Global Interest in Moving to the U.S. Falls to Nearly Two-Decade Low as Immigration Rules Tighten

Global interest in relocating permanently to the United States has dropped to its lowest point in nearly 20 years, according to Gallup’s 2025 migration survey. Just 15% of prospective migrants named the U.S. as their preferred destination for 2025, down sharply from roughly 24% between 2007 and 2009.

Survey Findings

Gallup interviewed more than 144,000 adults across 140 countries in 2025. Respondents were first asked whether they would move permanently to another country if given the opportunity; those who said yes were then asked to name their preferred destination. Although the United States remained the single most frequently cited country worldwide, its share of preference fell to the lowest level since Gallup began tracking the question nearly two decades ago. Canada ranked second globally at 9%.

Overall, about 900 million adults worldwide said they would like to migrate permanently. Of those, roughly 134 million identified the United States as their top choice. Global desire to migrate dipped slightly to 15% in 2025, down from 16% across 2021–2024.

Regional Shifts

Preference for the U.S. fell across several regions, with notable declines in Latin America and the Caribbean, sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. In Southeast Asia, Japan led as the favored destination with 23% of prospective migrants selecting it, compared with 12% for the United States. In the Middle East and North Africa, Germany was chosen by 13% and Saudi Arabia by 12%, while the U.S. registered 9%.

At the country level, Honduras experienced the steepest drop: preference for the U.S. fell from 71% in 2024 to 36% in 2025.

Policy Context and Travel Impact

Gallup noted that the survey coincided with a pronounced slowdown in migration into the United States, which the firm linked to changes in immigration policy and declining migration intent in several regions. Since returning to the presidency in 2025, President Donald Trump has expanded immigration raids, tightened asylum rules and increased deportation operations as part of a broader enforcement push.

Travel industry data mirror some of these concerns. The World Travel & Tourism Council reported that inbound international visits to the U.S. fell 2.3% in 2025, while spending by foreign travelers dropped 4.6%. Industry groups attributed the slowdown to stricter border enforcement, reports of detentions and deportations, and heightened scrutiny at U.S. entry points—factors officials say have created a "chilling effect" on inbound travel.

Community Concerns

Heightened enforcement has prompted particular concern among Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. An AAPI Data/AP-NORC poll in February found that nearly three-quarters of AAPI adults view Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) unfavorably and that more than six in 10 believe the current administration has gone too far in deporting undocumented immigrants.

"AAPI adults are significantly more likely than the general public to hold unfavorable views of ICE, reflecting broader concerns about recent enforcement actions and their potential impacts on communities," said Karthick Ramakrishnan, executive director of AAPI Data and a researcher at the University of California, Berkeley.

What This Means

The Gallup findings suggest the combination of stricter U.S. immigration enforcement and growing attractiveness of alternative destinations such as Canada, Japan and Germany is reshaping global migration preferences. For policymakers and industry groups, the data highlight how immigration policy and enforcement can influence not only migration flows but also tourism and international perceptions of the United States.