The 61 Top Expat Countries Worldwide

So, where are the top expat countries? What is the best country for expats? It can be a little hard to sort through all the options. Especially given that there are almost 200 countries in the world today. (Current count is between 195-196 depending on if Taiwan is counted).

Our readers frequently tell us that choosing a country is one of the hardest decisions they face, in becoming an expat.

In this post, I’ll share data from Internations listing the top 61 expat countries. This is data from their online expat community.

Here are the top expat countries according to Internations {click image to enlarge}

61 Top Expat Destination Countries

Note: some of the product links in this post are affiliate links to Amazon. If you click and purchase one of these titles, we may make a small commission. The other links are to related expat profiles in each of the countries. 

1. Ecuador: I was surprised to see this at the top of the list. While we’ve lived here for more than five years (and love it) there are other countries that have more luxuries – and might be easier for expats to adapt to. Ecuador is frequently listed as a top expat country. Here are 32 stories of expats living in Ecuador. 
2. Luxembourg: is a tiny country in Western Europe with a population of just 543,000. Read a first-person account of an expat in Luxembourg or learn more about the country in general.
3. Mexico: Without a doubt, almost every expat considers moving to Mexico. Check out this book that interviews 10 expats in Mexico.
4. Switzerland: Learn more about Switzerland with Rick Steves or check out the book: Swiss Life: 30 Things I Wish I’d Known. Here are some things to know before moving to Lucerne Switzerland.
5. USA: I guess not many of us Canadians / Americans think of the US as an expat destination. But, of course, it is. There are almost no resources that I could find (in English) for expats moving to the States.
6. Singapore: Check out Lonely Planet’s best selling Singapore guide.
7. Spain: This is a popular country for British and American families and couples. Read the Moon guide to Living Abroad in Spain. Check out this huge guide: 77 Facts About Spain
8. Philippines: Get a quick introduction to retiring in the Philippines with this free Kindle book. Learn more about Philippine travel.
9. Australia:
10. Hong Kong:
11. Costa Rica: This country was certainly on our radar as we sorted through the country choices. The following books may help you plan your move to Costa Rica: Becoming an Expat Costa Rica and Retire Overseas! Costa Rica Edition. Learn more in our Costa Rica guide.
12. Germany:
13. South Korea:
14. Canada: Canada is our home country – and we miss lots of stuff. Things like fish and chips and Cows ice cream on the Halifax waterfront. We also experienced culture shock when we returned home the first time.  
15. Poland:
16. New Zealand:
17. Czech Republic:
18. Norway:
19. Austria:
20. Indonesia:
21. United Kingdom:
22. Thailand: This is very popular with expats and backpackers. There seems to be a high concentration of young expats – singles and couples. Check out this expat book: Becoming an expat: Thailand
23. Netherlands: 
24. Panama: If you are considering Panama, you should check out The Gringo Guide to Panama: What to Know Before You Go It is one of the top-selling books about Panama and is highly rated.
25. Malaysia:
26. Vietnam: For more about the area, check out DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Vietnam and Angkor Wat
27. Colombia:
28. Hungary:
29. Belgium: 
30. Oman: is located on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. Learn the basics of customs and culture in Oman: Culture Smart!
31. Peru:
32. Denmark:
33. UAE:
34. Sweden:
35. Kazakhstan:
36. Chile:
37. Kenya:
38. China: It’s on our daughter’s bucket list, so I guess it’s on ours too. Check out this book: Expat in China: A Family Adventure
39. Cyprus:
40. France: Learn more about France in this epic guide.
41. Portugal:
42. Brazil: is the largest country in both South America and in all of Latin America. It has a population of more than 200 million. Expat book: Reality Check Life in Brazil through the eyes of a foreigner.
43. Ireland:
44. South Africa:
45. Senegal:
46. Argentina:
47. Japan:
48. Bahrain:
49. Turkey:
50. Israel:
51. Uganda:
52. Egypt:
53. Italy: I would be lying if I said I never thought about moving to Italy. It is at the top of our Europe bucket list, especially the western coast. This book looks promising for hitting the high points of  Italy: 100 Locals Tell You Where to Go, What to Eat, and How to Fit In
54. Russia:
55. India: Learn more about India in this guide:78 Facts about India
56. Nigeria:
57. Ghana:
58. Qatar:
59. Greece:
60. Saudi Arabi:
61. Kuwait:

The Top Expat Country For You

Choosing the country you will relocate to is not easy. We researched countless hours before we settled on Ecuador.

To help you, we’ve put a listing of the best expat books. This is a big set with specific reviews and direct links to Amazon. As we planned our relocation, we bought a lot of books. It helped us make good decisions and have realistic expectations.

Your Turn

What country (countries) are you considering? What are your criteria for a new country? See you in the comments!

Bryan Haines

Hi, I’m Bryan Haines. And I’m a co-founder of this site. I’m a traveler and photographer.

I also blog about photography with a focus on GoPro and action cameras.

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