Expat life delivers wealth, health and happiness, finds survey

Expats typically enjoy a life that is healthier, happier and richer than those who have never moved abroad.

Moving to another country is extremely beneficial to a person’s wealth, health and happiness, a new survey by international relocations company MoveHub has found.

In polling 1,000 people from the UK and Ireland – half of whom had previously lived abroad or were current expats, and half of whom who had never made the move – the survey found that 69% of those who had experience of expat life rated their health as good or very good. In contrast, only 58% of those who had only ever lived in their country of birth said likewise…

In terms of wealth, people who had previously lived and worked abroad, or did so currently, were more likely to respond that they earned well or had a good salary than those who had never tasted life overseas – 40% compared to 28%.

This trend continued through into the less tangible category of happiness, with a massive 63% of expats describing themselves as happy or very happy. For non-expats, that figure was lower, at 53%.

The MoveHub study is just the latest in a long line of surveys and opinion polls that suggest that experiencing life in another country delivers a series of benefits. From education to open-mindedness, willingness to embrace other cultures and even a wider social circle, there are very few drawbacks to expat life, provided those that make the move do so with both eyes open and plenty of research under their belts.

Moving to Spain delivers the bulk of these benefits on a plate. From the stunning climate to the friendly culture and the excellent Mediterranean diet, the country is understandably the preferred choice for Brits and Irish people looking to make a new life for themselves overseas.

And with a recovering economy and a property market that is going from strength to strength, Spain also offers an excellent opportunity to enjoy good levels of wealth to complement the happy and healthy lifestyle enjoyed by most expats in Spain.