British expats are happiest with their lives abroad in Canada.
A new survey from Globalvisas.com suggests British expats are happiest in Canada. The results are in contrast with expats in China, where less than half (44%) are happy with their lives.
“Cultural difference” was cited as the biggest cause of discontent among those living abroad, with a “better standard of living” being the biggest source of happiness for expats. Some 1,632 British expats aged 18 and over were questioned on how they feel about their decision to move abroad.
Nine out of ten people who moved to Canada said they were happy living there. Liam Clifford of GlobalVisas.com said, “It’s good to see that the majority of expats are happy and that’s the way it should be. One of the great benefits of modern life is how accessible the world is now. The opportunities afforded from living abroad should be embraced.”
Economic problems are another issue affecting the happiness of expats. These appeared not always to be personal money problems, but the state of the national economy too.
This has led to greater levels of discontent among British expats living in Greece, Spain, Argentina, and Russia.
The majority of expats who were unhappy said the cause of this unhappiness was loneliness, as well as “economic woes”.
Liam Clifford explained, “in some instances, it might be the case that the lack of assimilation in a new life can cause loneliness, which can only lead to further problems.
“In this case people should embrace the expat community. You might feel alone, but more often than not, this isn’t the case.”
Australia, Norway, Dubai, and New Zealand all ranked highly for overall expat happiness.