These are the 10 best countries for Americans looking to start a new life abroad—and No. 1 ranks for safety and quality of life

Researchers evaluated job markets, political stability, workplace culture, and relocation interest to identify the top destinations for U.S. expats.

Thinking of trying out life abroad? You’re not alone. In response to Americans’ growing interest in moving to countries that offer a different pace of life, new career opportunities, and a chance to experience another culture, a new report from Country Navigator has identified the places with the most to offer relocation-minded American workers.

To compile the rankings, the company analyzed a range of factors, including the number of Americans already living in each destination, annual U.S. relocation searches, labor force strength, unemployment, political stability, and cultural similarities to the United States—particularly those pertaining to the workplace. Each metric was then weighted and combined to produce an overall score out of 10.

Switzerland took the top spot in Country Navigator’s analysis, with an overall score of 8.34 out of 10. The country had 475.4 American migrants per 100,000 residents and drew more than 31,700 annual U.S. searches related to relocating there. The European nation has also earned high marks in other expat rankings: In a separate study from January 2025, Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city, was named the world’s best city for expat quality of life, with the report citing its public services, safety, and infrastructure, among other factors.

Across the globe, New Zealand ranked second with an overall score of 8.22 out of 10. A longtime favorite among expats, the country had 621.5 American migrants per 100,000 residents—one of the highest rates in the study—and generated 60,900 annual U.S. relocation searches, nearly twice as many as Switzerland. The Republic of Ireland claimed third place with an overall score of 8.16 out of 10; the destination has attracted international attention in recent years for its relocation incentive programs, which may have helped boost its popularity.

The report also uncovered a few more surprising insights. For example, Canada generated the highest number of U.S. relocation searches, with more than 105,000 annually—more than three times the number recorded for Switzerland—underscoring its appeal as a nearby option for Americans considering a move abroad. Despite this, however, it only came in fifth place overall, thanks in part to its 6.9% unemployment rate (the highest of the top 10 countries), and an only-mediocre political stability score of 76%.

Another unexpected result? Finland stood out as the country most culturally aligned with the United States. Its cultural distance score, which in this study focused on differences in workplace culture and communication styles, was a very low 0.4—outranking all the countries in the overall top 10, four of which are fully English-speaking nations.

Here are the top 10 countries for American expats to consider, according to Country Navigator:

1. Switzerland
2. New Zealand
3. Republic of Ireland
4. Netherlands
5. Canada
6. Norway
7. Denmark
8. Australia
9. Singapore
10. United Kingdom

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure