Digital Nomad Visa Guides Digital Nomad Statistics for 2024
Did you know there are over 40 million digital nomads worldwide in 2024 — 17.3 million in the US alone?
Or, that most of them are Millennials who earn around $122,859 a year on average?
Do you know why digital nomads produce 76% less CO2 than the average American?
Or, why the majority of digital nomads have visited the US, Spain, and Thailand in 2024?
If the digital nomad lifestyle seems appealing to you and you want to learn more about future trends in digital nomadism, keep reading.
We bring you the most interesting figures about digital nomads, including the statistics on the:
- Digital nomad demographics,
- Best countries for digital nomads,
- Digital nomad lifestyle, and
- Future trends in digital nomadism.
Let’s get started!
- 40 million people in the world right now are digital nomads.
- 37% of digital nomads are Millennials.
- 62% of digital nomads identify as male.
- 46% of digital nomads are American.
- 91% of digital nomads report having a higher education.
- 62% of digital nomads hold traditional full-time positions.
- 70% of digital nomads work 40 hours or less per week.
- 60% of digital nomads work from a home office.
- 77% of digital nomads report being early adopters of technology.
- 82% of digital nomads report feeling very satisfied with their income.
Table of Contents
What is a digital nomad?
In their research report The Digital Nomad: Buzzword or research category, Müller defines digital nomads in the following way:
“The term “digital nomad” describes people who no longer rely on work in a conventional office; instead, they can decide freely when and where to work. They can essentially work anywhere, as long as they have their laptop with them and access to a good internet connection. This means that their workplace might be in a shared office in Berlin, Germany for one month, and a month later they will be working on the same project in a café in Chiang Mai, Thailand.”
The term was originally coined by Tsugio Makimoto and David Manners in their 1997 book titled Digital Nomad, which pretty accurately predicted the nomadic lifestyle we are now witnessing.
The definition and evolution of digital nomadism can’t be separated from the development of technology. The paper The History of Digital Nomadism helps us trace the evolution of the term, noting, for example, how the first telecommuting jobs gave rise to the first surge of backpackers in Thailand in the 1980s.
It’s also important to note that the term digital nomad might be entirely replaced by the term “location-independent entrepreneur”, which communicates all the nuances that make up the lifestyle more accurately.
The difference between digital nomads, remote workers, and expats
The term digital nomad is often confused with two other similar terms — remote workers and expats.
To best illustrate the difference between digital nomads, remote workers, and expats, we can take a look at the scalar definition of the term digital nomad developed by Ina Reichenberger in the article Digital Nomads — a quest for holistic freedom in work and leisure:
“Digital nomads are individuals who achieve location independence by:
- Conducting their work in an online environment,
- Transferring this independence to mobility by not consistently working in one designated personal office space, but
- Using the possibility to simultaneously work and travel to the extent that no permanent residence exists.”
Therefore, as opposed to remote workers, which is a larger concept, the term digital nomad implies the element of travel.
And, in contrast with expats — digital nomads don’t strive for a permanent residence nor do they work for a company registered in the country they’re staying in.
Free collaboration tool for remote teams
Easily communicate with your remote team in Pumble, no matter where you are working from.
Statistics on the number of digital nomads
Recent research on digital nomadism — Digital Nomads: Toward a Future Research Agenda — reminds us of the limitations in accurate assessment of the actual number of digital nomads, as:
- Digital nomads rarely inform their countries of origin about their plans to stay in other destinations (there are no legal requirements in most cases),
- Digital nomads rarely (need to) register in the countries they choose to stay in,
- There’s no clear proof as to whether digital nomads use any of the digital nomad visas available, and
- There’s even no consensus on the official definition of the term digital nomad.
That said, there are a few compelling surveys and studies indicating somewhat more precise numbers.
Digital nomads are undeniably on the rise. According to MBO Partners’ research study, the number of digital nomads in the US is continually on the rise from 2019 onwards.
As expected, the pandemic had the biggest impact recently. The highest increase was noticed in 2020, which saw 10.9 million digital nomads, as opposed to 7.3 million in 2019 — a whopping 49% increase.
In 2021, the number of digital nomads increased 42% compared to 2020, with 15.5 million Americans identifying as digital nomads.
Although not as dramatically as in the first years of the pandemic, the numbers continued to grow steadily in 2022 when 16.9 million Americans said they identify as digital nomads. Data shows the total increase reached 131% from the pre-pandemic years (2019) to 2022.
Following the upward trend, 2023 saw a 2% increase in the number of American digital nomads compared to 2022 — which translates to around 17.3 million people currently identifying as digital nomads in the US.
Statistics on the rising number of traditional workers becoming digital nomads
Interestingly, traditional workers are increasingly becoming digital nomads. The latest MBO data shows an interesting trend with traditional workers who have joined the digital nomad tribe following the pandemic.
Namely, 66% of digital nomads in 2022 had traditional jobs (employed full time by a company), whereas only 44% of digital nomads held traditional jobs in 2019.
Another research by SafetyWing reveals similar data. When asked about the main reason for becoming digital nomads, 74.5% of digital nomads reported that the pandemic had the biggest impact on their decision to take the leap.
The trend saw a slight, 4% decline in 2023, mostly due to companies pushing for a more balanced hybrid approach. As a WFH report reveals, nearly 80% of Americans working traditional jobs reported having worked from the offices at least two days a week in 2023. This, naturally, limits the digital nomads among them from fully committing to the nomadic lifestyle.
At the same time, and most likely for the same reason, the share of independent workers (independent contractors, freelancers, etc.) going nomad increased by 14% in 2023. This is certainly a more significant increase than we saw in 2021, for example, when the number of independent workers becoming digital nomads increased only by 5%. As the MBO report suggests, the pandemic hasn’t had a larger impact on this group, as independent workers weren’t constrained to a single physical space before, so their lifestyle didn’t suffer any significant change during the pandemic.
Statistics on the popularity of digital nomadism
Digital nomadism is still a popular lifestyle. According to MBO insights, the digital nomad lifestyle has been becoming more and more popular among US citizens until last year.
The number of Americans keen on becoming digital nomads went from:
- 54 million in 2019, to
- 65 million in 2020, and
- up to 72 million in 2022.
What’s more, as much as 86.8% of respondents in a SafetyWing survey revealed that they would like to explore the digital nomad lifestyle.
However, MBO insights for 2023 reveal a slight decline in the digital nomad lifestyle among Americans. Namely, only 70 million adult Americans have expressed their plans to become digital nomads in the next two or 3 years, which is a 3% drop compared to 2022. These numbers are also aligned with the overall decrease in the number of digital nomads.
Statistics on the digital nomad demographics
In the early days of digital nomadism, we were able to paint a clear picture of what a typical digital nomad looks like. In most cases, this was a White man in his thirties freelancing in a creative (or creative-adjacent) field who is adventurous and loves the outdoors.
And, while most digital nomads still very much fall into at least some of these categories, we’re happy to see that the image typically associated with digital nomads is slowly starting to morph into a more diverse one.
That being said, let’s analyze the profile of an average digital nomad in 2024 and get all the details.
We will start with the general profile and continue with a more specific analysis of each category.
The anatomy of a typical digital nomad
According to the latest digital nomad statistics, this is the profile of a typical digital nomad in 2024:
- Around 35 years old,
- Male,
- White,
- Nonreligious,
- American,
- Progressive,
- Environmentally friendly,
- Has a bachelor’s degree,
- Works as a software developer,
- Works from a home office,
- Makes $122,859 per year on average,
- Works 40 or fewer hours a week,
- Loves coffee,
- Eats meat,
- Picks hiking as his favorite workout activity,
- Portimão (Portugal) is his favorite city, and
- Stays at a destination for 7 months on average.
Digital nomads are predominantly young and male
According to data from the tens of thousands of Nomad List members presented in The 2024 State of Digital Nomads report, most digital nomads are young people aged between 23 and 44, with the highest percentage of digital nomads being 35 years old (8%). Although there is some percentage of digital nomads in their early twenties and forties, the overwhelming majority of Nomad List members are in their thirties.
The nomadic lifestyle still appeals more to male nomads, with 62% of digital nomads identifying as male, as opposed to 38% of female digital nomads.
Similar data comes from MBO Partners, which consistently show a higher male-to-female ratio throughout the years — with 56% male and 43% female nomads in 2023.
MBO Partners have analyzed the demographic of digital nomads by generation over the last 4 years.
In 2020, there were:
- 42% of Millennials,
- 23% of Gen X,
- 19% of Gen Z, and
- 17% of Baby Boomers.
In 2021 and 2022, we can see a shift in younger generations and a drop in the percentage of older generations — understandable due to the higher risk of COVID-19. In 2023, Millennials still make up the highest percentage of digital nomads, however, we’re seeing more older and younger generations taking part.
In 2021:
- 44% of Millennials,
- 23% of Gen X,
- 21% of Gen Z, and
- 12% of Baby Boomers.
In 2022:
- 47% of Millennials,
- 23% of Gen X,
- 17% of Gen Z, and
- 13% of Baby Boomers.
In 2023:
- 37% of Millennials,
- 27% of Gen X,
- 21% of Gen Z, and
- 15% of Baby Boomers.
Digital nomads skew American and White
Nomad List members are predominantly American. In 2024, US citizens make up 46% of digital nomads on the platform, which is precisely 33,679,847 people.
UK nationals take the second spot with only a 7% share or 5,268,638 people. Next up are Russia, Canada, Germany, France, Brazil, Australia, the Netherlands, and Spain, all of which combined make up 25% of digital nomads surveyed by the Nomad List platform.
The same research shows that:
- Most digital nomads are White (59%), while
- The other 41% are Non-White with:
- 14% Asian,
- 12% Latin,
- 7% Black,
- 5% Indian,
- 3% Middle Eastern, and
- 1% Pacific.
MBO Partners’ reports show a consistent breakdown of digital nomads based on their ethnicity and race:
- Almost ¾ of digital nomads identify as White (73%),
- 18% as African American,
- 11% are Hispanic,
- 4% are Asian, and
- 3% are from another background (respondents were allowed to give more than one answer to this question).
Digital nomads are progressive and non-religious
The overwhelming majority of nomad women identify as progressive when it comes to their political preferences and affiliation, according to the Nomad List research. Almost ¾ of the nomad women (72%) are progressive in their politics.
Namely, 47% of nomad men and 72% of nomad women identify as progressive.
Out of 53% of non-progressive nomad men:
- 26% consider themselves libertarian,
- 21% are centrist, while
- 6% lean conservative.
When it comes to the 28% of non-progressive nomad women,
- 13% are libertarian,
- 12% are centrist, and
- 3% identify as conservative.
MBO Partners had a similar political breakdown of digital nomads:
- 51% identify as democrats,
- 24% are republicans, while
- 23% declare themselves independents.
The majority of digital nomad respondents in a Nomad List research identify as non-religious (54%).
Out of the 46% of digital nomads identifying as religious:
- 28% resonate with spirituality,
- 8% are Christians,
- 3% identify as Buddhists,
- 2% believe in astrology,
- 2% are adherents of Islam,
- 2% identify with Judaism,
- 1% are Hindus, and
- A little below 1% are Sikhs.
Statistics on digital nomads’ education and professional life
On average, digital nomads are well-educated, tech-savvy individuals who make a good living working from a home office.
Let’s take a look at a detailed breakdown of digital nomads by education and professional life.
Digital nomads are well-educated
Data from both Nomad List and MBO Partners shows that digital nomads are, by and large, well-educated.
Only 9% of the Nomad List respondents are high school graduates.
91% of digital nomads have a higher education, out of which:
- 54% of nomads have a Bachelor’s degree,
- 34% have a Master’s degree, and
- 3% have a Ph.D.
MBO Partners show similar stats:
- 52% of respondents report having a college degree or higher, and
- 18% say they have an advanced degree.
Digital nomads are independent workers
The Nomad List and MBO Partners have different findings regarding the type of employment most commonly present with digital nomad community members.
Namely, more than half of digital nomads (62%) now hold traditional full-time positions, according to MBO Partners.
The Nomad List, however, shows slightly different data for employment type among digital nomads.
According to this source, in 2024:
- 41% of digital nomads are employed full time,
- 18% report being freelancers,
- 16% of digital nomads are startup founders,
- 9% are full-time contractors,
- 8% are agency contractors,
- 5% answered “other” when asked about their employment type,
- 2% chose part-time employment, and
- 2% said part-time contractors.
Digital nomads work around 40 hours a week from a home office
When it comes to their favorite work background, as in prior years, most digital nomads in 2024 prefer a home office.
Nomad List finds out:
- 60% of digital nomads work from a home office,
- 15% of nomads choose coworking spaces most often,
- 8% like to work from a cafe,
- 6% work from an office,
- 4% choose a dining table,
- 3% prefer the couch,
- 2% bed,
- 1% like to work from a balcony,
- 1% of digital nomads work from a van,
- A little below 1% work from the kitchen, and
- The rest reported working from a pool, a boat, a garden, or a library.
The fact that most digital nomads prefer to work from a home office may have something to do with the fact that the majority of them own a home. Namely, contrary to popular belief, there are slightly more digital nomads who own a home than those who are not homeowners at the moment. According to the research by the Nomad List, 53% of digital nomads are homeowners, while 47% of respondents report not owning a home.
Digital nomads work less than the general workforce, however. A survey by FlexJobs reveals that most digital nomads (70%) spend 40 hours per week (or fewer) working. This means only one-third of digital nomads work more than 40 hours a week, compared to 86% of men and 67% of women non-digital nomads who work these hours.
Digital nomads are tech-savvy
Digital nomads statistics by MBO report that digital nomads have strong technical skills.
Namely, 79% of digital nomads rely on technology to be more competitive at their work, as opposed to 44% of non-digital nomads who do the same.
Moreover, 78% of digital nomads report their job depends on technology, which is true for only 56% of non-digital nomads.
Digital nomads also lead in the percentage of early adopters of technology — 77% (versus 43% of non-digital nomads) are likely to be early adopters of technology.
According to figures from previous years’ reports, digital nomads are also more skills-oriented than non-digital nomads:
- 73% of digital nomads (versus 53% of non-digital nomads) have participated in work-related skills training over the past years,
- 68% of digital nomads, as opposed to 47% of non-digital nomads, report their work requires specialized training, education, or expertise.
Digital nomads make a good living
Digital nomads make a decent living overall.
Nomad List members earn an average income of $122,859 per year, with a median of $85,000 per year in 2024, which shows a slight decline compared to last year’s numbers, which were $123,578 and $90,000 respectively.
- 6% of the Nomad List members report earning less than $25k a year,
- 15% of them report earning between $25k–$50k a year,
- 34% earn between $50k and $100k annually,
- 35% of them make between $100k and $250k per year,
- 8% of the Nomad List members make between $250k and $1M annually, and
- 2% earn more than $1M per year.
MBO Partners find that digital nomads are overall more satisfied with their work, lifestyle, and income.
A whopping 80% of digital nomads report feeling highly satisfied with their work and lifestyle regardless of their income, versus 62% of non-digital nomads who feel satisfied with their work.
Almost half of the respondents (42% of them) said they earn $75,000 or more per year, while 19% of digital nomads report earning less than $25,000 a year.
Still:
- 82% of digital nomads report feeling very satisfied with their income,
- 47% say they are very satisfied, and
- 35% feel satisfied with their earnings.
Digital nomads work in a variety of tech professions and industries
Digital nomads come from a wide range of professions and industries — from sports and modeling to software development and finance.
Still, the overwhelming majority of digital nomads work in IT or IT-adjacent industries, according to the Nomad List digital nomad statistics and the data by MBO Partners.
MBO Partners show that in 2023, professionals in the following industries made up the digital nomad community:
- IT — 19%,
- Creative services — 14%,
- Education and training — 9%,
- Sales, marketing, and PR — 9%,
- Finance and accounting — 8%, and
- Consulting, coaching, and research — 7%.
This is consistent with the numbers from previous years.
The Nomad List members are career-wise predominantly:
- Software developers,
- Startup founders,
- Web developers,
- Marketing professionals,
- Creatives, and
- SaaS professionals.
There are slight differences in the chosen professions between male and female digital nomads, according to Nomad List members’ responses.
Nomad men mostly work in the following industries/positions in 2024:
- Software developers — 34% — 241% more than female nomad software developers,
- Web developers — 28% — which exceeds the female share by 256%,
- Startup founders — 27% — which is 133% more than nomad women in these professions, and
- SaaS professionals — 13% — which outnumbers the share of nomad women by 193%.
Nomad women mostly work in the following industries/positions in 2024:
- Marketing — 15% of nomad women — the same percentage as nomad men,
- Creative professions — 15% — 21% more than nomad men,
- Blogging — 8% of female digital nomads — 20% more than male nomad bloggers,
- Community professionals — 7% — which exceeds the male share in these professions by 23%,
- Coaching professionals — 7% — which is 20% more than nomad men in these professions.
Free collaboration tool for remote teams
Easily communicate with your remote team in Pumble, no matter where you are working from.
Male digital nomads are predominantly in IT, while nomad women mostly have a background in humanities
Interestingly, there are some pretty large differences between the professions mostly occupied by male digital nomads and professions predominantly held by digital nomad women.
The largest difference between genders when it comes to digital nomad professions is noted in the IT vs humanities comparison. As you’ll see in the tables below, nomad men are far more likely to occupy positions in the IT sector, compared to female digital nomads who have a bigger share in positions in HR, Psychology, Medicine, and Journalism.
According to the Nomad List digital nomad statistics, these top 10 positions show the largest gender ratio difference in the digital nomad community.
| Positions most often occupied by nomad men | The share of male vs female nomads |
|---|---|
| Game developers | +359% |
| Mobile developers | +343% |
| Dev Ops | +290% |
| SysAdmin | +279% |
| Web developers | +256% |
| Crypto | +253% |
| Software developers | +241% |
| SaaS professionals | +194% |
| VR developers | +187% |
| Sports professionals | +151% |
Let’s get a closer look at the table below for a full picture of the 10 professions predominantly held by nomad women.
| Positions most often occupied by nomad women | The share of female vs male nomads |
|---|---|
| Human resources professionals | +73% |
| Psychologists | +66% |
| Journalists | +47% |
| Medical professionals | +33% |
| Support professionals | +27% |
| Community professionals | +23% |
| Creatives | +21% |
| Bloggers | +20% |
| Coaches | +20% |
| Hospitality professionals | +19% |
Statistics on best countries for digital nomads
Digital nomads travel all around the world, according to the Nomad List findings.
In 2024, the most visited countries by digital nomads are:
- The USA,
- Spain, and
- Thailand.
When it comes to the most visited cities, the largest portion of digital nomads visited:
- London,
- Bangkok, and
- New York City.
This is consistent with the numbers from previous years.
Here’s the list of the top 10 most visited countries by digital nomads so far in 2024:
| # | Country | % of digital nomads who visited the country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | US | 14% |
| 2 | Spain | 5% |
| 3 | Thailand | 5% |
| 4 | The UK | 4% |
| 5 | Germany | 4% |
| 6 | Mexico | 4% |
| 7 | France | 3% |
| 8 | Italy | 3% |
| 9 | Portugal | 3% |
| 10 | Indonesia | 2% |
Let’s take a closer look at the top 10 cities visited by digital nomads.
| # | City | % of digital nomads who visited the city |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London (UK) | 2.3% |
| 2 | Bangkok (Thailand) | 2% |
| 3 | New York City (US) | 1.56% |
| 4 | Berlin (Germany) | 1.52% |
| 5 | Lisbon (Portugal) | 1.51% |
| 6 | Paris (France) | 1.5% |
| 7 | Barcelona (Spain) | 1.48% |
| 8 | Amsterdam (Netherlands) | 1.28% |
| 9 | San Francisco, CA (US) | 1.2% |
| 10 | Chiang Mai (Thailand) | 1.09% |
It’s important to note, however, that most visited destinations don’t always translate into most liked ones, as we can see from the following lists of most and least liked countries by digital nomads, respectively.
| # | Country | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Croatia | 4.7 |
| 2 | Greece | 4.65 |
| 3 | South Korea | 4.65 |
| 4 | Malaysia | 4.5 |
| 5 | Japan | 4.45 |
| 6 | South Africa | 4.35 |
| 7 | Costa Rica | 4.3 |
| 8 | Poland | 4.25 |
| 9 | Denmark | 4.15 |
| 10 | India | 4.1 |
| # | Country | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Israel | 1.65 |
| 2 | Ethiopia | 1.65 |
| 3 | Iran | 1.65 |
| 4 | Moldova | 1.65 |
| 5 | Kurdistan | 1.65 |
| 6 | Honduras | 1.65 |
| 7 | Chile | 1.65 |
| 8 | Montenegro | 1.8 |
| 9 | Laos | 2.15 |
| 10 | Sri Lanka | 2.2 |
Best and worst destinations for expats
When it comes to more long-term settling, expats and digital nomads who plan to extend their stay seem to have a different set of requirements.
As the Expat Insider 2023 report suggests, the ideal destinations for expats offer a relatively low cost of living and ease of settling in.
These are the precise main reasons that catapulted Mexico and Spain to the top of the list of best expat destinations.
Here are the top 10 destinations in 2023 ranked by the Expat Insider respondents:
- Mexico,
- Spain,
- Panama,
- Malaysia,
- Taiwan,
- Thailand,
- Costa Rica,
- Philippines,
- Bahrain, and
- Portugal.
At the same time, Kuwait, Norway, and Türkiye are rated lowest in vital categories, as these countries offer low-quality social life, high cost of living, and low job satisfaction.
Here’s the list of the worst-rated expat destinations:
44. Japan,
45. New Zealand,
46. Malta,
47. Italy,
48. South Africa,
49. Germany,
50. South Korea,
51. Türkiye,
52. Norway, and
53. Kuwait.
Favorite digital nomad destinations by gender
Nomad men and nomad women have different preferences in terms of cities they like the most.
The top 5 cities male digital nomads like the most in 2024 (according to respondents in the Nomad List research) are the following:
| # | City | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Budapest (Hungary) | 4.58 |
| 2 | Porto (Portugal) | 4.58 |
| 3 | Madrid (Spain) | 4.58 |
| 4 | Seoul (South Korea) | 4.44 |
| 5 | Cape Town (South Africa) | 4.38 |
Nomad women, on the other hand, had a completely different set of cities and destinations in mind for the highest rating.
Let’s take a look at the top 5 cities nomad women like the most:
| # | City | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medellín (Colombia) | 4.00 |
| 2 | Chiang Mai (Thailand) | 3.75 |
| 3 | Munich (Germany) | 3.75 |
| 4 | Berlin (Germany) | 3.75 |
| 5 | Vienna (Austria) | 3.75 |
Interestingly, the top destinations for male and female digital nomads look significantly different in 2024 compared to the previous year. For instance, Tokyo is the only destination found in both the 2023 and 2024 lists for male digital nomads, and it went from #1 in 2023 to a 13th spot in 2024.
The 2024 list of most liked cities for female digital nomads also looks nothing like the one from 2023, except for Chiang Mai maintaining the second spot two years in a row.
Here are the countries more men nomads go to:
| # | Country | Share of male vs female nomads that stay there |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ukraine | +86% |
| 2 | Russia | +76% |
| 3 | Poland | +75% |
| 4 | Romania | +66% |
| 5 | Georgia | +55% |
| 6 | Serbia | +34% |
| 7 | Hong Kong | +32% |
| 8 | New Zealand | +28% |
| 9 | United Arab Emirates | +24% |
| 10 | Czechia | +22% |
And, these are countries that more women nomads go to:
| # | Country | Share of female vs male nomads that stay there |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | +57% |
| 2 | Costa Rica | +45% |
| 3 | Mexico | +43% |
| 4 | Chile | +26% |
| 5 | United Kingdom | +24% |
| 6 | Croatia | +21% |
| 7 | France | +17% |
| 8 | Peru | +17% |
| 9 | Italy | +14% |
| 10 | Greece | +13% |
Fastest growing digital nomad spots
Nomad List brings a breakdown of the up-and-coming remote work hubs and digital nomad spots competing for remote workers’ attention in 2024.
Their study on the Fastest Growing Remote Work Hubs of 2024 shows the real-time rating of the most popular spots digital nomads and remote workers are flocking to, as well as the trends over the last 5 years.
Let’s see the analysis made by using live data from 320,059 check-ins made by tens of thousands of Nomad List members.
Here’s a list of the 10 fastest-growing digital nomad hubs so far in 2024:
| # | Digital nomad hub | 2024 growth |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mumbai (India) | +149% |
| 2 | Da Nang (Vietnam) | +127% |
| 3 | Panama City (Panama) | +114% |
| 4 | Buenos Aires (Argentina) | +101% |
| 5 | Phnom Penh (Cambodia) | +88% |
| 6 | Florianopolis (Brazil) | +84% |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV (United States) | +76% |
| 8 | Lima (Peru) | +74% |
| 9 | Cebu (Philippines) | +73% |
| 10 | Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) | +71% |
These are the remote work hubs that have been on the upward trajectory over the last 5 years — from 2019 to 2023 (except for 2020, when all growth and travel was paused due to COVID-19):
| # | Digital nomad hub | 5-year growth |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florianopolis (Brazil) | +150% |
| 2 | Abu Dhabi (UAE) | +139% |
| 3 | Bratislava (Slovakia) | +92% |
| 4 | Salt Lake City, UT (US) | +70% |
| 5 | Asuncion (Paraguay) | +63% |
Free collaboration tool for remote teams
Easily communicate with your remote team in Pumble, no matter where you are working from.
These were the up-and-coming digital nomad hubs.
When it comes to the already established digital nomad destinations experiencing steady growth over the last 5 years, we can highlight the following cities:
- Mexico City (Mexico),
- Valencia (Spain),
- Warsaw (Poland),
- Medellín (Colombia), and
- Malaga (Spain).
Digital nomad destinations with the fastest internet speed
One of the features that can make or break a destination’s success among digital nomads is the internet speed.
Naturally, digital nomads flock to countries and cities that allow them an uninterrupted work experience, and a fast and reliable internet connection is the most surefire way to provide this.
Nomad List shows the list of internet speeds in countries and cities popular among their 5.265,895 members.
Here are the fastest internet speeds in popular digital nomad destinations around the world, according to the Nomad List data.
| Country | Internet speed | Tests done |
|---|---|---|
| Portugal | 97 Mbps | 2,790x |
| Norway | 96 Mbps | 685x |
| South Korea | 96 Mbps | 1,396x |
| Romania | 96 Mbps | 1,031x |
| Poland | 84 Mbps | 3,138x |
| Estonia | 82 Mbps | 372x |
| Denmark | 81 Mbps | 756x |
| Canada | 81 Mbps | 8,050x |
| Spain | 80 Mbps | 5,070x |
| Sweden | 78 Mbps | 1,241x |
When it comes to data on the countries with the fastest Internet, we can notice that it’s more or less consistent with last year, with some surprises such as the US dropping from the top 10 list and South Korea jumping to the 3rd place.
Yet, if we look at the larger picture, we can notice a general consistency over several categories. For example, South Korea is high on the list of the most favorite countries for digital nomads and it is also one of the digital nomad destinations with the fastest internet speed in the world.
| City | Internet speed | Tests done |
|---|---|---|
| Groningen (Netherlands) | 156 Mbps | 27x |
| Vancouver (Canada) | 142 Mbps | 55x |
| Yokohama (Japan) | 140 Mbps | 43x |
| Lima (Peru) | 130 Mbps | 116x |
| Toronto (Canada) | 130 Mbps | 105x |
| Warsaw (Poland) | 128 Mbps | 55x |
| Barcelona (Spain) | 120 Mbps | 218x |
| Los Angeles, CA (US) | 114 Mbps | 79x |
| Lisbon (Portugal) | 112 Mbps | 562x |
| New York City, NY (US) | 111 Mbps | 182x |
Statistics on the digital nomad lifestyle
Let’s take a look at some common lifestyle traits and preferences shared by digital nomads.
Digital nomads enjoy outside sports activities
The majority of digital nomads said hiking is their favorite workout activity. Almost half of male digital nomad respondents (49%) and 52% of nomad women reported that they hike.
Other popular activities among digital nomads in 2024 include:
- Fitness,
- Running,
- Yoga,
- Swimming, and
- Cycling.
Interestingly, according to the data from the Nomad List research, nomad men and women enjoy pretty much the same types of sports activities. The difference in shares between genders is almost negligible for most types of activities. Moreover, the data looks almost the same as last year.
Here’s a breakdown of sports activities of digital nomads by gender:
| Sport | % of nomad women | % of nomad men |
|---|---|---|
| Hiking | 52% | 49% |
| Yoga | 44% | 21% |
| Fitness | 40% | 48% |
| Swimming | 24% | 24% |
| Running | 21% | 29% |
| Cycling | 18% | 25% |
| Diving | 15% | 16% |
| Surfing | 14% | 18% |
| Climbing | 13% | 16% |
| Skiing | 12% | 16% |
Digital nomads eat meat
The Nomad List members identify as omnivores with a larger share of nomad men (75%) vs female digital nomads who eat meat (56%).
Moreover, out of 25% of men who don’t eat meat:
- 11% are vegan,
- 10% identify as vegetarian, and
- 4% say they are pescetarians.
At the same time, 44% of nomad women don’t eat meat, with:
- 19% of them being vegetarian,
- 15% vegan, while
- 11% of female digital nomad respondents identify as pescetarian.
Digital nomads like coffee and the outdoors
When asked to describe themselves by their likes and lifestyle interests, most respondents in the Nomad List study said they love coffee, dogs, hiking, and the outdoors.
As always, there are some differences in how female digital nomads described themselves versus what the male nomad respondents said about their likes and interests.
Let’s see these in more detail.
| Character traits | % of nomad women | % of nomad men |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee aficionados | 30% | 39% |
| Outdoors enthusiasts | 24% | 27% |
| English speakers | 24% | 29% |
| Dog fans | 23% | 26% |
| Optimists | 23% | 31% |
| Wine lovers | 22% | 23% |
| Hiking enthusiasts | 22% | 26% |
| Reading fans | 21% | 24% |
| Tea aficionados | 21% | 19% |
| Open-minded people | 19% | 24% |
Digital nomads are environmentally friendly
Similarly to the findings from 2023, the Nomad List data shows that digital nomads produce less CO2 while traveling than the average American in 2024.
The research uses data from 320,269 trips by 13,051 members with emissions of CO2 of 115g per kilometer.
Namely, an average American generates around 5,000kg of CO2 per year on commuting. By comparison, on average, digital nomads produce 1,209kg of CO2 per year — a whopping 76% less than the average American.
This is especially interesting given that digital nomads are generally considered to travel more and larger distances than the average traditional workers. However, as the study suggests, digital nomads mostly work from their accommodations or coworking spaces nearby, while the traditional workers still spend plenty of time (and CO2) commuting to and from work, which, seemingly, makes all the difference.
Free collaboration tool for remote teams
Easily communicate with your remote team in Pumble, no matter where you are working from.
Digital nomads prefer slow travel
In recent years, most digital nomads prefer to slow down and immerse themselves in the local culture instead of rushing and moving around frequently.
More digital nomads are opting for a slower type of travel characterized by spending more time in each location and usually visiting fewer destinations — i.e., the ‘Slowmad travel’.
Almost half of the respondents interviewed by the MBO Partners in 2021, 2022, and 2023 said that they prefer this type of arrangement, as it allows them to:
- Take in the local culture and communities more fully,
- Have better work productivity,
- Experience a richer and more active social life, and
- Reduce travel stress.
According to the Nomad List research, digital nomads change countries every 7 months on average, and they spend around 2 months in one city. This arrangement allows them to make the most out of their stays.
However, according to the MBO Partners report, digital nomads in the US plan less international travel in 2024, with:
- 53% of respondents reporting they will only travel in the US,
- 47% of them saying they plan on some international travel, and
- Only 10% of respondents planning to spend the entire year outside the US.
Although slow travel has been presented as a recent trend among digital nomads, a 2016 survey showed a similar trend back then. Namely, a large percentage of digital nomads (44%) spent between 1 and 4 months in each destination on average.
Pros and cons of being a digital nomad in 2024
Digital nomadism has transformed the way we think about the modern workplace, travel, and our work-life balance, all at the same time.
There are now more opportunities to blend our work and life than we could ever imagine, and an endless pool of destinations and adventures to experience in between.
Still, it would be magical thinking to say that the digital nomad lifestyle is without its share of downsides.
So, to provide a complete picture of living a digital nomad lifestyle, let’s get a closer look at the statistics on the most common pros and cons of being a digital nomad.
Pros of being a digital nomad
According to MBO’s respondents, the most commonly reported benefits of the nomadic lifestyle (in order of importance — from most important to least important) include:
- The ability to travel when and where you want,
- Great work-life balance,
- Experiencing new cultures, and
- Meeting new people.
Moreover, a high percentage of digital nomads (78%) feel optimistic about the future of their careers.
Cons of being a digital nomad
Although super exciting and dynamic, nomadic life is not without its challenges.
Still, the good news is that we can see a decrease in the challenges of the digital nomad experience. If we compare the MBO study findings for 2022 and 2023, we can see a declining trend in the most common challenges digital nomads are concerned with.
| Challenges | % of digital nomads experiencing the challenge in 2022 | % of digital nomads experiencing the challenge in 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Personal safety | 34% | 26% |
| Being away from family and friends | 32% | 22% |
| Working across time zones | 30% | 21% |
| Loneliness | 26% | 21% |
| Travel logistics | 25% | 19% |
| Managing work and travel | 25% | 24% |
🎓 Pumble Pro Tip
If you think the pros of being a digital nomad outweigh the cons and you’re considering taking up the digital nomad lifestyle, check out our detailed guide about the subject:
What is the digital nomad trend in 2024?
In addition to the ‘Slowmad’ and ‘VanLife’ movements taking the digital nomad community by storm, in 2024, digital nomadism is becoming a family affair, which results in more resources being developed to support this type of lifestyle.
In 2022, 58% of US digital nomads shared with MBO that, while they also plan to travel across the country, they plan on traveling abroad more than in previous years.
At the same time, the VanLife Movement reached 3.1 million in 2022 (up from 2.6 million in 2021), which made it the fastest-growing digital nomad trend at the time. Even though the subgenre of digital nomads who traded the comfort of hotels and Airbnbs for the freedom of traveling, living, and working out of vans and RVs, originated before the pandemic, it took off during COVID-19, when global travel ground to a halt, mostly because it offered one of the few relatively safe options for entire families to travel together.
Similarly, 2023 and 2024 trends are showing a shift to nomadic lifestyles which include whole families.
This is one of the main indicators of digital nomadism becoming mainstream. As opposed to associating the term digital nomad with single, somewhat eccentric people in their twenties and thirties, we are now witnessing a shift in perspective as the typical digital nomad demographic is getting older and includes entire families with kids.
As MBO finds, in 2023:
- Median age of digital nomads is 39,
- 53% of them are married or living with a partner,
- 24% of American digital nomads travel with their children, and
- 14% report traveling with pets.
In addition to popularizing slowmading, these arrangements gave rise to special education programs and family-friendly accommodations to better support digital families with children.
What is the future of digital nomadism?
The dramatic growth digital nomadism experienced in 2020 has brought mixed reviews and some opposing views on the trend.
However, 4 years later, in addition to seeing more families in the digital nomad community and slower travel, we’re witnessing a far more supportive environment.
Digital nomads plan to continue on the same path
Digital nomads plan to continue the same nomadic lifestyle at least in the next few years (53%), MBO Partners find out.
Although these numbers show a slight decline compared to the previous year, this is mainly attributed to the return-to-office policies ordered by many companies.
Still, more than half of respondents expressed a plan to continue their digital nomad lifestyle, which is in line with a consistent increase in the percentage of digital nomads revealing the same plans in previous studies:
- 49% digital nomads in 2020,
- 54% in 2021, and
- 69% digital nomads in 2022.
Organizations plan to better support digital nomads
After the initial skepticism towards the digital nomad lifestyle and how it would affect employee productivity and engagement, companies are now becoming more supportive of digital nomads.
Although we’re witnessing many organizations enforcing strict return-to-office policies, overall, organizations are becoming remote-first and digital nomad-friendly. New programs, models, and policies are adopted to better suit the lifestyle and needs of the remote and nomadic workforce.
The flexible working hours policy along with remote and hybrid work models are some of the most notable ways companies are supporting digital nomadism lately.
According to WorkTango’s report, almost half of the companies (45%) reported implementing flexible working hours and remote work options. By ditching the traditional 9-5 in-office models, organizations are making it easier for their employees to explore the nomadic lifestyle while maintaining their careers.
Another major way organizations have started to support their workforce (nomadic or regular) is by implementing a 4-day workweek policy.
Companies that have dabbled in the 4-week experiment have seen great benefits to both their bottom lines and employee satisfaction:
- Overall, employees noted a healthier work-life balance,
- 70% of employees reported feeling less burned out,
- Absenteeism decreased by 65%,
- Retention increased by 57%,
- 48% of employees reported feeling more satisfied with their jobs than when they first started,
- Revenue increased by 35% to 37% compared to the same period the year before, and
- 32% of people reported feeling less stressed.
All of these benefits also positively affect the life quality and work-life balance of digital nomads.
More countries are issuing digital nomad visas and payment reliefs
As the digital nomad trend continues upward, more countries around the world are beginning to recognize the importance of digital nomadism for their economy and the overall positive international reputation.
This results in more countries working on creating or improving their digital nomad visa programs to accommodate a large number of digital nomads from all around the world.
There are now over 43 countries with digital nomad visas or similar programs aimed at digital nomads and remote workers.
In addition to creating these programs in the first place, governments are offering favorable tax and social security regimes for digital nomads, as well as several other reliefs and benefits to create a more inclusive experience that accommodates the largest sample of the digital nomad community.
Still, it’s important to note that the visa programs vary greatly from country to country in terms of eligibility criteria and how they work in practice, so there is more work to be done in defining, reevaluating, and perhaps even reducing some of the digital nomad visa restrictions.
🎓 Pumble Pro Tip
If you want to explore digital nomad visa options in different countries globally, be sure to check out our digital nomad hub that offers complete guides on digital nomad visas for various countries:
Remote work technology development supports the nomadic lifestyle
Remote work technology experienced a sudden shift during the pandemic, and the upward trend continued beyond 2020.
New and improved technology allowed digital nomads to do uninterrupted work anywhere in the world.
Faster internet speeds and better and more streamlined communication and collaboration software made it more convenient for digital nomads to effortlessly embrace the new lifestyle without falling behind on work.
According to Buffer’s State of Remote Work 2023 report, 78% of remote workers said their companies have proper systems for remote communication and collaboration.
Moreover, Pumble’s Remote Work Statistics 2024 show a breakdown of the most commonly used remote tools by type:
- 80% of remote workers use instant messaging applications,
- 79% use collaboration tools,
- 74% use storage and document-sharing tools, and
- 47% of remote workers report using training and personal development tools.
New industries and fields sprung up to support digital nomads in 2024 and beyond
As the digital nomad movement grows in popularity, businesses are taking notice and starting to create more products and services designed with digital nomads in mind.
Portals to help digital nomads get informed, find work, and get legal advice have become common popular spots for digital nomad communities.
International health insurance and financial services aimed at helping digital nomads navigate these segments more easily are developing to better support digital nomads.
We can also expect to see more digital nomad communities and digital nomad villages offering entire work and living infrastructures in addition to opportunities to socialize with like-minded communities.
As we mentioned above, the Slowmad trend accompanied by more families becoming nomads are causing the development of special education programs and family-friendly accommodation facilities for long-term stays.
Finally, one of the industries that boomed with the digital nomad expansion is the coworking space market.
According to the Coworking Space Global Market Report 2024 by The Business Research Company, the global coworking space market size will reach $22.44 billion in 2024 — up from $19.05 billion in 2023 and $16.17 billion in 2022.
In line with this, Coworking Insights analyzed the prices of desks from over 19,500 coworking spaces around the world and noted a 9% increase in average monthly desk prices globally.
Keep your distributed team connected with Pumble
Digital nomadism has taken the world of remote work by storm and it’s not showing any signs of slowing down.
In addition to providing flexibility, a great work balance, and a chance to travel and meet new people and cultures, the digital nomad appeal also lies in promising an overall better life quality and more financial stability to a growing number of nomads.
Digital nomad statistics show an increase in the number of people embarking on a digital nomadic experience, on top of a growing number of digital nomads who plan to stay on the same path.
With the help of different government and visa programs and reliefs and organizations’ continual support, digital nomadism faces a bright future.
So, as your team members embark on their digital nomad journeys, your main challenge might be keeping everyone in the loop all the time.
Whether your team works exclusively in the office or you prefer to join your first meeting of the day from a beautiful beach setting somewhere warm and sunny, you don’t have to compromise on the quality of your team communication and connection with Pumble.
Pumble is a team communication app that keeps your team connected and synchronized through functionalities such as:
- Direct messages — for one-on-one chats,
- Channels — for team topic-oriented discussions,
- Video conferencing — for virtual meetings,
- File sharing — for productive collaboration, and
- Meeting recording — for asynchronous communication when your team members are working across time zones.
To experience more productive team communication and collaboration, try Pumble for free today!
Free collaboration tool for remote teams
Easily communicate with your remote team in Pumble, no matter where you are working from.
References:
- Buffer. (2023). State of Remote Work 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://buffer.com/state-of-remote-work/2023
- Coworking Insights. (2022). 2022 Hot Desk Price Index. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://coworkinginsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2022-Hot-Desk-Price-Index-1.pdf
- Dreher, N. and Triandafyllidou, A. (2023). Digital Nomads: Toward a Future Research Agenda. Toronto Metropolitan University. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://www.torontomu.ca/content/dam/centre-for-immigration-and-settlement/tmcis/publications/workingpapers/2023-04-WP-Dreher-Triandafyllidou.pdf
- Expat Insider 2022: The Best & Worst Places for Expats in 2022. InterNations. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://www.internations.org/expat-insider/2022/best-and-worst-places-for-expats-40242
- FlexJobs. (2018). FlexJobs Digital Nomad Survey: Insights into the Remote Lifestyle. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/flexjobs-digital-nomad-survey-insights-remote-lifestyle/
- FlexJobs. (2022). 24 Remote and Flexible Companies With a 4-Day Workweek. Retrieved Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/remote-flexible-companies-with-4-day-workweek/
- Makimoto, T. and Manners, D. (1997). Digital nomad. Wiley. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/1877558
- MBO Partners. (2023). 2023 Digital Nomads Report. State of Independence: Nomadism Enters the Mainstream. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://info.mbopartners.com/rs/mbo/images/2023_Digital_Nomads_Report.pdf
- MBO Partners. (2022). Digital Nomads Report. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://info.mbopartners.com/rs/mbo/images/2022_Digital_Nomads_Report.pdf
- MBO Partners. (2022). Happier, Healthier & Wealthier, State of Independence in America 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://www.mbopartners.com/state-of-independence/
- MBO Partners. (2021). The Digital Nomad Search Continues. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://info.mbopartners.com/rs/mbo/images/MBO_Partners_2021_Digital_Nomad_Research_Brief.pdf
- Müller, A. (2016). The digital nomad: Buzzword or research category? Transnational Social Review. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://doi.org/10.1080/21931674.2016.1229930
- Nomad List. (2024). The 2024 State of Digital Nomads. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://nomadlist.com/digital-nomad-statistics
- Nomad List. (2024). Fastest growing remote work hubs of 2024.Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://nomadlist.com/fastest-growing-remote-work-hubs
- Nomad List. (2024). The fastest internet speeds in the world. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://nomadlist.com/internet-speeds
- Pumble. (2023). Remote work statistics 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://pumble.com/learn/collaboration/remote-work-statistics/
- Reichenberger, I. (2018). Digital nomads – a quest for holistic freedom in work and leisure. Annals of Leisure Research. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://doi.org/10.1080/11745398.2017.1358098
- SafetyWing. (2023).The Great Reevaluation: How Economic Headwinds and Cost of Living is Turning Americans into ‘Recession-Nomads‘. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-great-reevaluation-how-economic-headwinds-and-cost-of-living-is-turning-americans-into-recession-nomads-301718970.html
- Schlagwein, D. (2018). The History of Digital Nomadism. ResearchGate.Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329182172_The_History_of_Digital_Nomadism
- The Business Research Company. (2024). Coworking Space Market Report 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/coworking-space-global-market-report
- Welance. (2016). Trend prediction 2016: Digital Nomads Survey. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://welance.de/journal/digital-nomad-survey-results-infographic/
- WorkTango. (2022). 2022 Workplace Report: From Great Resignation to Workplace Revolution. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://www.worktango.com/resources/reports/2022-workplace-report
- WFH Research. (2023). Working from Home Around the Globe: 2023 Report. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from https://wfhresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GSWA-2023.pdf
