Canada remains the most
attractive country outside of Europe for Europeans to take residence for the
fifth year running, according to the latest report from global mobility
experts.
Fit for royalty with its clean
air, free healthcare, low crime and political stability, Canada has retained its high
position in a liveability analysis in the annual Location Ratings Report.
The liveability survey of over
490 cities around the world looks at factors including availability of health
services; housing and utilities; isolation; access to a social network and
leisure facilities; infrastructure; climate; personal safety; political
tensions and air quality.
Canada has long been an
attractive country for expatriates to live, boasting one of the world’s
strongest economies, booming industry, and a strong focus on entrepreneurship
opportunities. Many Canadian cities even outscore European hubs including
London, Paris, Berlin and Rome despite the distance from home.
An additional important factor
for mainland Europeans looking to relocate is that Canada is officially
bilingual, with many Canadians speaking English as well as French, the third
most widely spoken language in Europe.
UK nationals make up the
third-largest foreign-born group in Canada –after India and China – which has
attracted a large foreign-born population of approx. 6,775,800 people with a
total of 20.6 percent of the population – the highest proportion among the G8
countries.
Canadian cities with lower
crime levels, good public facilities, and better air quality have always provided
a high quality of life for European expats, with consistently high scores
putting Canadian cities above many European counterparts. Canadian cities,
namely Toronto and Vancouver, are relatively easy for European expatriates to
adapt to.
Toronto ranks top for
Europeans in Canada
Toronto, Canada’s largest city,
fared the best of all the Canadian cities reviewed in the report. Despite
extreme weather challenges that face residents and businesses in Toronto the
government is making historic new investments in infrastructure to maintain its
position as a world-class city.
Since 2016, the Canadian
government has committed $14.4 billion on modernizing public transport, green
and social infrastructure, trade and transportation, making it a consistently
attractive city for European’s living abroad.
Northern European cities lead
the way
Elsewhere, Copenhagen and Bern
have scooped the joint top spot as the most liveable cities in the world for
European expats.
Northern European cities in
places such as Scandinavia, the Netherlands and Switzerland, have consistently
scored well for expat liveability. Excellent transport links, a high standard
of healthcare and long-term political stability, mean that overseas workers
from elsewhere in Europe can adapt to these locations with ease.
Good news for 900,000 Irish
passport applicants
Dublin has kept its position
within the top 10 most liveable cities in the world. ECA’s liveability score of
the Irish capital will be well received by expats and the record number of Irish
passport applicants last year.
Dublin has become a popular
hub for expats from around the world thanks to having the benefits of a large
city while also managing to avoid the negative aspects. The crime rates and air
quality are much better in the Irish capital than many other major European
locations, while culture and infrastructure scores remain strengths too.
|
Location
|
2019 ranking
|
2020 ranking
|
|
Denmark – Copenhagen
|
1
|
1
|
|
Switzerland – Bern
|
1
|
1
|
|
Netherlands – The Hague
|
3
|
3
|
|
Switzerland – Geneva
|
3
|
3
|
|
Netherlands – Eindhoven
|
6
|
5
|
|
Norway – Stavanger
|
5
|
5
|
|
Netherlands – Amsterdam
|
6
|
7
|
|
Switzerland – Basel
|
6
|
7
|
|
Irish Republic – Dublin
|
9
|
9
|
|
Luxembourg – Luxembourg City
|
9
|
9
|
|
Sweden – Gothenburg
|
9
|
9
|
|
Denmark – Aarhus
|
12
|
12
|
|
Netherlands – Rotterdam
|
12
|
12
|
|
Switzerland – Zurich
|
14
|
14
|
|
Germany – Bonn
|
15
|
15
|
|
Germany – Munich
|
15
|
15
|
|
Austria – Vienna
|
17
|
17
|
|
Germany – Hamburg
|
17
|
17
|
|
Sweden – Stockholm
|
19
|
19
|
|
United Kingdom – Edinburgh
|
19
|
19
|
Tags: Canada
