InterNations, a global community for people living and working abroad, conducts an annual survey assessing satisfaction levels across 46 countries. The survey considers criteria such as ease of settling in, job opportunities, and leisure activities, and gathers responses from tens of thousands of participants.
Europe's appeal for expats has waned, evidenced by its slide down the rankings. Popular destinations like Italy, France, and Germany have consistently dropped in recent years. Six of the 10 least satisfying countries for expats are in Europe: Italy (37th), Sweden (38th), Norway (39th), the UK (41st), Germany (42nd), and Finland (43rd). These countries lost points due to high living costs, difficulties with social integration, and limited job opportunities.
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Only one European nation made it into the top 10 of the 2025 expat satisfaction ranking. Photo: Johnny Africa |
Only one European nation made it into the top 10 of the 2025 expat satisfaction ranking. Photo: Johnny Africa
Spain emerged as Europe's sole representative in the top 10. For the 4th consecutive year, it ranked first in quality of life, thanks to its weather, culture, vibrant nightlife, and affordable, high-quality healthcare system. Public transport is also a significant advantage, being both reasonably priced and convenient. Walking and cycling are also safe and easy.
However, Spain's ranking dropped significantly when considering job prospects for expats. It placed 34th in career prospects, salaries, and job security. In the "essential factors for expats" index, Spain ranked only 26th for administrative procedures and housing affordability.
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Locals and tourists participate in a flamenco dance on the streets during a festival in Seville, Spain in 2024. Photo: Lorian new alisa |
Locals and tourists participate in a flamenco dance on the streets during a festival in Seville, Spain in 2024. Photo: Lorian new alisa
This year, the top three spots went to Panama, Colombia, and Mexico, all in Latin America. These countries share a common thread of welcoming cultures and vibrant social scenes, making it easy for expats to integrate. They are also popular among retirees, with 25% of respondents being retired, more than double the global average of 11%.
The bottom three positions belong to South Korea (44th), Turkey (45th), and Kuwait (46th), where expats face difficulties finding jobs and report low satisfaction levels.
Asia dominated the rankings, claiming half of the top 10 spots with Thailand (4th), Vietnam (5th), China (6th), Indonesia (8th), and Malaysia (10th). These countries generally offer affordable living costs and easy access to accommodation.
While quality of life scores varied (China ranked 6th while Indonesia placed 40th), expats in these countries generally reported high levels of happiness, except in Malaysia (15th).
Anh Minh (CNBC)
