Residents in certain countries are remarkably satisfied with where they live and have little desire to move away.
The United States is included among these nations. To determine which countries’ citizens are most likely to remain within their borders, an analysis by a Canadian moving company,
Top Move, examined four key factors: the percentage of emigrants, happiness level, quality of life, and cost of living, using statistics from national governmental databases.
1. United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Claiming the top position, a substantial 99.37% of the population in the United Arab Emirates chooses to stay in their country.
This high percentage indicates an exceptionally low emigration rate. Among the ten countries highlighted in this analysis, the UAE is noted for having the second-lowest cost of living.
The source presents the UAE as the country where people are least likely to want to move from, based on the combined factors analyzed by Top Move.
2. Japan
Securing the second spot as a country residents want to remain in, Japan exhibits a remarkably low emigration rate of just 1.05%.
While it ranks notably lower in happiness than the other countries in this top ten list, coming in at 47th globally, Japan compensates with the lowest cost of living among the top ten. The sources also indicate that Japan provides a decent quality of life.
3. Germany
Germany ranks as the third most desired country for its residents to remain in, with an emigration rate of 1.44%.
This low rate contributes significantly to its high ranking. Adding to its appeal is a respectable global happiness ranking of 16th.
The analysis conducted by Top Move considered this combination of emigration rate and happiness, alongside quality of life and cost of living, to place Germany in the top three.
4. United States
The United States is placed fourth among the countries whose residents are least likely to want to move from.
The country has a low emigration rate of 1.5%. On the global happiness scale, the U.S. ranks slightly higher than Germany, at 15th.
When compared specifically to the other nations in this top ten, the U.S. ranks as average for quality of life and has the third-highest cost of living.
5. Australia
Despite being noted for having the lowest quality of life among the top ten countries where people don’t want to move from, Australia secures the fifth position. Its emigration rate is 3.78%, which is lower than the countries ranked below it on this list.
This suggests that while quality of life is a factor, the emigration rate, combined with other elements like happiness and cost of living (though not explicitly detailed for Australia in this source), contributes to its ranking.
6. Denmark
Among the countries featured in this top ten list, Denmark is highlighted as having the highest cost of living. However, this is balanced by its status as the second happiest country in the world.
The combination of this high happiness level and a relatively low emigration rate of 4.23% significantly boosts Denmark’s position as a country whose residents are content to stay.
7. Finland
Finland serves as an illustration that population size isn’t the primary determinant of a country’s appeal to its residents; it has the smallest population on this list.
Finland holds the prestigious title of being the happiest country in the world. Despite this, the source mentions that 5.41% of Finns still choose to emigrate, even from a nation recognized for its high happiness.
8. Sweden
Sweden is described as an appealing country for its local residents to remain in, partly attributed to having among the lowest costs of living within this top ten list.
It also boasts a very high global happiness ranking of 6th. The analysis indicates that slightly less than 6.5% of Swedes choose to leave their nation, contributing to its inclusion in this list of countries most loved by residents.
9. Austria
Austria demonstrates consistent performance across all four factors analyzed by Top Move emigration rate, happiness, quality of life, and cost of living.
It does not feature the highest or lowest figures in any single category but maintains a solid ranking overall.
Its emigration rate is 6.56%, noted as being quite close to that of Sweden, contributing to its placement at number nine.
10. Netherlands
Completing the list of the top ten countries where residents are least likely to move from is the Netherlands. It is stated to have the highest emigration rate among these specific countries, at 11.35%.
However, it compensates by offering the highest quality of life, scoring over ten points higher than the next country on the list.
Coupled with a world happiness ranking of fifth, these factors explain why the Netherlands earned a spot despite the higher emigration rate.
Alicia Richards