Switzerland, Singapore and China are the top destinations for expats, including those from Canada, according to HSBC’s Expat Explorer global survey.

Survey highlights:

  • Switzerland not just for chocolate-lovers. Expats say it offers a high-quality, well-balanced life. From a financial well-being perspective, Switzerland emerges as a destination to advance career prospects and receive a healthy salary, while also maintaining a good work/life balance. Many expats in Switzerland also comment on the country’s air quality and pleasant surroundings, with three quarters agreeing they’re an improvement on their home country.

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  • Asia the place to be to increase earning potential. China’s home to the largest proportion of high-earning expats in the world – nearly 4 in 10 expats surveyed earn over USD$200,000 and over three quarters (76%) have more disposable income than they did at home.
  • Expats enjoy growing older in Canada. Three in 10 expats identified themselves as ‘retired’, making Canada home to the highest proportion of expat retirees in the world – and well above the global average of just over one in 10. In fact, eight in 10 retired expats display significant confidence in Canada’s economy by choosing to keep the majority of their retirement investments in Canada — almost double the global average (41%).

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  • Canada’s public education system is highly valued. Not only do expat parents feel their children are safer and healthier in Canada, but eight in 10 are enrolling their children in Canadian public schools – the highest proportion of any country surveyed, and more than double the global average (37%).
  • The weather may be colder, but Canadians are warm and friendly. More than six in 10 expats say that they find it easy to make local friends, and just under half are socializing more with Canadians than with other expats – well above the global average (31%). In fact, nine in 10 expats say they feel a strong connection with the country, well above the global average (62%).

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