Overview
- The survey shows a 21-point gender gap, with 40% of women ages 15–44 expressing a desire to emigrate versus 19% of men, the widest Gallup has recorded.
- Gallup traces the rise to a shift that began in 2016 and intensified after the 2022 Dobbs ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, coinciding with falling trust in institutions among younger women.
- About one in five Americans overall say they would like to move permanently, a level Gallup has found for the second year in a row, which the pollster notes reflects sentiment rather than concrete plans.
- The U.S. stands out globally for the size of its gender gap on this question, with Gallup noting no other country has previously logged a gap of 20 points or more between younger women and men.
- Demographic predictors have shifted, as married and unmarried young women reported similar increases in wanting to move abroad compared with prior years.