It’s Official! Panama Best in World for Expats
A new survey confirms what we’ve known for years: Panama is the top country in the world for expats. According to the latest poll by Internations, a global group for expats, Panama has rated the number one spot for living abroad, beating out Mexico, Spain, Costa Rica, and all the other destinations around the globe.
More than four in five expats (82%) in Panama are happy with their lives in the country, compared to 68% globally. Almost three-quarters of respondents (74%) said they are satisfied with their financial situation, which is 20 percentage points more than the global average (54%).
Overall Panama was number one for financial conditions and fourth overall in personal finance. Respondents to the survey said their money goes farther in Panama, with 88% reporting that their disposable household income is “enough or more than enough” to lead a comfortable life (compared to 70% globally).
And here is the big one for us: more than three in five respondents (62%) praise the affordability of housing in Panama, which we certainly know to be true. That’s a sharp contrast to the global average — only 34% globally found their local market affordable. Internations also notes “It’s the country where it’s the easiest for expats to find accommodation.”
The survey really touched on many of the elements that make Panama the best choice. For the group’s “Expat Essentials Index,” Panama excelled in language and visa issues, with a whopping 98% praising the unrestricted access to online services.
Panama also received good results for personal safety — nine in ten (90%) rate this factor positively (vs. 80% globally) — and the country ranks 15th for healthcare, according to the survey. Over two in five respondents (41%) agree “completely” that the population is friendly towards foreign residents.
What’s most gratifying about the praise is the source — these results reflect the opinions of people who have moved to Panama. They love it here. But that’s nothing new. We hear it every day from our happy clients who have made a new life for themselves in our wonderful country.