Asia Dominates Ranking of Top Expat Destinations
BANGKOK, Thailand – A new survey reveals Asia is a magnet for expatriates, with five of the world’s ten best countries for expats located in the region. The 2025 International Expat insider Survey,conducted by InterNations and based on responses from over 10,000 expats representing 172 nationalities,highlights the increasing appeal of Asian nations driven by affordability,vibrant cultures,and career opportunities.
Thailand, Vietnam, China, indonesia, and Malaysia all secured positions in the top ten, signaling a meaningful shift in global expat preferences. China experienced the most dramatic improvement, climbing from 19th place in 2024 to 6th fueled by positive ratings for working life and overall quality of living. Malaysia entered the top ten for the first time, while Vietnam ranked fifth, achieving especially strong results in personal finance.
The survey underscores the strong link between financial well-being and overall happiness for expats. While experiences vary within each country, common themes emerge.
In China, expats cite strong career prospects, competitive salaries, and job security as key benefits. However,the expat experience differs significantly between cities.Shanghai is a particularly popular hub, according to Dutch expat and travel blogger Chris Oberman.”Shanghai is an amazing spot for expats,” Oberman said. “there are lots of international groups, bars, companies and spots where expats hang out. Beijing has a typical Chinese cultural charm, but the expat community in Beijing is much smaller.”
Belgian expat Wouter Mayeur, who has lived in both Hong Kong and Shenzhen, notes the distinct character of each location. “Hong Kong is vibrant and busy and has many areas where you can shop until you drop, eat amazing food and find plenty of activities for young and old,” Mayeur said. “Despite the political changes in the past few years, the city is still vrey convenient and is agreeable for expats.”
