The 53 best and worst countries to work as an expat have been revealed – with a European destination at the top of the list and a popular holiday hotspot last in the ranking.
The UK and America, meanwhile, fail to make the top 20.
The results come from a survey by Swiss-based expat guide InterNations, which asked foreign workers around the globe to rate their local job market, salary security and work-life balance.
Read on for the full results and let us know where you’d most like to move in the comment section.
The best countries to work as an expat
Denmark
Denmark tops the list, with one Australian expat telling InterNations: ‘Work-life balance is great and five to six weeks of holidays are the standard.’
The 53 best and worst countries to work as an expat have been revealed, with Denmark top of the list. Pictured above is the country’s capital, Copenhagen
More than four in five expats (84 per cent) are happy with their work-life balance in Denmark, while 83 per cent praise their working hours.
Around two-thirds of expats (65 per cent) say they can work remotely some of the time, while 82 per cent agree that Danish business culture supports flexibility.
However, despite the high scores for work-life balance, only 60 per cent of expats in Denmark felt they were paid fairly for their work.
Saudi Arabia
A Spanish expat in Saudi Arabia tells InterNations: ‘I like how there are work opportunities for skilled individuals.’ Pictured above is the capital, Jeddah
Saudi Arabia grabs second place in the ranking, with a Spanish expat telling InterNations: ‘I like how there are work opportunities for skilled individuals.’
More than half of expats (55 per cent) rate Saudi Arabia’s job market positively, while 75 per cent say that moving there has improved their job prospects.
Around six in 10 expats (63 per cent) say they moved to Saudi Arabia for their career and 82 per cent are happy with the local economy.
However, expats face longer hours, with many working a 47.8-hour week compared to the global average of 42.5 hours.
Belgium
Expats praise third-placed Belgium’s job security, the local job market and career opportunities. Pictured above is the port city of Ghent
Belgium places third on the list, with a Zimbabwean expat saying to InterNations: ‘What do I like about Belgium? The infrastructure and services, the quality of education and the work opportunities.’
Expats praise the country’s job security, the local job market and their career opportunities there.
Close to two-thirds (65 per cent) say that moving to Belgium has improved their career prospects, while 76 per cent say the local business culture supports flexibility.
Expats also enjoy a shorter working week than the global average, with most spending 40.8 hours a week at work compared to 42.5 hours.
The worst countries to work as an expat
Turkey
Turkey lands last on the list for the third year in a row, with one German expat explaining to InterNations: ‘The job insecurity, general inflation and economic instability bother me.’ Pictured above is Istanbul
Turkey lands last on the list for the third year in a row, with one German expat explaining to InterNations: ‘The job insecurity, general inflation and economic instability bother me.’
Close to two in five expats (38 per cent) are unsatisfied with their working hours in Turkey, while 64 per cent rate the economy negatively.
A third of expats (33 per cent) are unhappy with their job security, while 40 per cent rate their career opportunities negatively.
Egypt
Egypt comes second-last in the ranking, with more than a quarter rating their work-life balance as poor. Pictured above is Cairo
Egypt comes second-last, with two in five expats (43 per cent) saying they are unsatisfied with their job.
More than a quarter (37 per cent) think their work-life balance is poor, while just 15 per cent regard the local economy positively.
InterNations adds: ‘Battered by a prevailing foreign currency crisis, global shocks, and historically high inflation, Egypt’s economy is only slowly expected to recover.’
Cyprus
Two in five expats (40 per cent) in Cyprus rate their personal career opportunities negatively, while 41 per cent say moving there hasn’t improved their career prospects. Pictured above is the capital, Nicosia
Cyprus rounds off the bottom three worst places to work as an expat, with one Lebanese expat revealing to InterNations: ‘Working opportunities for foreigners are rare (especially for students).’
Two in five expats (40 per cent) in Cyprus rate their personal career opportunities negatively.
Meanwhile, 41 per cent say moving there hasn’t improved their career prospects.
Many expats are also unhappy with their salary in Cyprus, with 41 per cent saying they’re not paid fairly for their work.