Every year, millions of people choose to live outside their home country. Those who do so out of choice rather than necessity are known as expats. Internations.org conducted a global survey among 12,500 of them. Male and female participants were asked to share their thoughts on what it is like to live and work abroad. The respondents also chose the best and worst places to live on Earth.

In 2024, expats ranked Panama as the best country to live in. The country in Central America moved up from the high third place it held in last year's ranking. Over 82% of people in Panama are satisfied with their lives, compared to the global average of 68%. Following Panama, the top countries for expats were Mexico, Indonesia, and Spain.

On the other hand, expatriates rated Kuwait, Turkey, Finland, and Germany as the worst countries to move to. The bottom ten also included the UK, Ireland, and Norway. It's possible that the differences in satisfaction levels can be attributed to the reasons for emigration, with some seeking economic opportunities while others seeking a high quality of life.

Approximately 30% of those surveyed were retirees, and it's unsurprising that retirees who can afford to emigrate to a "nice country" just to live there are generally more satisfied compared to those moving abroad for economic reasons.

Panama scored highly on several fronts, including the ease of obtaining a visa and settling in, securing property, and a good work-life balance. Nearly three-quarters of respondents (74%) living in the country are satisfied with their financial situation, which is 20 percentage points higher than the global average of 54%.

Additionally, 88% of respondents in Panama believe their household income is sufficient or more than sufficient to live comfortably, compared to 70% globally. The ranking, however, did not highlight that Panama is often described as a 'tax haven.'

Source: internations.org