In 2025, the outflow of people from the United States exceeded the inflow of arrivals for the first time since the Great Depression. The number of those leaving the country surpassed the number entering it, marking a turning point in the country’s demographic trajectory.
As reported by The Wall Street Journal, citing its own calculations and estimates by the Brookings Institution, the net outflow amounted to roughly 150,000 people. The newspaper notes that if the current trend persists, the gap could widen further as early as 2026.
This shift has unfolded against the backdrop of policies pursued by the Trump administration, which over the past year has waged an aggressive campaign to deport migrants.