What are the most popular countries for American expats in 2025?
Executive summary
In 2025 reporting, Central American countries — notably Mexico, Panama and Costa Rica — repeatedly appear as top destinations for American expats, praised for affordability, climate and established communities [1] [2] [3]. European choices often top curated “best of” lists — Portugal, Spain and Portugal’s D7/digital-nomad options are highlighted — while Canada, the UK, Australia and several Asian nations (Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore) are frequently named for work, safety or quality-of-life reasons [4] [5] [6] [7].
1. Why Mexico, Panama and Costa Rica keep leading the pack
Mexico is repeatedly singled out as the most accessible and largest North American destination for U.S. citizens, with long-standing retiree communities and growing digital-nomad and family migration; outlets cite more than 1 million Americans living in Mexico and emphasize affordability and proximity to the U.S. [8] [1]. Panama is celebrated by expat surveys for very high satisfaction rates — InterNations and related coverage note Panama ranking first in Expat Insider-style lists and reporting that 94% of expats there are happy with life abroad [7] [2]. Costa Rica is routinely mentioned for its “pura vida” lifestyle, natural beauty and enduring popularity among American retirees and remote workers [1] [3].
2. Europe’s frequent appearances: Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands
Multiple guides list Portugal and Spain as top choices for Americans in 2025, citing visa routes (Portugal’s D7 and digital‑nomad options), affordability relative to Western Europe, and family-friendly healthcare and lifestyle benefits [4] [9]. Spain is noted for culture and established expat hubs like Madrid and Barcelona [9]. The Netherlands is referenced for progressive culture, safety and strong public services, making it a common recommendation for English‑speaking Americans [9].
3. “Best” lists versus actual migration — different metrics, different winners
Be aware: many pieces are editorial “best places to move” lists that combine quality‑of‑life indices, visa friendliness and subjective rankings [9] [6]. Expat Insider surveys and similar studies measure satisfaction and lived experience (Panama, Colombia score highly), while other sites emphasize visa pathways or retirement affordability (Portugal, Mexico, Panama) [7] [4]. That means a country topping a satisfaction survey (e.g., Panama) isn’t necessarily the single most numerous destination for Americans — coverage often conflates popularity, satisfaction and suitability [7] [8].
4. Asia, Oceania and niche movers: Thailand, Vietnam, New Zealand, Singapore
Travel and lifestyle roundups and Expat Insider-style reporting highlight several Asian countries for strong personal‑finance scores and work opportunities: Thailand and Vietnam are commended for low cost of living and digital‑nomad appeal; Singapore and Japan for safety and infrastructure [7] [6] [8]. New Zealand and Australia appear in lists aimed at work‑life balance and cultural familiarity for English speakers [5] [6]. These picks tend to attract tech workers, retirees and lifestyle migrants rather than mass family relocations [6] [7].
5. Numbers, trends and reporting limits
Aggregate figures vary: AARO/ACA reporting cited in outlets estimates roughly 5.1–5.5 million Americans living abroad in recent years, and some reporting points to rising expatriation filings in 2025 [10] [2]. But the sources provided do not deliver a single ranked list by headcount of U.S. expats in 2025 — most are curated “best countries” or survey rankings rather than census‑style tallies (available sources do not mention a definitive headcount ranking by country). Treat “most popular” as a composite judgment across long-standing communities (Mexico), high satisfaction and ease (Panama, Costa Rica), and policy/visa attractiveness (Portugal, Spain, Canada) [8] [7] [4].
6. How to interpret competing advice when you’re considering moving
If you prioritize proximity and existing American communities, Mexico and Panama are common journalistic recommendations [8] [7]. If you want streamlined residency pathways and European access, Portugal and Spain show up repeatedly in visa‑focused guides [4] [9]. If satisfaction surveys matter, InterNations‑style rankings elevate Panama and several Latin American or Southeast Asian countries for expat happiness [7] [2]. Different outlets have explicit agendas — travel magazines pitch lifestyle and scenery, visa services emphasize pathways, and expat surveys stress subjective wellbeing — so verify policy and cost details with official immigration sources [5] [4] [9].
7. Bottom line and what’s missing from the coverage
Journalistic and survey coverage in 2025 consistently names Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Portugal and Spain among the top places for American expats, with Canada, the UK, Australia and several Asian countries also common recommendations [1] [3] [4] [5] [7]. However, available sources do not present a single, authoritative ranking by number of American residents per country for 2025 — many pieces prioritize satisfaction, visa ease or lifestyle rather than raw totals (available sources do not mention a definitive headcount ranking by country).