The 2025 Expat Insider survey, conducted by InterNations (the world’s largest expat community with over 5.7 million members), has unveiled the latest rankings of popular expat destinations based on feedback from more than 10,000 respondents across 172 nationalities. The survey—now in its 12th year—evaluates life abroad through five key indices: Working Abroad, Personal Finance, Quality of Life, Expat Essentials, and Ease of Settling In, providing a comprehensive look at what makes a country a top (or bottom) choice for expats.
Top 10 Highlights: Asian Dominance and Latin American Appeal
This year, China and Malaysia made significant jumps, rising 13 and 12 spots respectively to enter the top 10 (China at 6th, Malaysia at 10th). Alongside Thailand (4th), Vietnam (5th), and Indonesia (8th), Asian countries now account for half of the top 10—a testament to their growing appeal for expats. Key trends among these destinations include:
- Financial Satisfaction: All five countries rank in the top 10 of the Personal Finance index (Vietnam leads at 1st, Malaysia at 9th), with expats citing affordable cost of living and good disposable income.
- Housing Affordability: China secures 11th place in the Housing Subcategory (the weakest result in this group), but expats praise its reasonable prices and availability.
- Culinary Delights: Every top 5 Asian destination ranks in the top 10 for dining options, offering everything from street food to high-end restaurants.
- Happiness Levels: Expats in these countries report high happiness scores (all in the top 10 except Malaysia, which ranks 15th.
The top 3 spots are occupied by Latin American countries: Panama (1st), Colombia (2nd), and Mexico (3rd). These nations share a friendly, welcoming culture and excellent Ease of settling in—each subcategory (local friendliness, social life, etc.) ranks in the top 5. Notably, 25% or more of expats in these countries are retired (vs. 11% globally), making them hotspots for retirees seeking a relaxed lifestyle.
Outside the top 10, the UAE (7th) and Spain (9th) stand out as geographic outliers. While the UAE leads in Quality of Life (7th), it drops to 1st in Expat Essentials (thanks to strong digital and admin infrastructure) but falls to 5th in Working Abroad. Spain, conversely, ranks 23rd in Expat Essentials but excels in Working Abroad (5th) and Quality of Life (4th). However, expats in the UAE report lower happiness (17th) compared to Spain (4th), and disposable income is a concern (38th vs. Spain’s 18th).
Bottom 10 Insights: European Struggles and Work-Life Challenges
The bottom 10 includes familiar faces like Italy (37th), Sweden (38th), and Norway (39th), but also some surprises: South Korea tumbled 21 spots to 44th, while Canada slipped back into the bottom 10 (40th) for the second year in a row. Common themes among these countries include:
- European Dominance: Six of the bottom 10 are European (Italy, Sweden, Norway, UK, Germany, Finland), with expats ranking them low in happiness (except Italy at 26th).
- Work-Life Balance: Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Finland) offer great environments and climate (top 10) but struggle with ease of settling in (bottom 10). Digital life (Italy 40th, Germany 46th) and admin topics (46th, 42nd) are particularly challenging in Italy and Germany.
- Cost of Living: Canada ranks 40th in housing, 41st in costs, and 44th in medical expenses—making it expensive for expats to settle.
- Work Culture: South Korea, Türkiye, and Kuwait (bottom 3) are singled out for tough work conditions, ranking in the bottom 10 of Working Abroad and Work Culture & Satisfactio.
The 2025 survey paints a clear picture: Asian and Latin American countries are increasingly popular for their financial stability, affordability, and friendly cultures, while European nations face challenges related to work-life balance and cost of living. Whether you’re seeking adventure or retirement, the results offer valuable insights for prospective expats.
