Fewer Americans on the Move
Overall, when looking at both migration between U.S. states and within them, fewer Americans are moving each year. In 1948, the first year on record with the Census Bureau, more than 20 percent of the population moved in the past year. This had decreased to just 8.7 percent in 2022. While the share of Americans moving across state lines remained more stable, those moving within their state became much fewer, from between 15-17 percent of Americans per year in the 1950s and 1960s to results in the single digits in the new millennium.
In absolute terms, the annual number of Americans moving peaked in 1985 at 38.1 million or 20 percent of the population. In 1948, 20 percent of Americans had only amounted to 23.8 million people. While they move less often now, Americans are still known as one of the most mobile population on the planet. In 2011 and 2012, Gallup asked people around the world if they had moved in the past year. 21 percent of Americans said yes then, compared to only an average of 8 percent globally. FiveThirtyEight calculated - based on 2007 Census data - that the average American at that point in time was expected to move 11.4 times in their lifetime.
Dataset
Survey Year | Total, 1 year old and over | Same residence (non-movers) | Total movers |
---|---|---|---|
2022 | 325,303 | 297,124 | 28,179 |
2021 (2020 controls)1 | 324,591 | 297,373 | 27,217 |
2021 (2010 controls)2 | 322,607 | 295,547 | 27,059 |
2020 (2020 controls)1 | 324,002 | 294,065 | 29,938 |
2020 (2010 controls)2 | 321,620 | 291,840 | 29,780 |
2019 | 320,667 | 289,296 | 31,371 |
2018 | 319,319 | 286,967 | 32,352 |
2017 | 316,550 | 281,647 | 34,902 |
2016 | 314,992 | 279,854 | 35,138 |
2015 | 312,295 | 275,971 | 36,324 |
2014 (98,000 address file)3 | 309,601 | 273,920 | 35,681 |
2013 | 307,243 | 271,325 | 35,918 |
2012 | 304,924 | 268,436 | 36,488 |
2011 (2010 controls)2 | 302,640 | 267,602 | 35,038 |
2011 (2000 controls)4 | 302,005 | 266,930 | 35,075 |
2010 (2010 controls)2 | 300,419 | 262,975 | 37,445 |
2010 (2000 controls)4 | 300,074 | 262,534 | 37,540 |
2009 | 297,182 | 260,077 | 37,105 |
2008 | 294,851 | 259,685 | 35,167 |
2007 | 292,749 | 254,068 | 38,681 |
2006 | 289,781 | 249,945 | 39,837 |
20055 | 287,148 | 247,261 | 39,888 |
20046 | 284,367 | 245,372 | 38,995 |
2003 | 282,556 | 242,463 | 40,093 |
2002 | 278,160 | 237,049 | 41,111 |
2001 (SCHIP, 2000 controls)7 | 275,611 | 236,605 | 39,007 |
2001 (2000 controls)4 | 275,611 | 235,726 | 39,885 |
2001 (1990 controls)8 | 272,671 | 234,029 | 38,641 |
2000 | 270,219 | 226,831 | 43,388 |
1999 | 267,933 | 225,297 | 42,636 |
1998 | 265,209 | 222,702 | 42,507 |
1997 | 262,976 | 219,585 | 43,391 |
1996 | 260,406 | 217,868 | 42,537 |
1995 | 258,248 | 215,931 | 42,317 |
1994 | 255,774 | 212,939 | 42,835 |
1993 (1990 controls)8 | 252,799 | 209,700 | 43,099 |
1993 (1980 controls)9 | 250,210 | 208,162 | 42,048 |
1992 | 247,380 | 204,580 | 42,800 |
1991 | 244,884 | 203,345 | 41,539 |
1990 | 242,208 | 198,827 | 43,381 |
1989 | 239,793 | 197,173 | 42,620 |
1988 | 237,431 | 195,258 | 42,174 |
1987 | 235,089 | 191,396 | 43,693 |
1986 | 232,998 | 189,760 | 43,237 |
1985 | 230,333 | 183,863 | 46,470 |
1984 | 228,232 | 188,853 | 39,379 |
1983 | 225,874 | 188,465 | 37,408 |
1982 | 223,719 | 185,592 | 38,127 |
1981 | 221,641 | 183,442 | 38,200 |
197610 | 208,069 | 171,276 | 36,793 |
197110 | 201,506 | 163,800 | 37,705 |
1970 | 198,955 | 160,860 | 38,095 |
1969 | 196,642 | 159,310 | 37,332 |
1968 | 194,621 | 156,735 | 37,886 |
1967 | 192,233 | 155,710 | 36,523 |
1966 | 190,242 | 152,656 | 37,586 |
1965 | 187,974 | 149,128 | 38,846 |
1964 | 185,312 | 148,125 | 37,187 |
1963 | 182,541 | 146,109 | 36,432 |
1962 | 179,663 | 144,445 | 35,218 |
1961 | 177,354 | 140,821 | 36,533 |
1960 | 174,451 | 139,766 | 34,685 |
1959 | 170,658 | 137,018 | 33,640 |
1958 | 167,604 | 133,501 | 34,103 |
1957 | 164,371 | 131,648 | 32,723 |
1956 | 161,497 | 127,457 | 34,040 |
1955 | 158,609 | 126,190 | 32,419 |
1954 | 155,679 | 125,654 | 30,025 |
1953 | 153,038 | 121,512 | 31,526 |
1952 | 150,494 | 120,016 | 30,478 |
1951 | 148,400 | 116,936 | 31,464 |
1950 | 146,864 | 118,849 | 28,015 |
1949 | 144,101 | 116,498 | 27,603 |
1948 | 141,698 | 113,026 | 28,672 |
Percent | |||
2022 | 100 | 91.3 | 8.7 |
2021 (2020 controls)1 | 100 | 91.6 | 8.4 |
2021 (2010 controls)2 | 100 | 91.6 | 8.4 |
2020 (2020 controls)1 | 100 | 90.8 | 9.2 |
2020 (2010 controls)2 | 100 | 90.7 | 9.3 |
2019 | 100 | 90.2 | 9.8 |
2018 | 100 | 89.9 | 10.1 |
2017 | 100 | 89 | 11 |
2016 | 100 | 88.8 | 11.2 |
2015 | 100 | 88.4 | 11.6 |
2014 (98,000 address file)3 | 100 | 88.5 | 11.5 |
2013 | 100 | 88.3 | 11.7 |
2012 | 100 | 88 | 12 |
2011 (2010 controls)2 | 100 | 88.4 | 11.6 |
2011 (2000 controls)4 | 100 | 88.4 | 11.6 |
2010 (2010 controls)2 | 100 | 87.5 | 12.5 |
2010 (2000 controls)4 | 100 | 87.5 | 12.5 |
2009 | 100 | 87.5 | 12.5 |
2008 | 100 | 88.1 | 11.9 |
2007 | 100 | 86.8 | 13.2 |
2006 | 100 | 86.3 | 13.7 |
20055 | 100 | 86.1 | 13.9 |
20046 | 100 | 86.3 | 13.7 |
2003 | 100 | 85.8 | 14.2 |
2002 | 100 | 85.2 | 14.8 |
2001 (SCHIP, 2000 controls)7 | 100 | 85.8 | 14.2 |
2001 (2000 controls)4 | 100 | 85.5 | 14.5 |
2001 (1990 controls)8 | 100 | 85.8 | 14.2 |
2000 | 100 | 83.9 | 16.1 |
1999 | 100 | 84.1 | 15.9 |
1998 | 100 | 84 | 16 |
1997 | 100 | 83.5 | 16.5 |
1996 | 100 | 83.7 | 16.3 |
1995 | 100 | 83.6 | 16.4 |
1994 | 100 | 83.3 | 16.7 |
1993 (1990 controls)8 | 100 | 83 | 17 |
1993 (1980 controls)9 | 100 | 83.2 | 16.8 |
1992 | 100 | 82.7 | 17.3 |
1991 | 100 | 83 | 17 |
1990 | 100 | 82.1 | 17.9 |
1989 | 100 | 82.2 | 17.8 |
1988 | 100 | 82.2 | 17.8 |
1987 | 100 | 81.4 | 18.6 |
1986 | 100 | 81.4 | 18.6 |
1985 | 100 | 79.8 | 20.2 |
1984 | 100 | 82.7 | 17.3 |
1983 | 100 | 83.4 | 16.6 |
1982 | 100 | 83 | 17 |
1981 | 100 | 82.8 | 17.2 |
197610 | 100 | 82.3 | 17.7 |
197110 | 100 | 81.3 | 18.7 |
1970 | 100 | 80.9 | 19.1 |
1969 | 100 | 81 | 19 |
1968 | 100 | 80.5 | 19.5 |
1967 | 100 | 81 | 19 |
1966 | 100 | 80.2 | 19.8 |
1965 | 100 | 79.3 | 20.7 |
1964 | 100 | 79.9 | 20.1 |
1963 | 100 | 80 | 20 |
1962 | 100 | 80.4 | 19.6 |
1961 | 100 | 79.4 | 20.6 |
1960 | 100 | 80.1 | 19.9 |
1959 | 100 | 80.3 | 19.7 |
1958 | 100 | 79.7 | 20.3 |
1957 | 100 | 80.1 | 19.9 |
1956 | 100 | 78.9 | 21.1 |
1955 | 100 | 79.6 | 20.4 |
1954 | 100 | 80.7 | 19.3 |
1953 | 100 | 79.4 | 20.6 |
1952 | 100 | 79.7 | 20.3 |
1951 | 100 | 78.8 | 21.2 |
1950 | 100 | 80.9 | 19.1 |
1949 | 100 | 80.8 | 19.2 |
1948 | 100 | 79.8 | 20.2 |
Share of Movers (Percentages) | |||
2022 | N | N | 100 |
2021 (2020 controls)1 | N | N | 100 |
2021 (2010 controls)2 | N | N | 100 |
2020 (2020 controls)1 | N | N | 100 |
2020 (2010 controls)2 | N | N | 100 |
2019 | N | N | 100 |
2018 | N | N | 100 |
2017 | N | N | 100 |
2016 | N | N | 100 |
2015 | N | N | 100 |
2014 (98,000 address file)3 | N | N | 100 |
2013 | N | N | 100 |
2012 | N | N | 100 |
2011 (2010 controls)2 | N | N | 100 |
2011 (2000 controls)4 | N | N | 100 |
2010 (2010 controls)2 | N | N | 100 |
2010 (2000 controls)4 | N | N | 100 |
2009 | N | N | 100 |
2008 | N | N | 100 |
2007 | N | N | 100 |
2006 | N | N | 100 |
20055 | N | N | 100 |
20046 | N | N | 100 |
2003 | N | N | 100 |
2002 | N | N | 100 |
2001 (SCHIP, 2000 controls)7 | N | N | 100 |
2001 (2000 controls)4 | N | N | 100 |
2001 (1990 controls)8 | N | N | 100 |
2000 | N | N | 100 |
1999 | N | N | 100 |
1998 | N | N | 100 |
1997 | N | N | 100 |
1996 | N | N | 100 |
1995 | N | N | 100 |
1994 | N | N | 100 |
1993 (1990 controls)8 | N | N | 100 |
1993 (1980 controls)9 | N | N | 100 |
1992 | N | N | 100 |
1991 | N | N | 100 |
1990 | N | N | 100 |
1989 | N | N | 100 |
1988 | N | N | 100 |
1987 | N | N | 100 |
1986 | N | N | 100 |
1985 | N | N | 100 |
1984 | N | N | 100 |
1983 | N | N | 100 |
1982 | N | N | 100 |
1981 | N | N | 100 |
197610 | N | N | 100 |
197110 | N | N | 100 |
1970 | N | N | 100 |
1969 | N | N | 100 |
1968 | N | N | 100 |
1967 | N | N | 100 |
1966 | N | N | 100 |
1965 | N | N | 100 |
1964 | N | N | 100 |
1963 | N | N | 100 |
1962 | N | N | 100 |
1961 | N | N | 100 |
1960 | N | N | 100 |
1959 | N | N | 100 |
1958 | N | N | 100 |
1957 | N | N | 100 |
1956 | N | N | 100 |
1955 | N | N | 100 |
1954 | N | N | 100 |
1953 | N | N | 100 |
1952 | N | N | 100 |
1951 | N | N | 100 |
1950 | N | N | 100 |
1949 | N | N | 100 |
1948 | N | N | 100 |
Footnotes | |||
Estimates may not sum to totals due to rounding. Percentages may be derived from numeric estimates rounded to the thousands place. | |||
1 Population controls consistent with 2020 Census. | |||
2 Population controls consistent with 2010 Census. | |||
3 The source of 2014 data for this table is the CPS ASEC sample of 98,000 addresses. The 2014 CPS ASEC included redesigned questions for income and health insurance coverage. Refer to Migration/Geographic Mobility User Notes for more information. | |||
4 Population controls consistent with 2000 Census. | |||
5 Caution should be used when comparing numbers/rates of movers within the same county and from a different county between the 2000 to 2005 period with other periods. For more information, refer to the Impact of Processing on CPS Interstate Migration Rates note. | |||
6 The migration question wording changed in 2004. Before 2004, it asked about Residence on March 1 of the previous year. As of 2004, it asked about residence one year ago. Refer to Migration/Geographic Mobility User Notes for more information. | |||
7 State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) sample expansion | population controls consistent with 2000 Census. | ||
8 Population controls consistent with 1990 Census. | |||
9 Population controls consistent with 1980 Census. | |||
10 One-year geographic mobility estimates are not included for 1972 through 1975 and 1977 to 1980 because only 1971 and 1976 ask a comparable one-year question. Refer to Migration/Geographic Mobility User Notes for more information. | |||
Source | U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement 1948-2022 (CPS ASEC). |
Data sources
* moves in respective previous year, includes intrastate moves, interstate moves and moves from abroad/Puerto Rico/U.S. Islands Of the population 1 year old and over