The statistics on renunciations may not be correct. There are lists of people published who renounced, but every time I read a story about FATCA I keep coming across comments posting by people who claim they gave up their citizenship and never appeared on these lists.<p>The real question is how many people would <i>like</i> to give it up, but can&#x27;t, because obtaining citizenship where they live is extremely tough and because the US is unusually vindictive towards people who try and renounce. They can even retroactively undo your renunciation if they decide you did it for tax reasons.<p>Seen from one angle, US citizenship looks a lot like modern slavery. You&#x27;re born into it, it&#x27;s difficult to escape, you get no benefit out of the relationship and no matter where in the world you run to your &#x27;owners&#x27; will demand a slice of the fruits of your labours.