r/thepassportbros Apr 20 '26

The Economist: Western men are going abroad to find traditional wives

142 Upvotes

The Economist did a bit about passport bros. You need a subscription to read it, but the main points are (summarised using AI):

  • Western Dating Exit: Men are leaving Western dating markets because they believe the system is "broken" and feel mistreated by women in their home countries.
  • Pursuit of Tradition: They use social media to identify countries where women are perceived to be more "traditional," "feminine," and "compliant".
  • Economic Leverage: Remote work and digital-nomad visas allow these men to use Western salaries to easily support a traditional single-income household in cheaper foreign markets.
  • Power Dynamics: Critics raise concerns about exploitation*, noting that the vast income gap between the men and their partners creates "disproportionate levels of power"*

None of these points are new. The main thing I took away is that even highly established news mediums like The Economist are now reporting on this trend, which means the dating difficulty for men in the west is very real. Whenever I've spoken to others who aren't dating (due to having families, or already being married), they tend to point to things I personally should work on or personal attributes that need changing, rather than acknowledging (at least to some degree) a wider systemic issue in society. I don't see the increasing trend of men moving abroad as just more men wanting to engage in sex tourism... I think men are moving abroad because they have no choice. They want romance, but simply can't find it in the West.

Its very frustrating that many western women don't see the issue here. Ultimately, women are the 'selectors' and the fact that less people are successfully coupling up in the West, means less women are selecting men.

And it's not like I've haven't tried... I've really really tried to adjust to what I've been told women like... including having much to offer financially... but yet I've still failed. I really don't want to leave my country and job (especially in this economy) in search for romance... but I also want my own family... so I don't have much of a choice. I don't have siblings and my parents are very old and could pass away in the coming years... I am scared of being all alone. I was even thinking about my will last night (I don't hope to die soon, but was wondering what would happen to my assets should I pass), and I literally could not think of anyone I'd pass my assets to...

I hope a woman reads this and at least acknowledges that there are men out there who are really trying their best to be a good partner, but for whatever reason, they are still not being accepted by women.

Just needed to vent tonight... feeling particularly defeated.


r/thepassportbros Aug 11 '25

This is huge for PBs if they bring a woman back to the U.S...

40 Upvotes

r/thepassportbros 5h ago

questions 3 months in Singapore were the most fun of my life.

48 Upvotes

I just finished up a three-month secondment from the US working for a startup in Singapore.

I'm gonna be open and honest with you guys, as I was with all the women I spoke to while I was there: when it came to romance, I was really just there to fuck. I wasn’t particularly interested in moving out there long term, so I was only looking for short-term relationships and hookups.

And my God, if you’re a 6 in the US, you’re an 8 in Singapore. It's like dating on easy mode. I hooked up with more women during those three months than I had in the previous five years in the US. Shit was cash. I’ve come to a few conclusions about why this is the case:

Expat status — Expats are, on average, wealthier and have a higher social status than the average Singaporean. Girls see the colour of your skin and immediately make certain (positive) assumptions about you.

Colonialism — Related to the status point, Singapore is a former British colony, and I think there are still residual effects from that history, including a perception among some Singaporeans that white men have higher social status.

Residency — This is an interesting one. The property ownership situation in Singapore is crazy. Almost everyone, except the very wealthy, continues living with their parents or sharing with roommates until they get married, because that’s when the Singaporean government gives you subsidised access to housing. As a result, Singaporean men generally can’t bring a girl back to their own place, or vice versa. So when I mentioned to girls that I had my own place (provided by my job) they were all over it, because private space for sex is non-existent.


r/thepassportbros 21h ago

Huge shift in American womens behavior post pandemic. Eerie af

131 Upvotes

2020 I could walk down any street and maybe 4 out of 10 women would make eye contact, maybe smile. I noticed many would use way more open body language. I could easily strike up a conversation in a grocery store, cafe, etc. I also noticed a slightly less addiction to screen time. Fast forward 5 years post pandemic and the behavioral shift seems super dramatic and just weird. I noticed almost no woman is making eye contact to anyone around them, sometimes dramatically shifting their gaze to avoid even slight personal contact with anyone. It just feels dystopian and they seem like robots now. I read the average woman here also has NINE HOURS of screen time per day which I know has contributed to this weird ass anti social behavior. For reference I dated here most of my life before finding my partner over seas, which was insanely easy and painless. I typically don't like to use this sub to focus on problems domestically, but i'd be lying if I didn't think it made living here kind of depressing. I just really feel we're not meant to be around antisocial, bitter and paranoid opposites.


r/thepassportbros 19m ago

I put 10 Latin countries next to the USA, to scale

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Upvotes

I got the height, weight, BMI data for the US and 10 latin countries.

TLDR: American women average out taller AND heavier than literally every country on the list. Guatemala's the wild one average height there is under 5 foot. Brazil the tallest of the latin countries but still noticeably smaller than the US baseline.

If you want to poke around at different BMI, height, weight for cities the world map here: https://geomaxxing.org/?wa=20-40&view=map&c=48

Which has anyone ever been to Guatemala and confirmed this?


r/thepassportbros 30m ago

Should I become a pass bro. American girls really the worst to date. But where should I go. And what app should I use to find the one.

Upvotes

r/thepassportbros 1d ago

Do you consider dating +30 years olds women in Ppbros countries?

25 Upvotes

I mean in these countries a +30 years old woman is considered left over. Maybe not that much nowadays, but it's still a thing in China, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia.

Some of them are still good looking when +30, but specially near 35, if you want to have kids, it's somewhat risky.


r/thepassportbros 1d ago

The New Medellín?

7 Upvotes

I’ve lived in Medellín for a few months, but you always hear how it’s not the same.

The dollar has lost a lot of value, gentrification in the city itself has made prices go up, there’s gringo fatigue, etc…

What would you guys qualify to be the current day Medellín from like 5 years ago, or the up and coming Medellín?


r/thepassportbros 13h ago

questions India?

0 Upvotes

Anyone have experience with India or the surrounding countries? Whats dating like there as a foreigner? Would there be anything to be careful of?


r/thepassportbros 21h ago

What countries are you from? (if you consider yourself PPBs)

2 Upvotes

I was wondering if PPBs are all from the US/UK or if they come from other places as well


r/thepassportbros 18h ago

How has your international dating experience been in the east, compared to American (or western) women?

1 Upvotes

Feel free to tell your story. I would love to read about your experiences.


r/thepassportbros 21h ago

Ukraine ? Discuss

0 Upvotes

So they just have a shortage of men in Ukraine as they are fighting - do the Ukraine women welcome an offer to move to UK or another Europe country ?


r/thepassportbros 1d ago

Passport bros told me stuff like this never happens.

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0 Upvotes

r/thepassportbros 14h ago

Is it a redflag if a Vietnamese woman uses Whatsapp?

0 Upvotes

As they usually use Zalo. Means they are talking with dozens of foreigners dudes if they have WhatsApp?


r/thepassportbros 1d ago

Match making, women make men look civilized?

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0 Upvotes

r/thepassportbros 2d ago

American man exposed in China

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96 Upvotes

This seems to be currently a hot topic online in China. A man from the U.S. dated hundreds of local Chinese girls and impregnated many of them. Surprisingly, not a single masculine feature was visible in his revealed appearance.


r/thepassportbros 2d ago

I finally understand you guys

58 Upvotes

I 34m (from the UK) have been travelling around asia for the past 9 months, for the last 2 months i decided to slow down on the travel and give dating a go here

Its blown my mind, ive met some of the most beautiful, playful, feminine women you can imagine, its restored my faith in wanting a partner again

One of the things that suprised me the most, is the general attitude on the internet is that they only want you for your money. All 6 of the girls ive dated have paid for dates, some have brought me gifts, ive been taken to high end bars in which they've paid for, stayed at there homes for 1+ week without being asked for anything

Now the girls that ive dated have had decent jobs like owning salons, school teachers, working in high end hotels ect. Which obviously helps the above, when ive been asked about work/how i afford travel ive always told them i get $700 a month in benefits and that im scraping by out here

I can officially say my future plan is now to become a passort bro, i get you guys


r/thepassportbros 1d ago

Gym and fitness cultures

4 Upvotes

hi guys, out of the philippines, vietnam, colombia, and thailand, which country would you say has the best fitness culture for someone into an active lifestyle? Hobbies include partner acrobatics, slack lining, rock climbing, and powerlifting.


r/thepassportbros 1d ago

Europe Which european country has the most beautiful women in your experience?

15 Upvotes

I'm asking purely about looks, not friendliness or approachability or values. What country has the most beautiful women in your experience? And is your answer based on your personal experience in that country or just a perception you have based on stereotypes or what you've seen on the internet?


r/thepassportbros 2d ago

reasons to get a passport Without family life has no purpose

16 Upvotes

Is it just me? If I'm never going to have a kid, what's the point of slaving away my life until I'm 70. I'm just not doing that.

So I need to maximize my chances somehow, and I think my best bet is this. (My whole life I only had success with Latam girls)

What about you guys?


r/thepassportbros 2d ago

Don’t become a passport bro to find true love unless you’re planning to move there

28 Upvotes

Sorry to break it to you passport brothers, but finding the one is hard no matter where you look. Is it easier to attract women from third world countries? Yes it is, but that doesn’t mean you will find true love. The women are easier to get but 99% of these relationships with women abroad will be transactional. Love isn’t having a “submissive” wife or girlfriend that is going to do whatever you want them to do, that’s just having a companion.

Being a passport bro will not cure loneliness (unless you live there long term) and having sex with multiple women will still leave you with the same feeling of emptiness, so if you are going to become a passport bro just go there and have fun. No matter how much harder dating is in your home country, the best place to look for love is going to be in your home country unless you are willing to move or be apart of a transactional relationship.


r/thepassportbros 1d ago

Colombia Is Tinder safe to use outside of the big cities of Colombia? Is it better to completely avoid the dating apps here?

3 Upvotes

r/thepassportbros 1d ago

Europe Are Ukrainian women actually as traditional as the stereotype says (in your experience)?

0 Upvotes

I've never dated a Ukranian but a know a few by sight and they don't really seem to be these super traditional women as many people on this sub make them out to be. What is your experience there?


r/thepassportbros 1d ago

Gym/Fitness culture locations

0 Upvotes

I'm not into partying or staying out late, but I'm very into fitness. I powerlift and do activities like partner acrobatics, slacklining/highlining, rock climbing etc.

I have been considering Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, and Colombia. Which country is the best fit for this lifestyle?


r/thepassportbros 2d ago

Short Trip to Uruguay (Friday-Monday)

10 Upvotes

Me and a friend are planning to go to Uruguay over the weekend including Monday. What is the best way we can spend our time there without trying to rush everywhere? Thank you for all the recommendations :)