Countries with the largest expat communities

If you are thinking of moving abroad, you might be wondering which countries have the most expats living there. Expats are people who live in a country other than their country of origin, usually for work, study, retirement or lifestyle reasons. According to the United Nations, there were 281 million international migrants in 2020, which is about 3.6% of the world’s population.

Some countries have more expats than others, either because they attract more foreigners with their economic opportunities, cultural diversity, quality of life or visa policies, or because they have a large diaspora of people who left their homeland for various reasons. Here are some of the countries with the largest expat communities in the world, based on data from the UN and other sources.

The United States

The United States is the most popular destination for expats in the world, with an estimated 51 million foreign-born residents in 2020, which is about 15% of its total population. The US attracts expats from all over the world with its diverse culture, strong economy, educational opportunities and political influence. The largest groups of expats in the US are from Mexico (11.6 million), India (2.7 million), China (2.5 million), Philippines (2 million) and El Salvador (1.4 million).

Germany

Germany is the second most popular destination for expats in Europe and the fifth in the world, with an estimated 13.1 million foreign-born residents in 2020, which is about 16% of its total population. Germany attracts expats with its high standard of living, social security, environmental sustainability and cultural heritage. The largest groups of expats in Germany are from Turkey (2.8 million), Poland (0.9 million), Syria (0.8 million), Romania (0.7 million) and Italy (0.6 million).

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is the third most popular destination for expats in Asia and the sixth in the world, with an estimated 13 million foreign-born residents in 2020, which is about 37% of its total population. Saudi Arabia attracts expats mainly with its oil-rich economy, which offers lucrative jobs and tax-free income for skilled workers and professionals. The largest groups of expats in Saudi Arabia are from India (2.8 million), Pakistan (2.6 million), Bangladesh (1.5 million), Egypt (1.4 million) and Philippines (1 million).

The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is the fourth most popular destination for expats in Europe and the seventh in the world, with an estimated 9.3 million foreign-born residents in 2020, which is about 14% of its total population. The UK attracts expats with its global influence, cultural diversity, historical legacy and educational excellence. The largest groups of expats in the UK are from India (1.5 million), Poland (0.9 million), Pakistan (0.7 million), Romania (0.6 million) and Ireland (0.5 million).

Canada

Canada is the second most popular destination for expats in North America and the eighth in the world, with an estimated 8.6 million foreign-born residents in 2020, which is about 23% of its total population. Canada attracts expats with its multiculturalism, tolerance, natural beauty and quality of life. The largest groups of expats in Canada are from India (1.4 million), China (1.3 million), Philippines (0.9 million), United Kingdom (0.7 million) and Iran (0.3 million).

Where do expats retire?

There is no definitive answer to this question, as different sources may use different definitions and methods to measure the number of expat retirees in various countries. However, based on some available data, we can get a general idea of some of the most popular destinations for expat retirees around the world.

According to a report by Finaccord, the US and Spain attract the most retired expatriates, chiefly Canadians retiring to the US, and British or German residents retiring to Spain. Other countries that rank high on the list of expat retiree destinations include France, Portugal, Italy, Thailand, Australia, and Mexico.

Another way to look at this question is to see which countries have the most US retirees collecting Social Security checks abroad. According to government data, Canada takes the No. 1 spot on this list, followed by Japan, Mexico, Germany, and the UK. Other countries that have more than 10,000 US retirees receiving Social Security benefits include Australia, France, Ireland, Italy, Philippines, Spain, and Switzerland.

Of course, these numbers do not capture the full picture of expat retiree populations, as they do not include retirees who do not receive Social Security benefits or who come from other countries besides the US. Moreover, they do not reflect other factors that may influence expat retiree choices, such as quality of life, cost of living, climate, culture, health care, safety, and visa requirements.