Australia beats Spain to top spot as most popular country for British expats moving abroad

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Whether it is to retire in the sunshine or to pursue a new career, each year an estimated 350,000 individuals leave Great Britain to start a new life abroad according to OECD. Despite an array of reasons behind why expats opt to move overseas, it seems some nations remain more popular than others.

Though Spain, for example, may seem like an obvious destination for Britons looking to relocate, it turns out it is not the most sought after location for UK expats.

According to the most recent data from the United Nations 2019 report, while Spain ranks within the top five destinations, it is in fact Australia which takes the crown as the most popular expat hotspot.

In 2019, Australia’s British expat population was approximately 1,262,204.

Experts from MoveHub point out its array of “brilliant cities”, “picturesque landscapes” and “the gorgeous weather” as some of its most attractive assets.

It was followed by the US in second place, which was home to 716,260 British expats at the time of the report.

One of its main draws, according to MoveHub, is the ease of communication with English the nation’s first language.

Canada took third place, with 531,584 British expats calling the Northern nation home in 2019.

The second-largest country in the world is a Mecca for expats, boasting universal healthcare and excellent education, according to MoveHub.

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Taking fourth place in the report was Spain, which is hugely popular with Britons seeking sun, sea and sand.

What’s more, its proximity to the UK makes it simple to return home and visit loved ones when needed.

In 2019, Spain was home to around 302,020 British expats.

Ireland took the fifth spot, with 293,061 British expats living in the country as of 2019.

One of its main perks is the lack of visa requirement for UK residents.

MoveHub also points out the array of low-cost flights on offer between England and Ireland.

Making up the rest of the top 10 list was New Zealand, France, South Africa, Germany and Italy.

As of 2019, New Zealand was home to 272,436 British expats, meanwhile, France was home to 176,672.

South Africa, Germany and Italy also boast a huge population of Britons, with 131,310, 98,553 and 65,645 expats calling the nations home respectively.

The top 10 most popular destinations for British expats to relocate to are as follows:

1. Australia

2. US

3. Canada

4. Spain

5. Ireland

6. New Zealand

7. France

8. South Africa

9. Germany

10. Italy

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