Countries with the Best Quality of Life

Are you ready to embark on an experience of a lifetime and immerse yourself into a new culture but want to make sure you choose the right destination? Choosing a country based on quality of life to call your international relocation might be the hardest step. In this post you will be able to find some great destinations that align with your basic needs, personality and values. Remember, there is a country for every expat!

Quality of Life Index

Every year, expat and community magazines like The Economist, InterNations and Forbes assess the Quality of Life Index of countries and cities to see which countries offer the best quality of life. They base their decision off this criteria: 

• Crime and safety
• Unemployment
• Average income and buying power
• Life expectancy
• Health Care

Using this as a basis, they release the annual update for countries with the highest quality of life by ranking them. Many countries that rank the highest are very proud of their score and live up to the expectations for expats considering to move there. 

The Highest Ranking Countries

Canada

If you value the quality of educational systems and public health care the most, Canada might be the best choice as their new home abroad. The country ranked 1st on many 2020 lists, and it seems to be the most politically stable country there is. Praised by expats, it is known to be one of the most welcoming and tolerant societies.

Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland

Attracted to European culture? You might want to consider Scandinavian countries, which usually dominate the top 10 of the most livable and happiest countries lists. Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland score high on not only healthcare, but also on ease of working abroad or launching a business and general safety. 

These countries are also a great choice for expats as the majority of their population speaks a high level of English.

Australia and New Zealand

Two countries that also tend to score well on all indexes are Australia and New Zealand, the latter being one of the happiest countries as well. Both countries are economically stable and safe, which is why many people decide to move abroad or even retire abroad.

Most Attractive Destinations According to Expats

Most expats choose their destination based on their unique personal values: peacefulness, leisure, digital life or personal happiness. Before choosing your dream destination, it is recommended to step aside from the general indexes and look at some unique, personal values.

Oman

If you appreciate peace and tranquility, Oman might be the best choice. According to the Global Peace Index, it is the safest country in the Middle East, and many expats find the people and expat community very friendly and welcoming.

Iceland

Pollution can also be an important factor when moving, and the country that ranks the best on this expat-recommended list is Iceland. Moreover, it has a great healthcare system, where people spend less time commuting, which results in low CO2 emissions, all of which contribute to a very high life expectancy.

Singapore

Another country with an environmentally friendly environment and a great infrastructure is Singapore. If that is not enough motivation for moving there, the country is also known for its clean streets, modern buildings and having one of the least-corrupt economies.

Spain and Portugal

Countries that are also attractive for expats include Spain and Portugal, supposedly having the best leisure options and very positive work-life balance levels. 

Estonia

If digitalisation and ease of doing online administrative services is your priority, then Estonia is dominating the digital life index currently, having a dynamic innovation in digitalisation. 

Switzerland, UAE and Japan

Moreover, Switzerland, UAE and Japan are all in the Top 10 of the most safe countries list, and are very popular expat destinations.

But no matter the quality of life index, it’s important to settle in a country that best matches with your goals and personal interest. Because once you find the place that speaks to you, you’ll be able to truly immerse yourself in a new culture and embrace the life of an expat. 

Once you’re ready to prepare your move, check out our expat moving platform to guide you through the moving process and help you get settled on your journey abroad.