Most Americans Moving Abroad Aren’t Expats

Being an immigrant no longer feels safe

Andrea

8 min read

·

Jul 15, 2026

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Lately, I’m vibing at work until I see a headline that has “U.S.” and “Expat” in it. Then I read the piece and realize it’s all about American immigrants, and the author is often an immigrant disguised as an expat.

every. single. time.

The one that got me today, and nudged me to write this piece, is titled “5 of the Most Popular Countries for U.S. Expats.”

Let’s get this right

What does each term mean?

• Immigrant is generally the more precise and neutral term for someone who has moved to another country to live there, regardless of origin.
• Expatriate (expat) is useful when emphasizing a temporary overseas assignment or when discussing communities of foreign professionals abroad.

But here’s a comparison of how each term is used in practice:

Immigrant:

• Usually implies long-term or permanent settlement.
• Often associated with people seeking a new life, work, family reunification, or safety.
• More commonly applied to people from lower- or middle-income countries, even in similar circumstances as those from…