WASHINGTON, D.C. (LOOTPRESS) — The United States remains the most desired destination for people looking to leave their home countries, but new data shows its global appeal is slipping to the lowest level in nearly two decades.
According to a new report from Gallup, just 15% of adults worldwide who want to move permanently to another country chose the U.S. as their top destination in 2025. That figure is down significantly from 24% between 2007 and 2009, and continues a steady decline seen since 2017.
Despite the drop, the U.S. still ranks first globally. Canada follows in second place at 9%, holding steady in recent years.
The findings are based on interviews with more than 144,000 adults across 140 countries, asking whether they would prefer to move abroad permanently and, if so, where they would go.
Regional Declines Drive Trend
The decline in interest toward the U.S. is being driven by sharp drops in several regions, particularly Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia.
In Latin America, the percentage of people naming the U.S. as their preferred destination fell from 33% in 2024 to 28% in 2025. In Mexico, interest dropped to 21%, tying its lowest level on record. Honduras saw the steepest decline, with interest in the U.S. falling from 71% to 36%.
Still, the U.S. remains the top choice in both Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa, even as overall interest declines.
Other Countries Gaining Ground
In some regions, other countries are now more attractive to potential migrants. In Southeast Asia, Japan leads with 23% interest, compared to 12% for the U.S.
In the Middle East and North Africa, Germany (13%) and Saudi Arabia (12%) rank ahead of the U.S. at 9%.
Within the European Union, Spain (11%) and Switzerland (8%) also surpass the U.S., which draws just 6% of interest in the region.
