9 in 10 Europeans would move abroad – here’s where they would go

Nearly half of people living in France, Germany, Italy and the UK expect to live in a different country at some point in the future, a new survey has revealed.

Conducted on behalf of digital insurance firm Feather, the cost of living crisis is the main reason making people consider a life abroad, having been cited by 53% of Britons, 48% of French, 43% of Germans and 32% of Italians.

Just one in 10 Europeans in each of the markets polled, with 500 adults questioned in each, said they definitely wouldn’t move abroad.

While the top destination for each country differs, Spain is a clear winner.

Both Brits and Italians named it as their preferred choice, with 24% and 20% naming the nation respectively, while the country took second place in France and Italy, with 16% and 12% suggesting it as their top option.

For France, Canada was the number one pick, with 17% mentioning it as somewhere they would want to live in the future, ahead of Italy, which was highlighted by 14% of those polled.

Germans aren’t looking to travel far from home at all, with 17% picking Austria, followed by Spain and Switzerland, with 12% each.

Brits, on the other hand, are perfectly willing to relocate to a far-flung destination, with 19% choosing Australia, 15% Canada, and 10% New Zealand.

While Dubai is frequently mentioned as an expat hotspot, just 3% of Brits said they were considering it. Having said that, the survey was conducted at the end of June, so the response will undoubtedly have been affected by the Iran strikes on the UAE over the past few months.

The rise of the ‘semi-pat’

While looking into the future of expats, Feather also spoke to travel expert Holly Rubenstein.

The Travel Diaries podcast host notes that the traditional version of expat life, where you choose a single country and build a life there, is falling out of fashion.

“The emerging version is much more fluid – spend six months somewhere, work remotely, test a lifestyle, and build connections across several places,” she notes.

“Gen Alpha will grow up with remote connection as the norm. For them, career, friendships and identity won’t need to sit in just one place.”