Growing Expat Populations Around The World

With an 83% increase in the number of international migrants over the last thirty years, expat populations are booming, and remote working and education opportunities are among the factors contributing to this growth. 

From health insurance to visas, there are many things to consider when moving to a new country. Despite these challenges, being an expat can offer many advantages in terms of professional and personal development.

We take a closer look at growing expat populations around the world.

In this article

1. Which countries are seeing the biggest change in expat population?
2. Countries with the highest proportion of male expats
3. Countries with the highest proportion of female expats
4. What’s the most common age of expats?
5. Countries with the highest proportion of emigrated residents
6. Countries with the most ‘moving to’ Google searches

Expat populations around the world

To understand the current state of expats around the world, we have analysed data from the last thirty years, looking at everything from the age and gender of international migrants to the popularity of Google searches in OECD and European countries.

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Countries with the biggest change in expats since 1990

There are many reasons why someone may move to another country, but which locations are currently the most desirable for international expats? Here’s what we found.

South Korea has the biggest increase in expats; almost 4,000% more than in 1990.

1/ South Korea

3,896% increase

South Korea takes the top spot on our list, with the biggest increase in expat residents since 1990. This East Asian country may not have the most international migrants in the world, but when comparing its most recent figures to those of 1990, South Korea has seen a bigger change than any other, increasing by more than 3,800% in the last thirty years.

2/ Colombia

1,727% increase

From around 104,000 international migrants in 1990 to a whopping 1.9 million as per the most recent figures, Colombia has experienced the second-biggest spike in expats of all the countries on our list. Considering this country offers affordable housing and the opportunity to obtain citizenship within as little as five years, it is no wonder that expats are flocking here!

3/ Chile

1,430% increase

With a 1,430.23% increase in international migrants, Chile completes our top three. As the second South American country to feature in this ranking, it appears that this area of the world has become a haven for people looking for a new adventure. The combination of a low cost of living and high quality of life has made Chile a popular destination for retirees.

Top 10 countries with the biggest change in expats

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Countries with the highest proportion of male expats

Recent figures indicate that there are more than 145 million male international migrants worldwide. Considering each country’s population, we have found which locations currently have the highest proportion of male expats.

With almost 150,000 international migrants per million people, Australia is home to more male expats than any other country.

1/ Australia

149,498 male expats per 1,000,000 residents

Australia may be isolated regarding its location, but this hasn’t deterred expats. According to the most recent figures, more than 3.8 million of the residents in Australia are male international migrants, and when the population is considered, this equates to 149,498 per one million people. 

2/ Switzerland

141,213 male expats per 1,000,000 residents

Despite the high cost of living, many male expats are choosing Switzerland as their place of residence. Compared to this country’s population, Switzerland has the second highest proportion of male expats of all the locations on our list, totalling 141,213 per million residents.

3/ New Zealand

138,566 male expats per 1,000,000 residents

New Zealand completes our list of the top three countries with the highest proportion of male expats. The relaxed nature of this Oceanic country makes it desirable for anyone looking for a peaceful change of scenery, particularly retirees. Bearing this in mind, it is unsurprising that 138,566 of every million residents in this country are male expats.

Top 10 countries with the highest proportion of male expats

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Countries with the highest proportion of female expats

We have revealed which countries have the highest number of male expats, but how do the female expat population hotspots compare? Here’s what we found.

Australia has the most female expats of any country, just shy of 152,000 residents per million.

1/ Australia

151,909 female expats per 1,000,000 residents

Australia appeared at the top of the male expat ranking earlier in this report, and this country is just as popular among females. Australia is known for its progressiveness in gender equality, providing equal opportunities for men and women across the workplace. Bearing this in mind, it’s no wonder that many female expats reside here, with 151,909 international migrants per million people.

2/ New Zealand

147,980 female expats per 1,000,000 residents

When the country’s population is considered, New Zealand has the second-highest proportion of female international migrants, totalling 147,980 per million residents. Aside from being one of the safest countries in the world, New Zealand has an excellent reputation for work-life balance, which is a perfect incentive for someone looking to relocate.

3/ Switzerland

146,626 female expats per 1,000,000 residents

Switzerland is an excellent option for any woman looking to progress in a career in the finance industry, as this country is home to a global financial hub with plenty of high-salaried opportunities. Suppose this wasn’t enough of an incentive, Switzerland offers many additional benefits for its employees, including maternity leave and childcare support, which all likely contribute to the fact that there are more than 146,000 female migrants per million residents.

Top 10 countries with the highest proportion of female expats

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The most common age of expats

Whether you are a family looking for better opportunities or a retired couple searching for a new adventure, there are many reasons why people of all ages want to migrate to a new country. The following table reveals the most common ages of international migrants.

More than 15 million international migrants are aged between 35 and 39 years old.

Most common ages of expats

1/ Age 35-39

15,485,762 expats

People in their thirties are often at the peak of their professional careers, and relocating to another country can provide expats with better opportunities and a more attractive salary. With every country offering something different for its residents, finding the perfect place for you is essential, particularly with all the economic uncertainty in today’s society.

2/ Age 30-34

14,978,952 expats

As the second group of thirty-somethings to appear in this top three ranking, it seems that this decade is prime time for expats worldwide, with almost 15 million international migrants between the ages of 30 and 34. Aside from job prospects, this age group is more likely than most to have a young family, and this is a big consideration when it comes to emigrating.

3/ Age 40-44

14,889,039 expats

Completing our top three list of the most common age groups among expats, with more than 14.8 million, are 40 to 44 years old. People in this age group generally have decades of experience under their belt, which is desirable for employers across the globe. As a result, many people in this age group are scouted by companies under the skilled migration policy, where visas and sponsorships are submitted to make the migration process easy for future residents.

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Countries with the highest proportion of emigrated residents

For every million people worldwide, almost 36,000 have emigrated to a different country at one point or another. The following rank reveals which countries have seen the most emigrated residents recently.

People are emigrating from Bosnia and Herzegovina more than any other country.

1/ Bosnia and Herzegovina

514,367 emigrants per 1,000,000 people

Of the factors relating to the high levels of emigration in Bosnia and Herzegovina, one of the most contributory is this country’s unemployment, which has one of the highest rates in Europe. This, paired with the current economic climate, makes it unsurprising that more than 1.6 million of this country’s residents have left in recent years.

2/ Albania

434,486 emigrants per 1,000,000 people

With 434,486 per million people, Albania has the second-highest proportion of emigrants of all the countries on our list. Residents who emigrate from Albania could be young people looking for a higher-quality education or a more stable living environment. As well as this, other European countries have more desirable employment opportunities and wage offerings than Albania.

3/ North Macedonia

333,123 emigrants per 1,000,000 people

From name disputes to corruption, North Macedonia has faced some political uncertainty over the years, and this instability may have influenced its residents’ decision to move to a different country. Whatever the reason, recent data reveals that this country has seen 333,123 emigrants per million people, the third-highest of every country on our list.

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Countries with the most ‘moving to’ Google searches in the last year

For many people, the internet is our go-to resource for finding information, and international travel is no exception. Using Google search data, we have revealed which countries are being researched the most regarding moving.

Australia has racked up the most move-related Google searches of any country, totalling 132,500 in the last year alone.

1/ Australia

132,500 Google searches

After appearing in more than one of our rankings already, it may come as no surprise that many people are researching about relocating to Australia. With 132,500 Google searches for the term ‘moving to Australia,’ this country takes the top spot on this list. If you are considering a move down under, Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane are among the most popular destinations for expats.

2/ Canada

127,800 Google searches

From one side of the globe to the other, Canada appears next on our ranking with 127,800 Google searches. Canada has excellent education services and diverse landscapes, so whether you are looking for better opportunities for yourself and your family or a tranquil retirement destination, this country is a great fit.

3/ New Zealand

83,700 Google searches

If you are one of the 83,700 researching ‘moving to New Zealand,’ then you are in luck as this country offers a range of visa options to support potential expats. Some of the most common include the Essential Skills Work Visa and Resident Visa, which both provide pathways to permanent residency should you wish to stay in this country for the long run.

Top 10 countries with the most ‘moving to’ Google searches in the last year

Are you thinking about moving and living abroad?

Read our full guide on moving abroad for expats

Wherever you go, go with total peace of mind

At William Russell, we have over 30 years’ experience of helping expatriates finding best places in the world to move abroad and settle into their new lives overseas by providing world-class international health insurance. Plus, we produce lots of expert material to help you and your family adapt to life abroad.

Making the move to another country can be challenging. But no matter where you go, you can take one thing off your mind. William Russell offers international health insurance that covers you for everything from minor injuries to long hospital stays, and we can even offer medical evacuations to patients who require treatment in other countries where it’s not available locally.

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Methodology

We made a list of all OECD and European countries. We removed Ukraine and Russia from the seeding list.

We used United Nations to find the following data for each country:

• Total, destination (Table 1)
  • Female and male international migrant population (2020)
  • Total international migrant population (1990 and 2020)
• Total, destination (Table 2)
  • Total population (2020)
• Age and sex (Table 1)
  • Number of international migrants in each age group (2020)
• Total, origin (Table 1)
  • Total international emigrant population (2020)

We subtracted the 2020 migrant population from the 1990 migrant population before dividing this by the 1990 figure to calculate the change in the migrant population between 1990 and 2020.

We divided the male migrant population by the total population before multiplying this by 1,000,000 to calculate the number of male migrants per 1,000,000 residents. This calculation was repeated to find the number of female migrants per 1,000,000 residents and the number of emigrants per 1,000,000 in each country. For these factors, we removed any countries where the total population is < 1,000,000.

We used Google Ads Keyword Planner to find the total number of Google searches for the term ‘moving to + country’ between August 2023- July 2024.

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