Nashville, Tennessee — Tennessee gave former President Donald Trump more than 64% of its votes in the 2024 election. Since then, there has been some talk in the state about all those people across the country who say they’re ready to leave for warmer (and possibly better) places abroad. Riley Clark at Casino.org says that in the 24 hours after the election, searches for things like “how to leave the U.S.” went up by over 5,000% across the country.
A poll of 4,000 Americans shows where people who are thinking about moving are planning to go. Most Tennesseans plan to stay put, staying true to their Southern roots and service spirit. From Canada’s maple syrup to Japan’s sushi, the list might surprise you.
This is the “Exit” List for Canada.
The country to the north of us came in first place as the place Americans would most likely move to if the election results didn’t go their way. Clark says that about 20% of those who answered said they would go to Canada if they had to leave the U.S. This makes it by far the most popular choice. It looks like the number of searches for “moving to Canada as an American” went up by 200% after the election. This could mean that some Americans are looking at real options instead of just silly ideas.
It’s easy to see why Canada would be appealing: they speak the same language, are close, and have a similar society. But while the idea that Canada is friendly is still strong, it’s not quite drawing huge numbers of people from southern states like Tennessee. About 2% of those who answered the poll were interested in Mexico, and most of them were from Texas and Arizona.
The British are ready to serve the Americans tea
Americans missing their home country made the UK the second most popular place to move to after the United States. Clark says that about 33% of those who chose the UK said they were drawn to British culture, including tea time. Other reasons included job chances and health care. People from Tennessee who are used to Nashville’s British-style pubs might like the idea, even if the weather isn’t as nice as it is in Tennessee in the summer.
Japan: Lots of interest, but a language barrier
Japan is in third place on the list. The mix of old and new in Tokyo’s busy cityscape and Kyoto’s peaceful temples is very attractive. About half of the people who answered the survey who were planning to go to Japan said they were most interested in the culture, even though it would take them over 2,000 hours of study to learn the language. If you want to try something new, Japan seems like the perfect place to go on vacation because it’s not like other places in North America or Europe.
A New “Vacation Home” Continent for Europe?
People from the United States who have always loved vacationing in Europe might be interested in making a holiday spot their new home. The last five places on the top 10 list of places people want to go after the election were Italy, Ireland, Switzerland, Spain, and France. Americans still love the hills of Tuscany, the castles of Ireland, and the sunny beaches of Spain. The old continent is still a popular place for people who want to experience a different culture.
Europeans, on the other hand, have mixed feelings about Americans. According to polls by Pew Research, people in countries like France, Italy, and Spain don’t think very highly of Americans. Because of this, Americans may need to change their ideas about how warmly they’ll be welcomed in a Parisian café, even though it might be fun to think.
Why people in the US say they’d leave
The survey found that the top reasons people were thinking about moving were culture, job prospects, and health care. About 30% of those who answered said they wanted to go because they wanted to experience new cultures. Job chances and health care came in close behind. But even though the U.S. has a lot to offer, like country music and hot chicken, for some people, the desire to see other places is strong.
So, are they going to go?
For most Americans, going abroad is still a long-term goal, even though it sounds like a great adventure. 59% of those who answered said they probably won’t follow through on their wanderlust because it’s hard to get a visa, the cost is high, and it’s hard to get used to a new culture.
