When considering where in the world we’d most like to relocate, the countries near the top of our list will probably be those which offer the greatest chance at prosperity for their citizens. Unfortunately, quantifying something as nebulous as ‘prosperity’ is quite difficult.It’s not sufficient to simply take a country’s GDP and divide it by the number of people living there.
At the start of November this year, the Legatum Institute released its global prosperity index (as it does every year). This analysis looks at more than a hundred different factors, ranging from traditional measures of human well-being, like employment, and less traditional ones, like the number of secure internet servers per capita.
Let’s examine the nations which emerged at the top of the pile this time around.
New Zealand
New Zealand enjoys a position at the very top of the rankings.It’s an extremely popular destination for would-be expats from the United Kingdom, as it offer few obstacles in terms of language and culture, and offers a wealth of opportunity and some of the most stunning landscapes the planet Earth has to offer. The country ranks first ahead of twenty-six countries with larger amounts of wealth – and this is thanks largely to the strength of the society. 99% of New Zealanders claim to have friends and relatives they can rely on – the highest figure in the world.
Norway
Norway is a country that regularly sits near the top of global prosperity indexes. It’s the westernmost, northernmost and easternmost country in Scandinavia – stretching across the top of Europe. It’s home to a wealth of gorgeous geography, most notably in the form of its famous fjords. It’s also notable for being among the most sparsely populated nations in the region (and indeed the world), with its five million inhabitants being spread over nearly four-hundred thousand square kilometres. To a certain extent, this has helped to shape Norwegian society and culture – which values individualism and respect for common law.
Finland
Finland shares a border with Norway, and is similar in many respects. It’s a technologically advanced nation with a unique language and culture which sets it apart from its neighbours. It’s also a part of the world from which you can look at the Northern Lights during winter.
Finland is geographically distinct from neighbouring Norway and Sweden, in that it’s generally flat. It’s home to almost two-hundred thousand different lakes, which makes it an ideal destination for would-be boating expeditions.
Switzerland
Switzerland is a nation that’s famed for its independent, neutral stance on world events. It’s been without military conflict for more than two centuries – and its rate of violent crime is among the lowest in the world. This is in spite of the fact that gun ownership is widespread – thanks to a long-standing tradition of militia organisation.
The Swiss economy is highly-skilled, with very low unemployment and extremely high GDP per capita. As such, it’s attractive to tourists in the surrounding EU.For British expats, there’s a language barrier to surmount, however. While Switzerland is not a member of the European Union, it is part of the Schengen area – which means you’ll be able to cross the border without encountering immigration controls.
Canada
In recent years, Canada has proven particularly attractive to would-be settlers from across the world. Not only is its prosperity high, but it takes a relatively liberal approach to immigration, making it easy to settle there. If you’re British, then you’ll be at a particular advantage – because you’ll be able to speak the language, and you’ll be already acquainted with a variety of different Canadian customs and practices. Canada is a great deal prouder of its British heritage than its southerly neighbour, the United States – though in some areas, like Quebec, French culture is the more dominant influence (and French is the spoken language).
Australia
Australia is among the most popular of the world’s destinations for British tourists. Like its near-neighbour, New Zealand, it’s home to an immensity of natural beauty – most neatly exemplified by the famous Great Barrier Reef and Outback. And, as with New Zealand, there’s no language barrier to conquer – so you’ll be able to settle in straight away. Of course, there’s the famous Australian ‘points-based’ immigration labyrinth to navigate – but if you’ve got the right skills, or you’ve been already offered a job there, then Australian Visas for UK citizens are relatively easily acquired. Consequently, moving to Australia from the UK has never been easier!