Switzerland leads the expat ranking for the third time
The alpine nation is once again at the top of expatriates in the annual expat survey by the British bank HSBC, also thanks to its high quality of life amid the travel restrictions of the pandemic.
This content was posted on October 19, 2021 – 12:20 p.m.
Keystone-SDA / jdp
The ranking published on Tuesday leads Switzerland to the top for the third time in a row, followed by Australia and New Zealand. The United Arab Emirates and the Channel Islands followed, along with the Isle of Man, Bahrain and Qatar. Singapore, which usually ranks at the top, fell back to ninth place.
Almost nine out of ten expatriates see themselves in Switzerland for at least another year. Stability seemed to be a key factor. Around 92% of expats in Switzerland said the country will be a stable place to live in the next 12 months.
Around 90% of those questioned felt that their “environment” had been “better” since they moved and a little more than 85% felt safer. Almost three-quarters “want to save for retirement,” while a third set aside money to buy real estate in the country.
The survey comes after a year of pandemic restrictions that made it difficult for expats to return home. Switzerland benefited from its high quality of life and fewer Covid 19 restrictions compared to many other countries. Globally, the survey suggests that people prioritize wellbeing and personal lifestyle over traditional relocation factors such as career advancement and expanding their professional network.
This is the 14thNS Edition of the Expat Explorer surveyexternal link, which surveyed around 20,460 people in 46 countries.
Switzerland tends to have mixed ratings in expat surveys. Another poll published by InterNations earlier this year ranked Switzerland 30th out of 59 destinations between Ireland and Indonesia. The country does well when it comes to quality of life, but less so when it comes to settling in and friendships, as well as the cost of living. The survey asks expats to rate up to 37 different aspects of living abroad on a scale from one to seven.
