Toronto: Canada has come 20th out of 64 destinations in the Expat Insider 2019 survey. It ranks high for family life
and quality of life, particularly in terms of digital life.
InterNations, the world’s largest expat community with 3.6 million members, publishes its Expat Insider survey. With more than 20,000 respondents, it is one of the most extensive surveys about living and working abroad, sharing insights into expat life in 64 destinations.
Canada ranks particularly high in the Family Life Index (7th out of 36) and the Quality of Life Index (11th out of 64). Despite Canada dropping a few ranks in terms of working abroad, expats are still largely satisfied with their working life.
Expat life in Canada
Canada receives its best ratings in the Family Life Index, ranking 7th out of 36 countries worldwide. Over nine in ten expat parents (92%) are satisfied with their children’s general well-being (vs. 81% globally), only Spain (93%) and Finland (95%) score higher for this factor worldwide.
Additionally, Canada ranks in second place worldwide for the availability of education options. Close to seven in ten expat parents (67%) agree that options for their children are widely available (vs. 53% worldwide), with Canada following only behind Finland (76%).
Canada ranks 11th out of 64 destinations in the Quality of Life Index, with a particularly strong performance in the Digital Life subcategory (5th). For example, close to all expats (96%) find it easy to pay without cash (vs. 79% globally) and over three-quarters (77%) even say it could not be any easier (vs. 50% globally).
While Canada has fallen seven places in the Working Abroad Index (from 15th to 22nd), expats are still more satisfied than the average with their working life. More than three in five (61%) are rate their career prospects positively (vs. 55% globally), 77% are happy with the state of the economy (vs. 63% globally), and 67% are satisfied with their working hours (vs. 62% globally).
Two Canadian cities in Top-20 financial centres
Toronto and Montreal have been placed in the Top-20 Global Financial Centres Index 26.
New York retains its first place in the index, extending its lead over London from seven to 17 points. Hong Kong is now only two points behind London. Singapore and Shanghai remain in fourth and fifth position. All five top centres fell in the ratings in GFCI 26.
Shenzhen, Dubai, and Sydney entered the top 10, easing out Toronto, Zurich, and Frankfurt. Within the top 30 centres, Paris has performed well, rising 10 places to 17th.
North American centres had mixed fortunes in GFCI 26, with Canadian centres dropping back following their improved performance in GFCI 25, while US centres generally improved their rankings and ratings. Seven out of the ten North American centres in the index are in the top 20.