I use this term a lot, so I thought I’d give it some explanation. It doesn’t hurt for me to continue on my journey with precise concepts.
Let’s create a definition!
Digital nomads are people who use the possibilities offered by the internet to work regardless of location. They typically use online tools and technologies to do their work, which can be freelance, entrepreneurial, or even remote work for a company.
Their main characteristics
- Mobility: They are not tied to a specific location, but often travel while working. Many digital nomads have a lifestyle that balances work and travel experiences.
- Technology use: The internet, laptops, smartphones, and various software and apps are their essential tools. They use them to get work done and stay in touch with clients or colleagues.
- Flexibility: They have a high degree of freedom in terms of working hours and location. They often use coworking offices, coffee shops, or rented apartments to work.
- Diverse fields of activity: Digital nomads include programmers, designers, marketers, writers, consultants, online teachers, and many other professions.
Lifestyle benefits
- Freedom to travel and choose your lifestyle.
- Opportunity to explore new cultures and places while working.
- Independence from the traditional workplace environment.
Challenges
- Finding a stable internet connection in remote locations.
- Maintaining work-life balance.
- Handling financial and legal matters (taxes, insurance, visa) in different countries.
The digital fifties
Based on what I know so far, my age doesn’t necessarily fit into the general picture, but beyond this sentence, I don’t care at all.
The digital nomad lifestyle is becoming increasingly popular, especially among younger generations who value flexibility and location independence.
The demographic composition of digital nomads has undergone significant changes in recent years, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some key statistics:
- In 2023, there were over 60 million digital nomads worldwide.
- Nearly 50% of digital nomads come from the United States, followed by the United Kingdom with 7%, Russia with 5%, and Canada and Germany with 4%.
- The gender ratio among digital nomads is almost equal, with both men and women represented, and most are between the ages of 25 and 40.
- The main areas of occupation of digital nomads include IT (21%), creative services (12%), education and training (11%), sales, marketing and PR (9%), finance and accounting (9%), and consulting, coaching and research (8%).
- According to a March 2022 international survey by Statista, the average digital nomad earns between $50,000 and $250,000 per year, or approximately HUF 19 million to 95 million.
- Digital nomads spend an average of 3-6 months in a country.
- The most popular destinations include America (53%), Western Europe (18%) and Asia (13%).
- Situation in Hungary: It is estimated that at least 5,000 digital nomads may work in Hungary, primarily in Budapest, but their number may jump to 10,000 during the summer.
Interesting facts about the digital nomad lifestyle
One of the most interesting aspects of the digital nomad lifestyle is how it can accommodate different lifestyles and goals, and how it requires creative solutions to overcome everyday challenges. Here are some interesting facts:
1. Coworking islands and villages
- Some locations are specifically designed for digital nomads. For example, Bali (Indonesia), Chiang Mai (Thailand), or Playa del Carmen (Mexico) attract followers of the lifestyle with coworking spaces, community events and nomad-friendly infrastructure. There are also projects that create complete digital nomad villages, for example in Madeira, Portugal.
2. Nomad visas
- More and more countries are introducing visas specifically designed for digital nomads, which allow them to stay in a given place for a longer period of time. For example, Barbados, Estonia, Hungary (White Card) and Dubai also offer this option. These visas are often subject to certain income minimums.
3. Work from “exotic offices”
- The offices of digital nomads can be extremely diverse. One day they work from a beach bungalow, another day from the terrace of a mountain chalet, and the third day from an ultra-modern coworking office. This diversity is motivating and inspiring for many.
- Most digital nomads lead a minimalist lifestyle, carrying everything they need in a backpack or suitcase. Owning fewer things is not only practical, but also helps them live a stress-free, freer life.
5. Community spirit and friendships
- Digital nomads become part of a global community. Various meetings, events and conferences around the world (e.g. Nomad Summit, 7in7 Conference, Nomad Cruise) help them get to know each other and share their experiences.
6. Shaping new jobs
- The emergence of digital nomads has contributed to the popularization of professions such as influencer marketing, SEO expert, online consultant or virtual assistant. In many cases, these jobs did not even exist a few years ago!
7. Close-to-nature lifestyle
- Many digital nomads are not only looking for urban coworking spaces, but also settling in locations close to nature. Off-grid locations are popular, using solar power and working part-time on organic farms.
This lifestyle is not just about work, but also about a new way of thinking: freedom, mobility, and the creative use of global opportunities.
The famous digital nomads
Many digital nomads have become famous by setting an example for others with their lifestyle and work, and by inspiring those interested in a location-independent lifestyle. Below are some well-known digital nomads:
1. Tim Ferriss
- Reputation: Successful entrepreneur, author of The 4-Hour Workweek.
- Contribution: Ferriss’s book revolutionized the way people think about work, passive income generation, and mobile living. Although he didn’t explicitly call himself a digital nomad, many consider him a pioneer of the movement.
- My note: I read the aforementioned book early last year. Now I can pick it up with my notes.
2. Pieter Levels
- Reputation: Founder of Nomad List and Remote OK.
- Contribution: The platforms he created serve the digital nomad community. Nomad List, for example, rates the best places to live a mobile life. Levels himself lives as a full-time digital nomad.
- My note: I already wrote about nomads.com in the article Starting specific tasks, and that’s where I bought my first ticket. Remot OK brought the first successful work, which turned out to be a hoax.
3. Rolf Potts
- Reputation: Author of the book Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel.
- Contribution: Potts’ book has inspired those interested in long-term travel and independent living. In his work, he writes about the philosophy of travel and the benefits of a minimalist lifestyle.
4. Chris Guillebeau
- Reputation: Writer and speaker who has traveled to every country in the world.
- Contribution: As the author of the book The $100 Startup, he helped people realize how to start a business with little investment that can support a location-independent lifestyle.
5. Gary Arndt
- Reputation: Award-winning photographer and blogger who started the blog Everything Everywhere.
- Contribution: Arndt has spent decades traveling and blogging, documenting the cultures of many countries. Through his experiences, he has inspired those who want to travel and work remotely.
6. Nomadic Matt (Matt Kepnes)
- Reputation: Founder of the blog Nomadic Matt and travel writer.
- Contribution: With his blog and books (e.g. How to Travel the World on $50 a Day), he provides practical advice for long-term, cost-effective travel.
- My note: The Hungarian equivalent of this book is the book How to Travel the World on $3533 a Day?, mentioned in my article The Decision.
7. Vanessa Van Edwards
- Reputation: Founder of The Science of People and behavioral researcher.
- Contribution: With his research and online trainings, he has proven that it is possible to develop valuable personal and professional relationships regardless of location.
8. Johnny FD (Johnny Foreign Domestic)
- Reputation: Blogger and digital nomad lifestyle expert.
- Contributions: Her blog and podcasts explore the benefits and challenges of digital nomadism, as well as tips for building e-commerce and passive income.
9. Kristin Addis
- Reputation: Author of the blog Be My Travel Muse.
- Contributions: She has a particular impact on the female traveler and digital nomad community with her inspiring stories and advice.
Origin of the term
The term “digital nomad” is relatively new and is associated with a specific work. It was first used in 1997 in the book Digital Nomad, written by Tsugio Makimoto and David Manners. In the book, the authors outlined a vision of a future in which people would be able to work freely from anywhere in the world through advances in technology, breaking away from the traditional, fixed-location workplace model.
The authors – Makimoto and Manners – foresaw that the spread of mobile technologies (laptops, mobile phones) and the Internet would allow people to work regardless of their geographical location. The book emphasized that this lifestyle could bring people greater freedom, creativity and innovation, while also pointing out that it would result in social and cultural changes.
Popularity of the term
Although the term “digital nomad” has been around since the late 1990s, it only really became popular in the 2010s, as technology—especially fast and reliable internet—became available on a global scale. The rise of Nomad List and other digital nomad communities, as well as books and blogs like Tim Ferriss’s The 4-Hour Workweek, helped popularize the term and popularize the lifestyle.
The term has now become the basis for an entire movement and lifestyle, followed by millions around the world.
It wasn’t that long ago that more people…