HSBC's latest Expat Explorer survey has ranked Singapore as the top destination for expats for the second year in a row, while Switzerland, New Zealand and Sweden topped the economics, experience and family expat league tables, respectively.
Overall, 66% of expats surveyed in the study believed that Singapore offers a better life quality than their home country, compared to 52% of expats globally.
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Sixty two percent of expats in Singapore agreed that it is a good place to progress their career, with the same proportion seeing their earnings rise after moving to the country. The average annual income for expats in the region is $139,000.
Moreover, 75% of expats in the country also believed that quality of education in Singapore is better than at home.
However in terms of earnings, Switzerland topped the table with Singapore in the second and Germany in the third place.
Seventy five percent of expats in Switzerland believed that their earnings prospects were better than in their home country, with an average annual income of $188,000. Also, 87% of expats living in the country said that they felt confident about the political stability of the country, while 80% said that they were confident about its economy.
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By GlobalDataSweden took the top spot as the best place for expat families in the study, with 75% of expat parents in the country rating their children’s quality of life better compared to their home country.
Also, 46% of expats said that the quality of education in Sweden is better, and 75% said that the quality of childcare in the country is better than back home.
New Zealand topped the list for an unrivalled expat experience, with 83% of the region’s expats praising the country’s environment better than back home.
Also, 73% of expats in New Zealand believed that their quality of life has improved, while 57% said that the country welcomes people regardless of faith, races, gender and sexual orientation better than their home country.
HSBC Expat head Dean Blackburn said: “Expats consistently tell us that moving abroad has helped them achieve their ambitions and long-term financial goals, from getting access to better education for their children to buying property or saving more for retirement. Most expats also find that their quality of life has improved since making the move – and that they are integrating well with the local people and culture.”
