost of housing and student debt, the visceral fear of gun violence in schools and public spaces, the existential dread of a changing climate met with political inertia, and the exhausting, omnipresent culture wars that seep into every interaction.Experts like Dr. Maria Flores, a sociologist at Columbia University who studies migration patterns, notes that this is less about a specific policy and more about a deteriorating sense of collective well-being.'When people lose faith in the fundamental institutions designed to provide security and opportunity—be it government, healthcare, or education—the very idea of a shared national future begins to erode,' she told me. 'For previous generations, emigration was often an economic decision.For many young people today, it is a psychological and moral one. ' The potential consequences are monumental.A nation is built not just on its laws and economy, but on the energy and ambition of its youth; if its most dynamic and educated citizens are looking for an exit, the country risks a long-term depletion of its innovative capacity and social cohesion. This isn't a fringe movement of malcontents; it's a quiet, sober consideration taking root in mainstream America, a fundamental question being asked in apartments and suburbs from coast to coast: if the contract is broken, is it time to find a new home?.

#featured

#young americans

#emigration

#stress survey

#political climate

#social trends

#mental health

Stay Informed. Act Smarter.

Get weekly highlights, major headlines, and expert insights — then put your knowledge to work in our live prediction markets.