InterNations published the latest Expat Insider study on 6 September 2017. More than 12,500 respondents living in 188 countries participated in the survey, giving their insight as expats in several different categories. 

In the overall ranking, Luxembourg ranked as the 14th “top expat destination”.

The grand duchy placed 5th in the safety and security sub-section, having the world’s best political stability. In quality of life, Luxembourg landed in the top 15. 

However, Luxembourg ceded its first rank in working life, dropping to 4th place between 2016 and 2017. In education, the country fell from the 5th to 17th. 

The study also showed that most expats living in Luxembourg are unlikely to have local friends. 68% of respondents said their social circle consisted of mostly expats simply because a significant part of population comes from abroad. 

In the 2017 study, Portugal proved to be one of the biggest winners, climbing 23 places in the overall ranking to become the world’s 5th best country for expats. According to InterNations, the country mostly improved its quality of life index and the ease of settling in index. 

The world’s top three expat destinations in 2017 were Bahrain, followed by Costa Rica and Mexico. On the other hand, Greece, Kuwait and Nigeria were the world’s least popular destinations among expats. 

The biggest losers this year were Australia (down 27 places), Poland (down by 25) and Ukraine (down 25 slots). 

The UK considerably lost 21 places in the overall poll, ranking 54 in 2017. According to InterNations, nearly two-thirds of expats there were unsatisfied with cost of living, as well as with politics in the UK.