Countries Where People Want to Move the Most

• Canada is the country where people want to move to the most, with over 741K people showing online interest in relocating there. 
• The Gulf stands out as the most popular region, with four countries being among the top destinations for movers.
• The most economically safe country for expats is the UK, offering 305K jobs annually.

Over 304M people were living outside their country of birth at the start of 2025, nearly double from 30 years ago. A new study by CasinooftheKings analyzed expat trends across the world to identify the countries where people want to move the most. The analysis evaluated key relocating and economic factors, including the proportion of international residents, cost of living, safety, open jobs, and the number of people who expressed interest in moving to each country. Migration rate and online interest were combined into a final score, which ranks the most popular relocation destinations on a scale of 1-100.

Here is the summary of the findings:

Canada is the country where people want to move to the most, with a 100/100 score. The country is by far the most popular online, with 741K people searching each month on how to move there. Financially, Canada offers many opportunities for expats, with 240K available jobs, one of the most active job markets in the ranking. 

The UAE follows in close second with a score of 99. It has a vast immigrant population, with expats making up 71% of residents, the second-highest share on the list. It is also among the most popular destinations for movers online, with 236K annual queries on how to relocate to the UAE. Much of that appeal comes from its safe reputation, as it receives the highest safety score in the world, at 85.  

Qatar comes in third as a popular spot for people looking to move, scoring 92. It has the highest share of expats in its population; 75% are foreign-born, which is nearly four times more than in Canada. Like its Gulf neighbor, much of its appeal comes from safety, with a score of 84, just one point behind the UAE.

Kuwait takes fourth place, having a score of 85. The third Gulf country on the list, it follows a similar pattern, with expats making up a majority of its population at 66%. Kuwait stands out for its affordability, offering the lowest cost of living on the list, averaging just $1.5K a month, roughly $1K less than its Gulf neighbors.

Singapore rounds out the top five most sought-after destinations for those looking to relocate, earning a final score of 76. Foreign-born residents make up nearly half of its population, at 48%. It’s also popular online, with 73K annual queries relating to the moving process, 70K more than Kuwait, which ranks just one place above.

The UK comes in sixth with a final score of 66. It’s the first European country on the list, with expats making up 17% of the population. It’s also the second most popular online, with 315K people looking for information about moving there. Similar to Kuwait, the UK offers strong career opportunities, with 305K job openings, the highest in the list.

Jordan takes seventh place as a top destination for movers, earning a final score of 62. Like Singapore, nearly half its population is made up of expats at 45%. It stands out economically as the most affordable country on the list, with living costs at just $988 per month. 

Australia ranks eighth with a composite score of 56. Popular especially among Asian movers, nearly 30% of its population is foreign-born. It also attracts strong online interest, with 103K people looking up information about moving, more than three times Singapore’s amount.

Saudi Arabia takes ninth place with a final score of 53, continuing the trend of Gulf countries being popular among movers. Expats make up 40% of its population, almost 10 percent more than Australia, which ranks just one spot higher. It also follows the Gulf pattern on security, earning a safety index of 77.3.

Switzerland finishes off the list of the countries where people want to move the most, with a score of 45. Like Australia, about 30% of its population is expats. It is the most expensive country on the list, with living costs reaching over $3K per month, yet it remains popular, showing nearly 30K search queries annually.

A spokesperson from CasinooftheKings commented, “Choosing where to move isn’t just about jobs or costs anymore, it’s about finding a place that feels stable and welcoming in a world that’s constantly changing. People want communities where they can put down roots, feel safe, and have a good quality of life for themselves and their families. It’s less about just moving somewhere new, and more about finding somewhere they truly belong.”