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Digital Nomad Statistics 2023: Statistics, Trends, Demographics, & More
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In an era defined by technological advancements and the pursuit of a flexible work-life balance, the concept of being a digital nomad has gained significant traction. Breaking free from the traditional confines of a nine-to-five office job, individuals are now embracing a location-independent lifestyle that allows them to work remotely while exploring the world. The rise of digital nomadism has not only revolutionized the way people perceive work, but has also presented unique opportunities and challenges for both individuals and the global economy.
In this report, we take a deeper look at the digital nomad movement through a comprehensive analysis of relevant statistics. By delving into the latest research and surveys conducted within the community, we will uncover key insights into the global distribution of digital nomads, the most popular destinations, the industries they represent, and the economic impact they generate.
Key Digital Nomad Statistics
- By the second half of 2022, an estimated 16.9 million Americans identified as digital nomads
- 46% of digital nomads are millennials
- 59% of digital nomads are college-educated
- The number of digital nomads has increased by 131% since the Covid-19 pandemic
- 43 countries currently offer digital nomad visas
- Albania is the most affordable country for digital nomads to live in
- 36% of digital nomads earn between $100,000 and $250,000 per year
- 81% of nomads are “highly satisfied” with their lifestyle
General Digital Nomad Statistics
✅ By the second half of 2022, an estimated 16.9 million Americans identified as digital nomads.
The digital nomad movement is on the rise, with nearly 17 million in the US alone, and it shows no signs of slowing any time soon.1
✅ Globally, 64% of freelancers have opted for the nomadic lifestyle, in order to pursue their dreams of traveling the world.
Nearly two-thirds of freelancers identify as digital nomads, due to the wide range of benefits that come with their careers, such as fully-remote work and the freedom to travel the world while working full-time.2
✅ 36% of professionals would choose the ability to travel while working remotely over a pay raise.
The desire to live the nomad lifestyle is so strong that more than a third of the professionals surveyed would decline a pay raise in order to keep traveling. Many also said that they would prefer to take a 10% pay cut over giving up their digital nomad privileges.11
✅ Digital nomads and remote workers are reportedly 35-40% more productive.
According to reports by companies like Best Buy, British Telecom, and Dow Chemical, their nomad employees are considerably more productive than their in-office counterparts.11
✅ 51% of digital nomads are homeowners.
More than half of those living and traveling abroad are homeowners, either in their home country or in one of their preferred travel destinations.
Digital Nomad Demographics
✅ 46% of digital nomads are millennials.
The nomad lifestyle has become increasingly popular amongst the younger generations, and the majority are millennials (born between 1981 and 1996).6
✅ More than half of digital nomads are married.
51% of nomads are currently married to their partners. While the majority travel with their spouse, many will do so without them due to caretaking responsibilities or one of them having a job that requires them to be physically present.6
✅ 76% of nomads are White.
The ethnicities of digital nomads are 76% White, 18% Black or African American, 8% Hispanic, 4% Asian, and 3% are from other backgrounds.6
✅ 59% of digital nomads are college-educated.
59% of US nomads report having a bachelor’s degree or higher (compared to 35% of American adults) and 26% report having an advanced degree (compared to 13% of American adults).6
✅ More than half of nomads identify as men.
Men account for roughly 58% of digital nomads worldwide.7
Covid-19 & The Digital Nomad Movement
✅ The number of digital nomads has increased by 131% since the Covid-19 pandemic.
There are currently 16.9 million Americans who describe themselves as digital nomads, an increase of 9% from 2021 and an incredible 131% from the pre-pandemic year 2019.6
✅ The number of independent workers who identify as digital nomads has also increased since 2019.
The number of independent workers who identify as nomads, such as freelancers and independent contractors, increased by 5%.6
✅ In 2022, 66% of digital nomads were employed full-time.
Pre-pandemic, only 44% of nomads were employed full-time. However, with the rise of remote work, that number has increased to 66%.6
Digital Nomad Destinations & Nationalities
✅ The majority of nomads are US citizens.
Americans currently make up about 47% of the global digital nomad population.8
✅ Only 7% of digital nomads are from the United Kingdom.
UK citizens make up the second largest group of digital nomads by nationality, at only 7%. The third largest group is Russia with 5%, followed by Canada with 4%.12
✅ 43 countries currently offer digital nomad visas.
Many countries have taken advantage of the increasing prevalence of remote work by offering visas specifically for remote workers looking to live abroad while working online. As of 2023, 43 countries are offering these types of visas, such as Portugal and Estonia.3
✅ Albania is the most affordable country for digital nomads to live in.
With an average monthly living cost of only $365, Albania is by far the cheapest option for travelers. Other affordable countries for digital nomads to live in include Thailand, Spain, and New Zealand.4
✅ Mexico is the most popular destination for digital nomads.
Possibly due to its close proximity to the USA, Mexico has become a digital nomad hotspot. Following the number one spot are Indonesia, Taiwan, Portugal, Spain, and the UAE.10
✅ Barbados is the least popular country among digital nomads.
Nomads rated Barbados as their least-favorite travel destination, followed by Moldova, Malta, Ireland, and Chile.12
✅ Nomads spend an average of 8 months in each country.
Digital nomads who travel internationally tend to spend an average of 231 days, or around eight months, in each country that they visit.12
Digital Nomad Career & Income Statistics
✅ 36% of digital nomads earn between $100,000 and $250,000 per year.
An estimated 36% of nomads worldwide make $100,000-$250,000 a year, which is around $8,300 to $20,800 per month.5
✅ 45% of nomads earn more than $75,000 per year.
Nearly half of nomads worldwide earn upwards of $75,000 yearly, across all industries and nationalities.6
✅ There is a digital nomad gender pay gap.
13% of male digital nomads earn a six-figure salary, compared to only 8% of women. However, this could be due to a difference in industries between men and women.9
✅ The average yearly income for digital nomads is $123,565.
Digital nomads generally earn more than traditional employees. This could be due to more nomads being business owners or CEOs.12
Digital Nomad Lifestyle
✅ 81% of nomads are “highly satisfied” with their lifestyle.
In terms of their work and lifestyle, 81% of nomads report being “highly satisfied” and 11% report being “satisfied.” Only 3% report being dissatisfied. In contrast, 68% of non-digital nomads report being highly satisfied with their work and lifestyle, while 14% report being just satisfied.6
✅ ‘Van Lifers’ have surged in popularity.
‘Van Lifers’ are the fastest-growing digital nomad segment, increasing by 19% in 2022 to 3.1 million. This is up from 2.6 million in 2021 and just 1.9 million in 2020.6
✅ Veteran digital nomads are more likely to stay that way.
Those who have worked remotely for more than 7 years are far more intent on doing so until the end of their careers than those who are in their first year.9
Digital Nomad Challenges
✅ 34% of digital nomads are worried about their personal safety.
The most prevalent challenge reported by nomads is worrying about their own personal safety in unfamiliar destinations.6
✅ 32% of digital nomads struggle being away from their loved ones.
The second most common challenge among nomads was leaving behind their friends and family.6
✅ 30% of nomads struggle with time zone differences.
Nearly a third of nomads reported that differing time zones between themselves and their clients or colleagues made work difficult.6
✅ 26% of digital nomads report being lonely.
More than a quarter of nomads experience feelings of loneliness due to isolation and difficulty making connections while traveling.6
✅ 33% of digital nomads struggle to switch off after a work day.
A third of nomads find it difficult to balance their professional and personal lives and struggle to fully ‘switch off’ after a work day.9
Digital Nomads & Technology
✅ Digital nomads use technology to stay competitive.
81% of nomads leverage technology to make themselves more competitive in their work, compared to just 47% of non-digital nomads.6
✅ Digital nomads are more likely to be early adopters of technology.
74% of digital nomads report being willing to adopt new technologies into their workflows, as opposed to only 42% of their in-office counterparts.6
✅ 44% of nomads say that instant communication tools are “vital”.
44% of respondents said that real-time communication tools, such as Slack or WhatsApp, are essential for helping them to stay connected to clients and colleagues.9
✅ More tools are needed, according to 47% of digital nomads.
Nearly half of nomads think that there is room for more tools and software to be developed to help them manage their workflows.9
Digital Nomad Careers
✅ The majority of digital nomads work in the information sector.
21% of nomads worldwide work in the information sector, with jobs like software development, data administration, and business analytics.6
✅ 12% of nomads work in a creative field.
An estimated 12% of digital nomads work in a creative field, such as graphic design, animation, copywriting, and UX design.6
✅ 43% of nomads are freelance.
Freelancers make up a large percentage of the digital nomad population, with 43% classifying as independent workers.9
Sources:
- Number of digital nomads in the U.S. 2022 | Statista
- Freelancer Survey 2023 – Market Insights, Data & Trends
- Countries granting digital nomad visas by region 2022 | Statista
- The 6 Cheapest Countries to Live in as a Freelancer
- Digital nomad income worldwide 2023 | Statista
- MBO Partners Digital Nomads Report
- Digital nomads by gender worldwide 2023 | Statista
- Top digital nomad nationalities worldwide 2023 | Statista
- Remote Work & Digital Nomads Study 2018 – The Anywhere Workers
- The Best & Worst Places for Expats in 2022 | InterNations
- Costs and Benefits – Global Workplace Analytics – Agile Work, and More
- 2023 State of Digital Nomads
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