Switzerland tops the list followed by Singapore, China and Germany. While the United States is ranked at 30th slot as the United Kingdom comes at number 33. Hong Kong which is recently witnessing a mass protest demanding democracy, comes next to India, at number ten.
The bank surveyed 9,288 expats in over 100 countries for the annual ranking but presented findings for only 34 countries with more than 100 respondents each. The survey took into note a host of indicators such as salaries earned, the expat’s quality of life and an expat family’s ability to raise kids abroad.
Switzerland retained the top position as Egypt came last. Switzerland topped the rankings, as it had done the year before. Over a quarter of the expats HSBC polled earned more than $200,000 annually, but also maintained a better work-life balance than in their home countries.
Switzerland’s beautiful scenery and lack of air pollution is a plus, with vast majorities of expat parents there saying their children lived safer and better lives than in their previous home, according to HSBC’s press release.
Perhaps more interesting is the growing draw of Asia for the expats surveyed, with its booming economies presenting lands of opportunity for expats from all over the world.
“Asia emerges from this year’s survey as the best region for financial wellbeing, with nearly one fifth (19%) of expats earning over USD200,000 p.a. and 65% saying they have more disposable income since relocating,” says HSBC.
However, the rankings look different if findings are separated by category. Despite a terrific remuneration, Asian countries do not account for the best living experience. For raising children, China is not among top 10. Expatriates living in Beijing, the smog-clogged Chinese capital, fear the long-term effects of the country’s air pollution on their kids.
