This is the top destination for expats globally

The survey polled 21,950 respondents about their life overseas, in categories such as career, financial well-being, quality of life, and ease of acclimatisation in their new country.

The laid back Kiwi lifestyle has pushed New Zealand up the ranks as one of the top places to live and work for expats.

Expats have once again voted Singapore as the best country to relocate to.

The report showed that 59 per cent of expats believe Singapore is a good place for career advancements and 53 per cent believe they are able to acquire new skills more so in Singapore than at home. For experience, Singapore ranked much better on “health”. 65 percent of parents also said that they have seen an improvement in their children’s health and well-being after having moved to Singapore. Watersports, team games like rugby and even a “Snow City” offer ways to stay active. More than seven in 10 expats in Singapore are confident about its economy, compared to a global average of just 48 per cent. The vast majority (87%) of expats praise Singapore’s level of safety.

Thirty-nine countries were included in the league tables, and while Singapore came top when balancing work and life, other countries also did well in the rankings.

“Something we value very highly is how friendly locals are towards foreigners and how easy it is to settle in”. A total of 39 countries qualified for the league tables in this edition.

The bank’s survey, of 22,000 people across the world, reveals insights about living as an expatriate as it relates to family life, the economic benefits and the sheer experience of it.

Singapore takes the top spot as according to the survey, more than two-thirds of expats affirmed that moving to Singapore has greatly improved their quality of life.

2) New Zealand. Locals, accordingly, make the expats easily feel at home. Almost half (49%) of expats in Spain say this has played a part in them feeling a strong connection with the country, while 81% are learning to speak Spanish. Settling in is relatively quick, with 35% who felt at home instantly or within six months. “Indeed, 74% tell us their finances have become more complex in some way since moving, which highlights the value of seeking help with this aspect of life”.

Betty Miao, Executive Vice President and Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management for HSBC Bank Canada said: “What the latest research shows is that rather than aiming purely for higher wages or instant career success, many expats move to improve their overall life experience, seek a personal challenge or learn new skills”.

It also ranked poorly in integration (35th) and culture (34th).