The desire to move to a different country is holding strong around the world, with nearly one in six adults worldwide saying they would leave their home country if they could. That's about 900 million people globally — 16% of the adult population — who say they'd move permanently if given the chance, a figure that hasn't changed much in recent years but is higher than a decade ago, according to a new survey.
Gallup's report, based on interviews with nearly 146,000 people across 142 countries in 2023, highlights that this movement isn't limited to regions where people have historically moved away, like Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa. The desire to migrate is also growing in places like the U.S. and Canada, which are known as top destinations for newcomers. The data reflects what some might already feel is in the air: migration levels are hitting records, a trend that picked up speed again as COVID-19 restrictions eased.
