The saying goes that “the grass is always greener on the other side”. And while the adage implies that people do not value what they have and covet what others have, sometimes the grass really is greener elsewhere — nothing captures this better than the relentless movement of people from one country to another.
Now what exactly does this lush grass represent? It might come as a surprise to many that earning more money is not the first reason — or even the second or the third — for a large number of people who leave their native country and settle abroad, as per a new study by the mobile payment service company Remitly.
Immigration is a lot more complex than just a desire to become more affluent and own more things. But every immigrant does have their eyes on something “better” on the horizon.
“Quality of life” has emerged as the top motivator for respondents in the global mobility survey — titled ‘The Top Reasons Why People Want to Move to Different Countries’ — undertaken by Remitly, gathering responses from more than 4,500 people across 26 countries.
Followed by this are “lifestyle”, “career opportunities”, “financial reasons”, and “adventure and personal growth”, in that order, as the top five factors behind immigration.
Once upon a time the top choice of immigrants, the United States of America has now slid a few places down the list, and neighbouring Canada has reached the pinnacle among the overall respondents.
“When it comes to dream destinations, Canada tops the list. Its reputation for its high quality of life, healthcare and education makes it the number one choice for people across the world seeking a new start,” says Remitly. “For many people, Canada offers the perfect blend of opportunity and security, as well as the chance to immerse themselves in welcoming communities, making it easy for them to picture a future there.”
Europe is a magnet for immigrants
Among the overall respondents, “half of the most popular countries people want to move to are in Europe, with the UK, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Germany all making the top 10, thanks to their enviable combination of food, climate, culture and overall quality of life”, says the Remitly media release.
Top 10 countries people want to move to and why:
No. 1: Canada – For its quality of life; lifestyle; job opportunities
No. 2: Australia – For its warm sunny climate; relaxed lifestyle; job opportunities
No. 3: Japan – For its culture; food; low crime rates
No. 4: United Kingdom – For its culture; job opportunities; location
No. 5: United States of America – For its job opportunities; financial benefits; vibrant cities
No. 6: Italy – For its food; culture; natural beauty
No. 7: Spain – For its warm sunny climate; culture; relaxed lifestyle
No. 8: Switzerland – For its quality of life; natural landscapes; safety
No. 9: New Zealand – For its natural beauty; high quality of life; relaxed lifestyle
No. 10: Germany – For its quality of life; job opportunities; strong economy
Indians have much love for ‘dream destination’ UAE
For Indians, however, the sunny United Arab Emirates — a region that has a long historical association with India — is the favourite destination for moving, working, and settling.
A Remitly media release says, “The study has revealed that the UAE ranks as the most popular destination Indians dreams of relocating to, and their key motivators for doing so are for a better quality of life, enhanced career opportunities and an improved lifestyle.”
Interestingly, Japan, the economic powerhouse of the Far East, is also considered a highly desirable immigration destination for today’s Indians, as the study shows, even though the cultural connections are not so obvious, other than Buddhism.
Top 5 countries Indians want to move to:
- United Arab Emirates
- United States of America
- Australia
- United Kingdom
- Japan
Top 5 reasons for people relocating from India:
- Quality of life
- Career opportunities
- Lifestyle
- Financial reasons
- Climate and environment
Singapore is 9th most preferred immigration destination for Indians
The Remitly global survey has selected countries with the highest immigration numbers. Geographically tiny Singapore, despite its population of just 6.11 million and its policy of carefully controlled immigration, is still a big draw for resident Indians who want to move abroad.
While the Remitly survey did not cover Singapore residents, the island nation was included in the list of countries that survey respondents could select “as their most desirable country to move to”.
“Singapore has featured [in the study] as the 23rd most popular country to move to globally and, for those who live in India, it is the 9th most popular country,” it says.
New Zealand, Canada, Switzerland, and Finland are also in the Top 10 preferred immigration destinations for resident Indians.
