New research suggests that Americans have their sights on Canada if the presidential election between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump doesn’t go their way.
Researchers at QR Code Generator examined Google Trends data and found that searches for “move to Canada” increased by 68 percent in the 30 days leading up to Election Day on November 5. This suggests that Americans are considering their options if the election outcome doesn’t align with their vote.
“With its proximity and cultural similarities, Canada has emerged as the clear favorite for Americans considering a move abroad,” commented Marc Porcar, CEO of QR Code Generator, in a release. “Interest is heightened around election time, as residents may struggle to live in states represented by officials with opposing political views.”
The study also revealed the countries Americans were most interested in relocating to over the past 12 months. The experts ranked the countries based on the average monthly Google searches for relocation-related terms, such as “move to Canada” and “Brazil visa.” They found that Canada is the most popular country for Americans looking to relocate, with an average of 28,722 monthly searches. While Canada is the most searched-for country in 48 states, Californians and Hawaiians are considering Japan for their relocation. Japan is the second-most popular country to move to, with an average of 21,584 searches. In addition to having the highest search volume for Japan, Hawaii has the highest search volume among all states for interest in any country.
So where else have Americans considered moving over the past year? According to QR Code Generator, third place goes to Costa Rica with 15,511 average monthly searches. Brazil ranks in fourth place with 14,613 average monthly searches. Earning fifth place, Mexico has 13,221 average monthly searches. Switzerland ranks sixth, with 12,963 average monthly searches. With 12,592 average monthly searches, Spain takes seventh place. In eighth place, New Zealand has 11,866 average monthly searches. Ireland ranks in ninth place with 11,732 average monthly searches. Italy just makes the list in tenth place, with 11,711 searches.
“Some of the other top choices for relocation, like Japan, Costa Rica, and Brazil, are surprising, given the language barriers, unique cuisines, and distinct cultural landscapes they offer,” said Porcar in a release. “These findings reveal that many Americans aren’t just looking for an easy transition, but are drawn to the adventure of a richer, more diverse experience overseas.”