18.5 million Americans identified as digital nomads in 2025, about 12% of the US workforce, per MBO Partners. Worldwide, estimates range from 40 to 80 million people. This article compiles verified digital nomad statistics on population, income, demographics, visas, destinations, and jobs, with every figure tied to a named source from 2024 to 2026.
Digital Nomad Statistics – TL;DR
- 40 to 80 million digital nomads work worldwide as of 2025, per MBO Partners and Nomads.com.
- Digital nomads spend $787 billion a year collectively, according to ABrotherAbroad’s global study.
- The average digital nomad earns $124,157 a year; the median is $85,000 (Nomad List 2025).
- 69 countries offered a dedicated digital nomad visa as of September 2025 (Freaking Nomads).
- 89% of digital nomads use AI in their work, per MBO Partners 2025.
The digital nomad statistics below cover the US growth curve since 2019, generation and gender splits, income brackets, the top-ranked visa countries led by Spain, and the industries nomads work in.
How Many Digital Nomads Are There in 2026?
MBO Partners puts the global count at 40 million; Nomads.com estimates up to 80 million. The gap exists because most nomads never register their status with any government, a measurement problem both MBO Partners and a 2025 Marmara University study flag.
The US accounts for 44% of the global total, per MBO Partners. Global Citizen Solutions projects around 60 million nomads by 2030, and Nomad List founder Pieter Levels has projected 1 billion by 2035.
| Metric | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Global population (low estimate) | 40 million | MBO Partners 2025 |
| Global population (high estimate) | 80 million | Nomads.com |
| Projected population by 2030 | ~60 million | Global Citizen Solutions |
| Collective annual spending | $787 billion | ABrotherAbroad |
| US share of global population | 44% | MBO Partners |
Source: MBO Partners 2025 Digital Nomads Trends Report; Nomads.com; Global Citizen Solutions; ABrotherAbroad First Global Digital Nomad Study
The $787 billion in annual spending covers housing, coworking, transport, food, and services. That footprint exceeds the GDP of Belgium or Norway.
US Digital Nomad Growth Statistics 2019-2025
The US nomad population grew 153% between 2019 and 2025, from 7.3 million to 18.5 million, per MBO Partners’ annual panel study. Growth has cooled from the +49% pandemic spike in 2020 to +2.2% in 2025.
| Year | US Digital Nomads (millions) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 7.3 | Baseline |
| 2020 | 10.9 | +49% |
| 2021 | 15.5 | +42% |
| 2022 | 16.9 | +9% |
| 2023 | 17.3 | +2% |
| 2024 | 18.1 | +4.6% |
| 2025 | 18.5 | +2.2% |
Source: MBO Partners 2025 State of Independence Report
Within the 2025 total, 11.2 million nomads hold traditional employer-based jobs, up 10% from 2024. Independent workers and freelancers fell 7% to 7.3 million, the first year employees decisively outnumber independents.
The employee-led shift tracks the wider labor market, where 22.1% of US employees teleworked in August 2025 and hybrid arrangements have held steady despite return-to-office mandates from large employers.
Digital Nomad Demographics: Age, Generation, and Gender
Millennials make up 40% of digital nomads and Gen Z 35%, per MBO Partners 2025. The average nomad is 36 years old, based on Nomad List’s panel.
| Segment | 2025 Share |
|---|---|
| Gen Z (13-28) | 35% |
| Millennials (29-44) | 40% |
| Gen X (45-60) | 19% |
| Baby Boomers (61+) | 6% |
Source: MBO Partners 2025
Baby Boomer share fell from 11% in 2024 to 6% in 2025 as that cohort exits the workforce. The pattern mirrors age splits in broader US workforce and job market data, where telework access peaks among prime-age workers.
Gender Split by Panel
Nomad List records 78% male and 22% female; MBO Partners’ broader US sample shows 59% male and 41% female. Nomad List over-indexes on software developers, which skews its panel male, but both sources agree the female share has risen every year since 2019.
Source: Nomad List 2025 State of Digital Nomads; MBO Partners 2024
How Much Do Digital Nomads Earn?
The average digital nomad income is $124,157 a year and the median is $85,000, per Nomad List 2025. The average sits well above the 2024 US median household income of about $80,000 reported by the US Census Bureau.
| Annual Income Bracket | Share of Nomads |
|---|---|
| Under $25,000 | 6% |
| $25,000 – $50,000 | 15% |
| $50,000 – $100,000 | 34% |
| $100,000 – $250,000 | 35% |
| $250,000 – $1 million | 9% |
| Over $1 million | 2% |
Source: Nomad List 2025 State of Digital Nomads
MBO Partners records 17% of US nomads under $25,000, versus Nomad List’s 6%. The difference comes down to sampling: MBO includes part-time and seasonal nomads inside the US, while Nomad List tracks full-time international travelers.
Men earn an average of $126,000 versus $114,000 for women, a 9.5% gap per Nomad List. 81% of nomads report satisfaction with their income (MBO Partners 2025).
Best Countries for Digital Nomads in 2025
Spain ranks first on the VisaGuide Digital Nomad Visa Index 2025 with a perfect 5.00 score, ahead of the UAE at 4.48. Spain also tops Global Citizen Solutions’ separate 2025 ranking, which places the Netherlands second and puts seven European countries in the top ten.
| Rank | Country | Score (out of 5) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | 5.00 |
| 2 | United Arab Emirates | 4.48 |
| 3 | Montenegro | 4.15 |
| 4 | Bahamas | 4.10 |
| 5 | Hungary | 3.98 |
Source: VisaGuide Digital Nomad Visa Index 2025
Spain wins on the Beckham Law’s 24% flat tax on foreign income, a 5-year renewable visa, and Schengen access. The UAE scores second on a 0% income tax rate.
By actual visits, Statista’s June 2025 data ranks the US first, with Thailand and Spain tied at 5% each. London, Bangkok, and New York City lead the city ranking.
Digital Nomad Visa Statistics
69 countries offered a dedicated digital nomad visa as of September 2025, per Freaking Nomads. 91% of those programs launched after 2020; only six existed before Estonia’s 2020 scheme (Global Citizen Solutions).
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Countries with a nomad visa (Sept 2025) | 69 |
| Visas launched after 2020 | 91% |
| Portugal D8 visas issued by end of 2024 | 2,600+ |
| Typical minimum monthly income | $1,500 – $5,000 |
| Portugal D8 minimum monthly income | €3,680 |
| Japan / South Korea annual requirement | €57,000 – €60,000 |
Source: Freaking Nomads; Global Citizen Solutions; Portugal AIMA; SQ Magazine
The newest addition is the UAE’s Remote Working Visa, launched January 27, 2026: a 12-month renewable residency permit with no local sponsor requirement, per SQ Magazine.
What Jobs Do Digital Nomads Do?
IT and technology leads at 19% of nomads, followed by creative services and media at 14%, per MBO Partners. Education and marketing tie at 9% each.
| Industry | Share of Nomads |
|---|---|
| IT and Technology | 19% |
| Creative Services and Media | 14% |
| Education | 9% |
| Marketing | 9% |
| Finance | 8% |
| Consulting, Coaching, and Research | 7% |
Source: MBO Partners 2025
On Nomad List’s panel, software developers account for 35% of male nomads, with web developers and startup founders at 28% each. Tech and finance carry the highest pay, which pulls the aggregate income far above domestic US medians.
AI, Coworking, and Connectivity
89% of digital nomads use AI in their work, per MBO Partners 2025. That runs well above the 30-60% adoption range reported for enterprise knowledge workers by SQ Magazine, and above the usage rates in wider work-from-home productivity research.
Global coworking spaces reached about 42,000 by the end of 2024, per FMC Group, roughly double the 2019 count. Asia-Pacific leads growth on expansion in India, China, and Japan.
Toulouse, the top-rated nomad city on Nomad List, posts a 128 Mbps median download speed. South Korea’s national median is 57 Mbps and Spain’s is 50 Mbps.
Nomads also produce 74% less CO2 than the average American, based on Plumia data cited by Nomad Almanac.
Digital Nomad Satisfaction and Future Growth
82% of nomads report being highly satisfied with their work and another 12% satisfied, per MBO Partners 2025. On income, 41% are very satisfied and 40% satisfied.
14 million Americans plan to become nomads within 2-3 years, and another 51 million are considering it. That 65 million aspirational pool covers about 40% of the US workforce.
Historic conversion rates of 6-8% suggest 4 to 5 million will follow through by 2028, which would push the US total past 22 million. The runway depends on how hybrid work policies and the wider shifts tracked in future of work data play out.
Source: MBO Partners 2025
FAQs
How many digital nomads are there in 2026?
Between 40 and 80 million worldwide, per MBO Partners and Nomads.com. The US accounts for 18.5 million, about 12% of its workforce.
How much does the average digital nomad earn?
$124,157 per year on average, with a median of $85,000, per Nomad List 2025. 34% earn $50,000-$100,000 and 35% earn $100,000-$250,000.
Which country is best for digital nomads?
Spain ranks first on both the VisaGuide 2025 index (5.00/5) and the Global Citizen Solutions report, on a 24% flat tax, a 5-year visa, and Schengen access.
How many countries offer digital nomad visas?
69 countries as of September 2025, per Freaking Nomads. 91% of these programs launched after Estonia opened the first major scheme in 2020.
What jobs do most digital nomads have?
IT and technology leads at 19%, followed by creative services and media at 14%, then education and marketing at 9% each, per MBO Partners 2025.
Sources
https://www.mbopartners.com/state-of-independence/digital-nomads/
