The survey asked expats to rate several elements to their living experiences, including their safety and security, their health, and their personal happiness, as well as the leisure options available to them, and the quality of transport and travel available. These were then combined to give a score for each country’s overall quality of life. You can see the countries that scored highest below:
18. Ecuador
The small South American republic, nestled in the Pacific northwest of the continent, saw its overall position in terms of quality of life boosted by finishing fifth in the personal happiness area
17. Luxembourg
Famous as a haven for financiers and bankers, Luxembourg topped the safety and security area of Expat Insider’s survey, but finished outside the top ten in every other sub-index.
16. Australia
Australia is famous as a hub for disillusioned Europeans to move for a better life, and that is reflected in its overall position on the list. It ranked sixth for the quality of its leisure options.
15. France
Expats living in Europe’s third largest economy have one of the best qualities of life anywhere, scoring particularly well for health and wellbeing — thanks to the country’s world class healthcare.
14. Portugal
A classic holiday destination for Europeans, Portugal is also popular among expats, who enjoy great leisure options.
13. New Zealand
Like Australia, New Zealand is a haven for disgruntled citizens of the northern hemisphere looking for a fresh start. The nation ranked sixth for the personal happiness of expats.
12. Canada
Despite finishing fourth in the safety and security sub-index of the Quality of Life ranking, Canada just misses out on being on of the ten best places for expats.
11. South Korea
South Korea may not seem like the most obvious place for people to move abroad, but those who do enjoy a great quality of life. Its highest sub-index score was seventh in the travel and transport area.
10. Switzerland
Politically neutral and independent, Switzerland often scores well in quality of life rankings, and Expat Insider’s list is no different. Switzerland’s highest individual ranking was fifth for travel and transport
9. Germany
The powerhouse of Europe’s economy is also one of the best places on the planet for expats, with capital city Berlin attractive to young Brits in particular. Germany’s best sub-index score was for health and wellbeing
8. Singapore
The tiny city-state is famous as a financial centre, but is also home to a big expat community. Those expats enjoy a great quality of life, according to Expat Insider, which ranks Singapore as having the best travel and transport of any country surveyed.
7. Czech Republic
Another nation that might not seem an obvious destination for expats, the Czech Republic was fourth for travel and transport, pushing it up the list overall.
6. Malta
With the best leisure options of any nation surveyed, the Mediterranean island of Malta is the third best nation in Europe for expats
5. Costa Rica
The tiny rainforest covered nation of Costa Rica in central America is a paradise for expats, according to Expat Insider. It ranked as the best nation for personal happiness of those surveyed.
4. Spain
Beautiful beaches, warm weather, and a relaxed pace of life make Spain a pretty obvious choice for expats. It has the second best leisure options sub-index score in Expat Insider’s ranking.
3. Japan
As well as being one of the world’s biggest economies, Japan is also a pretty great place to be an expat. Its overall quality of life score is boosted by top six scores for safety and security, health and wellbeing, and travel and transport.
2. Austria
The small central European nation had the best health and wellbeing score of any nation surveyed, and that has pushed the country towards the very top of the Expat Insider ranking.
1. Taiwan
The island nation off mainland China officially has the best quality of life
