InterNations, the world’s largest expat network, has conducted the Expat Insider Survey 2014 – completed by close to 14,000 expatriates.
It aims to provide a comprehensive picture of life abroad: Focusing on the general quality of life, it identifies the most popular expat destinations. Topics covered include work, family, relationships and romance, leisure, and personal finances.
As an essential part of the survey, respondents rated their satisfaction with various aspects of expat life. This served as the basis for an overall ranking of 61 countries, as well as five topical indices. The survey report also features detailed country profiles for 20 destinations and 15 in-depth nationality profiles. An “expat typology”, according to reasons for relocating, rounds out the report.
Ecuador, Luxembourg, and Mexico emerge as top destinations in the general country ranking. Ecuador’s #1 rank is mostly due to the low cost of living, the ease of settling in, and the assessment of respondents’ personal happiness. Mexico owes its place among the top three to similar factors as Ecuador, whereas Luxembourg is the clear winner for career-minded high-income expats. Luxembourg also ranks second on the Working Abroad Index. The top rank goes to Norway, with its booming economy and great work-life balance. Scandinavia scores highly in the Family Life Index, too: Expat families feel most at home in Denmark and Sweden, while Qatar and Saudi Arabia turn out to be highly unpopular places among families.
In the Quality of Life Index, Switzerland’s top-notch infrastructure earns it a well-deserved first rank. Nigeria, however, receives a rather damning rating of the quality of life for expatriates. At least the pay is good: In the Personal Finance Index, Nigeria follows the undisputed winner Ecuador. When it comes to ease of settling in, sunny and welcoming Mexico makes it to the top. Spain and New Zealand boast glowing ratings, too.
For more information about the study and a comprehensive results report, please see: http://www.internations.org/expat-insider/2014/.
