France

France remains one of the most popular destinations for American expats, with approximately 153,000 US citizens calling it home—the third-largest American expat population worldwide after Canada and the UK. In 2024, over 13,000 Americans received their first French residency cards, a 5% increase from the prior year, signaling growing interest (Fab Expat, 2024). The French healthcare system, ranked #1 by the WHO in 2000 and still among Europe's top three according to OECD 2025 data, offers excellent care at relatively affordable costs, with basic supplemental insurance averaging €40-100/month. Cost of living is moderate by Western European standards, with a Numbeo index of 67.7 (relative to New York City at 100). Outside Paris, one-bedroom apartments average €600-773/month, and groceries and dining remain affordable compared to the US. The US State Department rates France at Level 2 ('Exercise Increased Caution'), primarily due to terrorism concerns and petty crime in tourist areas. France ranked 87th on the 2024 Global Peace Index with a score of 2.088. English proficiency varies significantly: roughly 39% of French people report some ability to speak English (Eurobarometer), though practical conversational fluency is lower, especially outside Paris and major cities. Learning basic French is strongly recommended and increasingly required—new 2026 regulations mandate B2 French proficiency for citizenship applications. Major expat hubs include Paris (14,000 Americans), the French Riviera, Provence, and southwestern France.