Digital nomad research summary. Remote work has allowed countless people to adopt a digital nomad lifestyle. These workers populate the globe, taking calls, coding, and writing documents in idyllic locations. We’ve gathered all the latest digital nomad statistics, and according to our extensive research:
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There are 35 million digital nomads globally.
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The average age of a digital nomad is 32 years old.
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80% of digital nomads are highly satisfied with their work, compared to only 59% of non-nomads.
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The number of digital nomads in the US has increased by almost 140% (10 million new nomads!) since 2019.
For further analysis, we broke down the data in the following ways: Popularity of Digital Nomads | Where Do Digital Nomads Work? | Digital Nomads’ Income | Digital Nomads’ Demographics
American digital nomad statistics
The US has been a major digital nomad hotspot in recent years, with a large share of workers with this lifestyle being from the US. Here are some interesting US-based digital nomad statistics we’ve gathered:
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There are currently 17.3 million digital nomads in the US.
That’s approximately half of all digital normals on earth, meaning the US is a popular destination for these workers.
Number of digital nomads in the US over time
Year Number of digital nomads 2019 7.3M 2020 10.9M 2021 15.5M 2022 16.9M 2023 17.3M -
10 million more workers have become US digital nomads since 2019.
As of 2023, the number of digital nomads in the US has more than doubled. The most significant increase occurred between 2020 and 2021, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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17% of American digital nomads are VanLifers.
Roughly 1.9 million Americans live and work out of their vehicles in 2023. No wonder there are so many VanLife YouTube Channels.
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19 million Americans aspire to be digital nomads.
That’s an 18% increase from 2019, showing the increase in interest over time. Additionally, 45 million Americans suggested they might want to become digital nomads in the future.
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47% of American digital nomads are millennials.
Millennials constitute almost half of all digital nomads in the US, with Gen X being the second-largest demographic at 23%.
US digital nomads by generation
Generation Share of digital nomads Gen Z 17% Millennials 47% Gen X 23% Baby Boomers 13%
Popularity of digital nomads
With the explosion of digital nomads over the past few years, the popularity of the lifestyle is easy to see. To learn more about how popular this type of work has become, here are some interesting facts about it:
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58 countries offer digital nomad visas.
Mexico and Indonesia are rated as some of the best countries to work in if you’re a digital nomad. Here’s a comprehensive list of the top ten countries:
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Mexico
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Indonesia
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Taiwan
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Portugal
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Spain
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UAE
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Vietnam
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Thailand
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Australia
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Singapore
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Digital nomads generate $787 billion for the global economy annually.
That’s just $100 billion shy of what the entire dairy industry contributes to the global economy each year, and believe us; there are far more cows on this planet than digital nomads.
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Global digital nomads increased by 131% between 2019-2023.
Similar to the American numbers, digital nomads globally have grown significantly since before the pandemic.
Where do digital nomads work?
With the freedom to work almost anywhere in the world, many digital nomads develop preferences for certain countries and cities. To learn more about which areas have attracted the most digital nomads, we’ve gathered some telling insights:
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51% of digital nomads stay in hotels.
Hotels are a popular option when digital nomads won’t be staying in the same location for very long. However, other common accommodations they chose include staying with friends and family (41%), Airbnb (36%), vans (21%), and hostels (16%).
Most popular accommodations among digital nomads
Accommodation Share of digital nomads Hotel 51% Friends and family Airbnb 36% Van 21% Hostel 16% -
London is the most visited city among digital nomads.
2.39% of all digital nomads (over 836,000 people) have visited London. Other popular cities include:
Most popular cities among digital nomads
City Share of digital nomads London, UK 2.39% Bangkok, Thailand 1.93% New York City, US 1.62% Berlin, Germany 1.58% Paris, France 1.54% Lisbon, Portugal 1.51% Barcelona, Spain 1.46% Amsterdam, Netherlands 1.34% San Fransisco, US 1.27% Chaing Mai, Thailand 1.10% -
39% of digital nomads stay in one location for less than 2 weeks.
Digital nomads spend a surprisingly small amount of time in one location. Only 12% spend 3 months or more in one location.
Average length of stay in one location for digital nomads
Length of stay in one location Share of digital nomads Less than 1 week 17% 1-2 weeks 22% 3-4 weeks 11% 1-2 months 11% 3+ months 12% Varied 27%
Digital nomad income statistics
You might be wondering what the average digital nomad’s income is, given how often they travel. Though the lifestyle can be expensive, the lack of a mortgage and other responsibilities can also make up for travel expenses. Either way, here are some insights:
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43% of digital nomads are freelancers.
Freelancing provides more flexibility, making it popular among digital nomads. Conversely, only 5% of digital nomads work traditional part-time jobs.
Digital nomads by type of work
Type of work Share of digital nomads Freelance 43% Full-time 29% Self-employed 21% Part-time 5% Other 2% -
58% of digital nomads make less than $100,000 per year.
It may be surprising to hear that just over half of all digital nomads have fairly modest incomes. Only 9% make over $250,000 per year.
Average income of digital nomads
Income range Share of digital nomads Less than $25k 7% $25k-$50k 17% $50k-$100k 34% $100k-$250k 33% $250k+ 9% -
Digital nomads earn an average of 10-15% more than their office counterparts.
Though most digital nomads have modest incomes, they earn more than their non-mobile counterparts on average.
Digital nomad demographics
There are digital nomads of all genders, ages, and ethnicities all over the globe, but there are also trends that can easily be pointed out. Here are those demographic trends outlined:
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46.5% of digital nomads are in their 30s.
The 30s are a popular time to adopt the lifestyle, with over half of all digital nomads in that age range. On the other hand, only 4% are 60+ years old.
Digital nomads by age
Age range Share of digital nomads 20-29 13.9% 30-39 46.5% 40-49 15.8% 50-59 18.8% 60+ 4.0% -
51% of digital nomads are men.
Men are slightly more likely to be represented among the digital nomad population, with 51% of workers being male and 49% female.
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60% of digital nomads are White.
Despite constituting only 11.5% of the global population, approximately 60% of all digital nomads are White. The other 40% is divided up among multiple races and ethnicities, including:
Digital nomads by race/ethnicity
Race/ethnicity Share of digital nomads White 60% Asian 13% Latino 12% Black 7% Indian 5% Middle Eastern 3% Pacific 1%
Digital Nomad FAQ
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What are digital nomads?
Digital nomads are workers who utilize the flexibility of their online jobs to travel. Digital nomads will work in various locations from less than a week to several months before moving on to the next location.
With the rise of digital nomad YouTubers, TikTokers, and other Vloggers, digital nomadism has become a popular and sought-after lifestyle choice.
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How common are digital nomads?
Digital nomads are surprisingly common, with 35 million worldwide and 17.3 million in the US. With 157 million workers in the US, digital nomads constitute roughly 11% of the total workforce. That means 1 in 10 workers you meet in the US are likely digital nomads.
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Is 30 too old to be a digital nomad?
No, 30 is not too old to be a digital nomad. In fact, 46.5% of digital nomads are in their 30s, larger than any other age group. Believe it or not, 38.6% of all digital nomads are 40+, meaning you can choose the lifestyle at any age.
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Are digital nomads rich?
No, the majority of digital nomads have average incomes. 58% make less than $100,000 per year, with only 9% making over $250,000. Digital nomads are most likely to make between $50,000 and $100,000 annually (34%).
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Do digital nomads pay US taxes?
Yes, digital nomads with jobs based in the US or US citizenship will still have to pay US taxes, regardless of where they’re located. For US citizens, filing taxes is obligatory even if you don’t earn an income in the US. Taxable income for digital nomads includes:
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Wages
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Interest
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Dividends
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Rental Income
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What are the downsides of being a digital nomad?
One of the biggest downsides of being a digital nomad is also the main upside, which is not having a home. Not having a home allows you to travel as much as you want, wherever you want, without the burden of a mortgage. However, the lack of a home can also lead to feelings of homesickness, loneliness, and stress.
Here are a few other downsides to being a digital nomad:
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Poor work-life balance. When you’re in a new place for the first time, you’ll want to explore, but because you have the same work obligations, finding balance can be difficult. This can result in burnout for digital nomads.
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You need Wi-Fi. Digital nomads can’t just work anywhere, as their online positions require them to connect to the internet. Some locations have better Wi-Fi than others, limiting travel options.
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Lack of stability. Even if bouncing from one location to the next can be exciting and fun, the lack of stability can also be stressful. Humans crave routine and scheduling, which may not be possible with a digital nomad lifestyle.
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Loneliness. Constantly traveling alone to countries where you may not know anyone or even speak the language can be lonely.
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Conclusion
The digital nomad lifestyle has exploded in popularity within the past few years. Between 2019-2023, 10 million more workers became digital nomads in the US. Now, at 17.3 million strong in the US and 35 million worldwide, these workers are a major part of the global economy.
Becoming a digital nomad is now easier than ever, with 58 countries offering digital nomad visas to workers. And, with the majority of digital nomads earning less than $100,000 per year, it’s more than possible for the average worker to adopt the lifestyle.
References
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Forbes – Digital Nomadism Continues To Grow, Despite The “Back To The Office” Trend
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Statista – Number of digital nomads in the United States from 2019 to 2023
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BBC – Companies are helping people realise the work-from-anywhere dream. Business is booming.
Author
Jack Flynn is a writer for Zippia. In his professional career he’s written over 100 research papers, articles and blog posts. Some of his most popular published works include his writing about economic terms and research into job classifications. Jack received his BS from Hampshire College.
