UK Residents Relocating: The Shift Towards the United States
After years of UK residents heading Down Under for a better quality of living, a new country is tempting us there in our thousands.
29 July 2024
Whether searching for a better quality of living, a new job, or perhaps just to be around notoriously friendly neighbours, Brits continue to emigrate in increasing numbers.
The latest estimates suggest that 532,000 people emigrated from Britain in 2023. While this is down on the 2022 estimate of a little over 550,000, it’s significantly up from the 2018 figure of 385,000, suggesting that more and more British residents are escaping to far-flung destinations.
But where is everyone heading to? What seals the deal when Brits scout out a new destination to call home?
iBestTravel may have found the answer, as a recent study by the company’s relocation experts has shown that Australia, a long-time go-to for emigrating Brits, has been knocked off the top spot.
Data analysed by the team, sourced between 2022 and 2024, found that relocation experts have helped more UK residents move to the United States than any other country in recent years.
According to the latest figures, the iconic ‘American Dream’ is still alive, and an increasing number of people are heading across the pond in search of educational opportunities, higher salaries, and a change of lifestyle.
The United States overtakes Australia regarding real-life relocations, but the picture isn’t all as it seems. iBestTravel’s report found that Brits still dream of a sunny life Down Under, with potential emigrants searching for the terms ‘Move to Australia’, ‘Relocate to Australia’, and ‘Houses in Australia’ on Google a total of 412,100 times during the period studied.
The United Arab Emirates completes the top three, with guaranteed sunshine, a glamorous image, and no income tax attracting an increasing number of Brits to the Middle East.
The complete list of countries that UK residents have moved to the most between 2022 and 2024 is as follows:
- United States of America
- Australia
- United Arab Emirates
- Canada
- New Zealand
- Cyprus
- South Africa
- Singapore
- Saudi Arabia
- Cayman Islands
