A growing number of Americans living abroad are choosing to renounce their citizenship, with nearly 5,000 to 6,000 individuals giving it up each year. According to the Greenback Survey, almost half of overseas Americans are now considering giving up their U.S. citizenship, a sharp rise from 30 percent in 2004 to 49 percent in 2025. In a survey of around 1,100 respondents, many cited U.S. tax policies and domestic political issues as the primary reasons behind their decision.
Taxes remain the biggest concern for expatriates, with 61 percent of respondents pointing to the obligation to file annual income tax returns in the U.S., regardless of their country of residence, and the penalties for non-compliance. Many overseas Americans say this requirement makes it difficult to live comfortably and adds logistical challenges to their lives. Following taxes, dissatisfaction with U.S. politics drives a smaller but notable portion of Americans to relinquish their citizenship, a sentiment that has grown stronger since the Trump presidency.
Other factors influencing the decision to renounce citizenship include the Capitol riots, increasing political polarization, and the perceived erosion of voting rights. Experts say the trend reflects a broader sense of discontent both within the U.S. and among Americans living abroad, with many feeling that the country has lost much of its global influence and that this decline is likely to continue.