October 7, 2025, 8:32 am | Read time: 5 minutes

Recently, we at TRAVELBOOK reported on the countries worldwide that are best for expatriates according to the “Expat Insider Report.” For those who find the top three a bit too far from their original home but still wish for a new, livable place to reside, they should read on. Because: The country that has been voted by expatriates surveyed for the report as having the best quality of life for the third consecutive year is in Europe. Many of you have likely visited it, as it is one of the favorite vacation destinations for Germans.

The country with the best quality of life worldwide is …

… Spain. Since 2022, the neighbor of Portugal and France has held the top spot in the Quality of Life Index of the report. This year, 20 percent of expatriates stated they moved there specifically for the enhanced quality of life. Eight percent relocate to Spain for retirement. Indeed, most expatriates in Spain are very satisfied, with 84 percent compared to the global 67 percent.

One reason could be the weather, which, along with climate, urban and natural environment, and air quality, ranks seventh in this category, with more than half of the surveyed expats finding it very good. Besides the weather, it’s also the lifestyle that appeals to newcomers. Culture and nightlife, the culinary offerings, as well as the many recreational sports opportunities, are exceptionally well-received, placing Spain first in this category.

Spain also earns a first place for its healthcare system, which expats find affordable, easily accessible, and high-quality. An American expatriate in Madrid is quoted in the report saying, “The quality of food, healthcare, transportation, and other environmental aspects are excellent.” The good travel opportunities within the country are also mentioned, with the transportation system and travel options ranking seventh worldwide. The report notes that one can also get around well on foot or by bicycle in Spain.

Only safety is a bit lacking

In four out of five subcategories of the Quality of Life Index, Spain appears at least in the top 10, leading two of them. Only the ratings in one subcategory are not very positive: safety. Here, Spain ranks 14th, with 87 percent of expatriates in Spain feeling safe. Seventy-seven percent feel they can freely express their opinions. However, the result is dragged down by the aspect of political stability. Only about 57 percent of surveyed expats perceive Spain’s political system as stable. However, the global value here is currently similar at 56 percent. For comparison: Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Denmark rank first, second, and third in terms of safety, while Germany is only in 34th place.

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Welcoming culture, finances, and career in Spain

And how do other areas look for expatriates in Spain? According to the Expat Insider, settling in Spain seems easy, with three-quarters of expatriates feeling at home and welcome locally. Forty-one percent even want to stay in the country permanently. However, there has been a slight decline in the friendliness of locals towards foreign newcomers, currently at 70 percent compared to 77 percent the previous year, likely due to protests against overtourism (TRAVELBOOK reported), but it remains high.

Also interesting: The (un)friendliest countries in the world from the perspective of expatriates

Spain does not fare too well in the aspect of working abroad. In this category, the country shows its worst result with a 27th place in the global comparison. Economic conditions, the local job market, and personal career opportunities are not rated very well by expatriates, with only two out of five seeing that moving to Spain has improved their career prospects. At the same time, twice as many as in the global comparison report being able to work permanently from home, and 67 percent of expats are satisfied with their work-life balance.

When it comes to money, incomes in Spain are rather on the lower side, but expenses are comparatively not too high. Thus, Spain achieves a good eleventh place in terms of finances.

Countries with the best quality of life worldwide

Spain is the country with the best quality of life in Europe and worldwide. But it is by no means the only one that expatriates find particularly livable. The United Arab Emirates, for example, are also highly favored by expatriates, ranking second. Perhaps less surprisingly, the overall ranking winner Panama takes third place. Besides Spain, Austria, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, and Portugal are four other European countries in the top 10 for quality of life.

These are the top 10 countries with the best quality of life

1. Spain
2. United Arab Emirates
3. Panama
4. Austria
5. Luxembourg
6. China
7. Qatar
8. Czech Republic
9. Japan
10. Portugal