The results of two major expat studies were released recently, the Expat Insider survey produced by InterNations the global expat Social Networking and Information Company, released in August and the Expat Explorer commissioned by HSBC, now into its 8th year released in September 2015.
Whilst both surveys provide much insight into expat life and preferences, not surprisingly, these surveys show many differences in findings. Only four destinations Singapore, New Zealand, Canada and Australia are featured in the top ten destinations by both sets of results. What is surprising is that 6 out of the top 10 destinations are different.
The top ten destination for expats according to the InterNations report which surveyed 14,300 expats covering 195 countries principally from its global 1.6 million members (0.93%) are Ecuador, Mexico, Malta, Singapore, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Thailand, Panama, Canada and Australia. The report provides a total survey ranking for the top 64 countries.
The HSBC expat explorer survey on the other hand formulated its results based on replies by 22,000 expats covering over 100 countries puts the top expat destinations to be Singapore, New Zealand, Sweden, Bahrain, Germany, Canada, Australia, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, Switzerland. The responses from this survey which were undertaken by market research agency YouGov came from a mixture of sources, including consumer panels, and outreach conducted via HSBC using a variety of platforms.
InterNations’ Expat Insider survey explains the reasons why Ecuador is number one:
“Once more, Ecuador comes out on top as the clear winner of the Expat Insider survey. It occupies first place in the Personal Finance and Cost of Living Indices: 91% of the survey participants are generally satisfied with the cost of living and 80% say the same about their personal financial situation. But the quality of life is also relatively high. In this index, Ecuador occupies the top rank for Personal Happiness. Respondents are generally satisfied with their personal life ... Leisure options also seem to be abundant in Ecuador, as 94% of respondents give them a positive rating.
“More than that, though, Ecuador is a country that is easy to settle down in. The country ranks first when it comes to finding friends and feeling welcome. Job security, however, is only mediocre - Ecuador occupies 22nd rank in this subcategory and 59% say their income is lower than at home. Moreover, 55% fall into the lowest income brackets of 25,000 USD and below.
“The majority of expats living in Ecuador are US Americans (56%) and in their golden years: the average age is 51.9 years. Of those who have a job, 36% work part-time while 36% of all respondents in Ecuador are retirees. The country seems to attract those who plan on a long-term stay. In fact, 45% say that they might stay there forever.”
