How many digital nomads are there in the world?

An attempt to measure the immeasurable

How many digital nomads are there in the world?

This question has been on my mind since I decided to become a nomad. I've always suspected the numbers are overestimated —I find it hard to believe there are 2 million Brazilian nomads. Being a nomad or long-term traveler feels like the exception to the exception.

To dig deeper into this, I invited my fellow journalist Carolina Muniz, who uncovered some fascinating data.

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Estimates suggest there are between 40 million and 80 million digital nomads worldwide.

However, it’s difficult to determine if these numbers are overestimated or underestimated, according to Denise Quatrin, a professor at FGV-EAESP (Fundação Getulio Vargas’ School of Business Administration). “We can use them as a reference, but it’s important to be aware of their limitations”, she says.

The highest estimate comes from Nomads.com, a paid community for digital nomads with about 35.000 members —meaning those who don’t subscribe aren’t included. Based on the platform’s calculations, there are over 80 million digital nomads globally in 30 countries.

The United States leads the rankings with about 40 million people. The UK and Russia take second and third place with 6 million and 4 million, respectively. Brazil ranks seventh, with just over 2 million.

However, the 2024 MBO Partners Report indicates a significantly lower figure for Americans identifying as digital nomads: 18.1 million, or 11% of the U.S. workforce.

In 2023, a report from the World Youth Student and Educational Travel Confederation (WYSETC) estimated there were over 40 million digital nomads globally that year, with projections suggesting the number could reach 60 million by 2030.

Challenges in estimating the numbers

One major limitation of these estimates is the lack of a clear definition of what it means to be a digital nomad. Many studies rely on self-reporting, which can lead to respondents misunderstanding or not fully fitting the concept.

Portuguese researcher Daniela Teixeira observed this in her study on the topic. Many interviewees who identified as digital nomads later admitted they only aspired to the lifestyle and had yet to embrace it fully. Teixeira, who is pursuing a master’s degree in human resource development at the University Institute of Lisbon, highlighted this discrepancy in her research.

According to Quatrin, a digital nomad can be understood as someone who is constantly on the move while working remotely via the Internet. “They relocate their home and work frequently. How frequently is still unclear, but the expectation is that this experience lies somewhere between being a tourist and a permanent resident.”

Another issue is that most studies on digital nomadism focus on the United States, potentially delimiting the data toward Americans.

“I think this is more related to the number of studies conducted [in the U.S.]”, says Teixeira.

She notes that many responses came from Brazilians and Spaniards while reaching out to digital nomads globally. “But this could also be due to a greater willingness to answer surveys,” she adds.

Quatrin agrees that the methodology behind the studies may overrepresent Americans. However, she also believes the number of digital nomads in the U.S. is genuinely significant. “I’m cautious about making claims without sufficient evidence, but I think we have strong indicators to believe that the estimates of Americans leading in digital nomad numbers are accurate.”

Factors that might explain this include the strength of the U.S. passport, the power of the dollar, and younger generations’ growing desire for experiences over material possessions.

Visa numbers and other challenges

Despite the fragility of existing estimates, there are currently no viable alternatives for measuring the scale of digital nomadism globally. Relying on digital nomad visa numbers like those issued by Portugal, the Bahamas, and Indonesia would be complicated. These figures wouldn’t account for individuals traveling within their home countries or those who don’t need visas for many destinations.

Brazil introduced a digital nomad visa for foreign nationals in January 2022. That year, 307 visas were issued, rising to 497 in 2023. Between January 1 and August 25, 2024, 207 visas were granted.

How the return to in-person work has affected numbers

With the end of the pandemic, many companies required employees to return to the office, at least a few days a week, which primarily impacted digital nomads with traditional jobs.

According to the MBO Partners 2024 Report, this group grew more than threefold in the U.S. since early 2020 but has seen a 5% decline for the second consecutive year. Contrarily, independent digital nomads increased by 20% in 2024, following a 14% rise the previous year.

The appeal of the digital nomad lifestyle continues to attract traditional employees, many of whom adopt it part-time. Instead of traveling the world, these “anchored nomads” stay within reach of their offices to return when needed.

Overall, the report shows that the number of Americans identifying as digital nomads rose by 4.7% compared to the previous year, representing a 147% increase since 2019.

Future growth in digital nomadism

Quatrin believes the number of digital nomads will continue to grow globally in the coming years. She highlights how the pandemic demonstrated the viability of remote work and brought greater attention to mental health in the workplace.

“The pandemic saw a massive wave of resignations. These, combined with increased awareness of well-being, led many people to seek a life change. In many cases, this drove them toward digital nomadism”, she explains, noting the rise in entrepreneurship and freelancing during this period.

“When it comes to younger generations, research clearly shows that well-being and quality of life are valued more than financial returns or salary. This strongly indicates that digital nomadism will remain a popular trend”, she concludes.

Photo by Johnson Wang on Unsplash