Living & relocating
Which are the best countries for expats, according to published data?
Facts checked against the cited sources on
Lists of the best countries for expats usually come from surveys of people who already live abroad, run by companies with something to sell. Here we use only open institutional data. It covers how well public institutions work, how developed a country is and how peaceful it is. These are things an expat may care about, but they are not a measure of expat life itself, and we say so where it matters.
We read the sources in October 2026. The page first reports what the indicators say, with the top positions as published, and then moves to our own selection with stated criteria. For a related look at general quality of life, see what the indices say about the best countries to live in. We give no advice on work permits, residence or entry; use the official portals in the sources.
The indicators we used and their limits
The Worldwide Governance Indicators are produced for the World Bank and give each country an estimate on a scale of roughly minus 2.5 to plus 2.5. We used three: government effectiveness, which covers the quality of public services and policy implementation; rule of law, which covers how far people trust and follow the rules, including contract enforcement and the courts; and political stability, which covers the likelihood of unrest or violence. They combine many survey and expert sources, so they capture perceptions of institutions at national level. We took the 2024 values from the database updated in September 2026.
We added two further sources. The UNDP Human Development Index (2025 report, 2023 values) combines life expectancy, schooling and income and, in UNDP's words, leaves out inequality, poverty, human security and empowerment. The Global Peace Index 2026 from the Institute for Economics & Peace ranks 163 countries on 23 indicators across safety and security, conflict and militarisation, with a lower score meaning more peaceful.
What the governance data say
The table shows the five highest estimates for each of the three dimensions in 2024, taken from the World Bank database and limited to the 193 entries that also appear in the UNDP table. The three lists differ, which is the main point: the best positions for effective government, for the rule of law and for political stability are held by different countries. Singapore and Japan lead on government effectiveness, three Nordic countries lead on rule of law, and small states lead on political stability.
Small states and territories have more weight in the stability list than larger ones. Liechtenstein has the highest political stability estimate (1.60), followed by Andorra, Micronesia, Tuvalu and San Marino. A single event can shift a small country's estimate, so we treat these positions with caution and do not use them to choose between countries.
| Position | Government effectiveness | Rule of law | Political stability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Singapore (2.11) | Finland (2.00) | Liechtenstein (1.60) |
| 2. | Japan (2.07) | Denmark (1.98) | Andorra (1.56) |
| 3. | Luxembourg (1.95) | Norway (1.94) | Micronesia (Federated States of) (1.52) |
| 4. | Denmark (1.89) | Liechtenstein (1.74) | Tuvalu (1.50) |
| 5. | Switzerland (1.88) | Sweden (1.74) | San Marino (1.38) |
Our selection: criteria and method
The ten countries below are our own selection, not a ranking by any institution. We used four filters on published data: a UNDP Human Development Index position of 65th or better, and World Bank 2024 estimates of at least 0.8 for government effectiveness, at least 0.9 for rule of law and at least 0.5 for political stability. In the data we read, 26 countries passed all four. We chose ten to give a mix of regions, so the list leaves out many countries that pass.
The thresholds are our judgement and are blunt. A country just below a line is not meaningfully worse. Africa and the Middle East do not appear because no country in those regions passed all four filters in the data we read. We also did not check any country's official advice for travellers or its rules for foreign residents, so the list is not a recommendation to move anywhere.
| Place | UNDP position | Government effectiveness (position of 193) | Rule of law (position of 193) | Political stability (position of 193) | Global Peace Index 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore (South-East Asia) | UNDP No. 13 | 2.11 (#1) | 1.47 (#17) | 1.26 (#15) | 8th in the 2026 peace index |
| Japan (East Asia) | UNDP No. 23 | 2.07 (#2) | 1.52 (#14) | 1.25 (#17) | 10th in the 2026 peace index |
| Netherlands (western Europe) | UNDP No. 8 | 1.77 (#10) | 1.72 (#8) | 0.56 (#65) | 17th in the 2026 peace index |
| Canada (North America) | UNDP No. 16 | 1.74 (#11) | 1.48 (#16) | 0.64 (#58) | 14th in the 2026 peace index |
| Australia (Oceania) | UNDP No. 7 | 1.72 (#12) | 1.48 (#15) | 0.88 (#39) | 20th in the 2026 peace index |
| Ireland (island of Ireland) | UNDP No. 11 | 1.61 (#14) | 1.54 (#13) | 0.76 (#50) | 5th in the 2026 peace index |
| South Korea (northeast Asia) | UNDP No. 20 | 1.40 (#18) | 1.12 (#27) | 0.74 (#51) | 57th in the 2026 peace index |
| Slovenia (central Europe) | UNDP No. 21 | 1.11 (#30) | 0.93 (#36) | 0.88 (#40) | 4th in the 2026 peace index |
| Portugal (Iberia) | UNDP No. 40 | 0.98 (#34) | 1.00 (#31) | 0.65 (#56) | 7th in the 2026 peace index |
| Uruguay (South America) | UNDP No. 48 | 0.86 (#37) | 0.94 (#35) | 1.31 (#9) | 43rd in the 2026 peace index |
Reading the picks: Asia and Oceania
Singapore and Japan have the two highest government effectiveness estimates, 2.11 and 2.07. Both are also in the top ten of the 2026 peace index, in 8th and 10th place. South Korea has a government effectiveness estimate of 1.40 and sits 57th in the peace index, a reminder that a strong institutional score does not imply a high position on every other measure.
Australia's estimates are 1.72 for effectiveness, 1.48 for rule of law and 0.88 for stability, with a UNDP position of 7th and a peace index position of 20th. These are national figures; they do not show how easy it is to find housing, work or schools in a particular city.
Reading the picks: Europe and the Americas
The Netherlands (government effectiveness 1.77, rule of law 1.72) and Ireland (1.61, 1.54) have similar scores to Canada (1.74, 1.48). Their peace index positions are 17th, 5th and 14th. Slovenia and Portugal have lower government effectiveness scores (1.11 and 0.98) but pass every filter, and Portugal is 7th in the peace index.
Uruguay is the only South American pick. Its estimates are 0.86 for government effectiveness, 0.94 for rule of law and 1.31 for political stability, the last being above Canada's. It is 43rd in the 2026 peace index and 48th in the UNDP table. Because it only just clears two of the thresholds, a small change in the data could move it out of a list like this.
What the numbers cannot tell you
Three things matter a great deal to expats and are absent from every indicator here. The first is language: whether the working language of a country is one you speak. The second is how foreign residents are treated in practice, which governance estimates describe only through national averages. The third is access to the specific job, school, health provider or community you need. Each calls for research of its own, from sources such as national statistics offices, universities and the official sites of the country.
Rules for work and residence are set by each government and change, and they differ by nationality. We give no guidance on them. Official portals are listed in the sources for Canada, Ireland, Japan, Singapore and Slovenia. For other countries, find the government's own immigration site rather than relying on a third-party summary.
Serviced apartments for the first weeks or months
A move often starts before the long-term home is settled. A serviced apartment or aparthotel, meaning a furnished apartment with hotel-style services, can serve as a base for the first weeks or months while you look at neighbourhoods, check commutes and sort out practical matters. A kitchen and a work surface are practical for longer stays, and terms are usually flexible.
Our guides on serviced apartments for relocation and monthly serviced apartments explain what is generally included and what to ask before you book. The table below is built from our own catalogue and shows the aparthotels we list in each of the countries discussed.
Aparthotel stays in these countries
From our own catalogue, computed 26 October 2026. Prices are the median lowest nightly rate per property for two adults, two nights, about two weeks ahead, in euros. They move daily and are not a forecast.
| Country | Stays listed | Median from / night | With a kitchen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore | 57 | €285 | 51% |
| Japan | 547 | €435 | 74% |
| Netherlands | 134 | €181 | 78% |
| Australia | 1474 | €177 | 66% |
| Canada | 378 | €159 | 72% |
| Ireland | 29 | not enough prices | 90% |
| South Korea | 95 | €69 | 73% |
| Slovenia | 37 | not enough prices | 95% |
| Portugal | 402 | €81 | 74% |
| Uruguay | 36 | not enough prices | 78% |
Frequently asked questions
What do the World Bank governance indicators measure?
They combine many survey and expert sources into estimates of perceived government effectiveness, rule of law, political stability and other dimensions, on a scale of roughly minus 2.5 to plus 2.5. They describe national institutions, not any single city.
Is this an official ranking of countries for expats?
No. Nobody publishes one. The top-position table is as published by the World Bank, and the ten-country selection is ours, made with the filters stated on the page.
Do the indicators cover language or integration?
No. They do not measure language, social life, how foreigners are treated or the job market. Research those directly with official and local sources.
Where should I check work and residence rules?
On the official government immigration pages of the country concerned. We list several portals in the sources and give no advice on permits, residence or entry.
How current are the figures?
UNDP values are for 2023 (report released 2025), the Global Peace Index is the 2026 edition, and World Bank governance values are for 2024. We read all sources in October 2026.
Keep reading
- Best Areas to Stay in Hong Kong for Expats
Wan Chai, Central, Mid-Levels, Sheung Wan, North Point and the Southside compared for expats on a longer stay in Hong Kong: MTR links, trams, weather and errands.
- South American Countries for Expats: A Data Comparison
What UNDP, World Bank, Global Peace Index, Transparency International and EF data show for all twelve South American states, with our stated filter and the limits of each figure.
- Branded Residence vs Aparthotel: Ownership and Stays
Branded residence vs aparthotel, and how condo hotels fit in: who owns the unit, who runs it, how long you can stay and what it means when you book.
- Aparthotel vs Serviced Apartment: What Actually Differs
How an aparthotel differs from a serviced apartment: building and management model, facilities, unit size, stay length and ratings, and why the labels overlap.
Sources
- World Bank API: Worldwide Governance Indicators, Government Effectiveness estimate
- World Bank API: Worldwide Governance Indicators, Rule of Law estimate
- World Bank API: Worldwide Governance Indicators, Political Stability estimate
- UNDP Human Development Reports: Human Development Index
- UNDP HDR 2025 composite indices complete time series (CSV)
- Institute for Economics & Peace: Global Peace Index 2026 report
- Government of Canada: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
- Irish Immigration Service portal
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan
- Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, Singapore
- Government of Slovenia
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