Why 40% of Young American Women Want to Leave the U.S. in 2025: Gallup Report

A recent Gallup poll has uncovered one of the most striking generational and gender-based divides in modern American history: 40% of young American women say they would permanently leave the U.S. if they could. This is among the highest levels recorded since Gallup began tracking global migration aspirations in 2007.

Although the number is slightly lower than the 44% reported in 2024, it remains far above the 29% recorded in 2023, reinforcing a growing upward trend. By contrast, only 19% of young men expressed the same desire, creating an unprecedented 21-point gender gap—one that Gallup notes is extremely rare on a global scale.

Gallup emphasized that before the U.S. in 2025, no country had ever recorded a gender gap of 20 points or more in youth migration desire.

The pattern is not limited to younger adults. Among Americans over 45, 16% of women expressed a desire to move abroad, compared with 8% of men. Overall, one in five American adults now say they are considering leaving the country, even if most may never take concrete steps.

What’s Driving Young Women to Consider Leaving?

Gallup’s previous analyses point to several interconnected factors shaping this shift:

• Growing anxiety over civil rights and personal freedoms

• Rising cost of living and economic insecurity

• Concerns about physical safety

• Frustration with limited or unequal professional opportunities

• Increasing political and social polarization

Together, these pressures have contributed to a broader sense of alienation or detachment, particularly among young women who feel the country is not reflecting or supporting their aspirations.

What This Means for America’s Future

The findings raise profound questions about the direction of American society.
If a significant proportion of future workers, professionals, and community leaders—especially young women—are imagining a life elsewhere, the implications for identity, culture, and governance are considerable.

The report urges policymakers, educators, and institutions to confront these generational anxieties and rebuild trust with younger Americans who are increasingly seeking to redefine what belonging and opportunity mean in the United States.