A recent list of the most desirable countries to immigrate to is going viral.
The New York Post published an article analyzing search data that Google had gathered about immigration over the previous year, First Move International, an immigration consulting firm.
The results showed that Canada claimed #1 with a staggering number of searches. According to the report, there were over 1.5 million searches related to “Immigration to Canada” in the past year, demonstrating that Canada is where most people want to immigrate worldwide. Canada’s beautiful natural landscapes and high standard of living are reportedly the main attractions for those looking to immigrate.
However, settling in Canada is allegedly not as easy as it seems. A First Move International representative pointed out the gap between reality and expectations, stating, “Immigrants to Canada are struggling with the high cost of living, especially when Vancouver and Toronto are among the most expensive cities in the world.
Australia took #2, with over 1.2 million searches. People are interested in Australia because of its beautiful natural environment, warm climate, friendly citizens, and world-class education and healthcare systems.
New Zealand ranked #3. Immigrants find New Zealand attractive because it offers a stable and prosperous life, a great work-life balance, a globally renowned education system, and a fair societal structure.
Spain and the U.K. claimed #4 and #5, respectively. Portugal, Japan, Germany, France, and Switzerland also reached the top ten. Surprisingly, the U.S. was not among the top ten. The New York Post analyzed the high cost of living and anti-immigration sentiment in the U.S., which affected its ranking.
This starkly contrasts with a survey conducted six years ago by Gallup, a global polling firm, which ranked the U.S. first among 500,000 adults worldwide.
Despite the K-pop and Korean Wave craze, South Korea failed to reach the top ten. South Korea is not perceived as an attractive destination for immigrants. Countries known for their high quality of life, such as Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland, were not included in the top ranks due to environmental factors like harsh winters.
The results of this study are seen as an indicator of changing global perceptions of countries. The once-popular U.S. has seen a drop in preference due to deteriorating living conditions, while Canada, Australia, and affluent European countries have surged in popularity.
[Top 10 Most Desired Countries for Immigration Worldwide]
1st: Canada
2nd: Australia
3rd: New Zealand
4th: Spain
5th: United Kingdom
6th: Portugal
7th: Japan
8th: Germany
9th: France
10th: Switzerland
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