Study: 44% of Americans Lie About Nationality Abroad

It appears that when traveling internationally, a notable portion of Americans opt to bend the truth about their origins. A new survey conducted by Send My Bag, an international shipping and relocation company, found that a surprising 44% of Americans admit to lying about being from the United States while abroad.

Why Americans Are Falsifying Nationality Abroad

The study, which gathered data from 1,000 Americans aged 18 to 45, sought to understand the motivations behind this behavior. While the survey didn’t delve into specifics about masking accents or habits, Send My Bag’s founder and CEO, Adam Ewart, offered insights into why nearly half of the participants choose to misrepresent their nationality.

Ewart suggested that the reasons are not entirely shocking. Many Americans believe lying about their nationality is the best way to avoid potential stereotypes, biases, or awkward conversations with locals in their travel destinations. “It’s not uncommon to tell small lies to avoid awkward conversations, and what we’re seeing here is young Americans choosing to blend in while traveling, opting to focus on their experience rather than being asked for their opinion on the administration’s policies,” Ewart explained in an email to USA TODAY.

Avoiding Drama and Focusing on Experience

Ewart elaborated on the desire to avoid potential confrontations: “To reduce tension and deflect any potential confrontations, Americans may make the choice to pass for another nationality.” He noted that Europe is a top destination for Americans seeking cultural immersion, food, and history, rather than engaging in potentially sensitive political discussions, such as those concerning Greenland’s annexation.

This tendency to “blend in” suggests a desire to focus on the travel experience itself, free from the potential baggage of national identity or political associations. The choice to lie about nationality appears to be a strategy for smoother, less complicated interactions abroad.

Other Questionable Tourist Behaviors

The study also touched upon other alleged negative behaviors associated with American travelers. A 2024 study indicated that 41.3% of tourists admitted to infidelity while on vacation. Additionally, 56.5% of participants in that study reported experiencing “tourist syndrome,” characterized by a “greater inclination to misbehave or be rude on vacation.”