Do you dream of starting a new life abroad?
South Korea is apparently the top place in the world to do it, with Bulgaria being number one in Europe.
This is according to research by expat experts from William Russellwhich produced a ranking of the 10 countries with the largest increase in expatriate population since 1990.
According to the data, South Korea’s expatriate population skyrocketed from 43,000 in 1990 to more than 1.7 million in 2020, an increase of 3,896 percent.
Colombia experienced the second highest increase, with the number of expatriates rising from just 104,000 in 1990 to 1.9 million people in 2020, an increase of 1,727 percent.
South Korea’s expatriate population has seen the largest increase (3,896 percent) globally between 1990 and 2020, according to research by William Russell. Pictured above is the capital, Seoul.
Colombia experienced the second highest increase, with the number of expatriates rising from just 104,000 in 1990 to 1.9 million people in 2020, an increase of 1,727 percent. The photo above is Cartagena.
South America is an increasingly desirable option for expats, with Chile third on the list. The country had only 104,000 foreign residents in 1990, and 1.6 million in 2020, an increase of 1,430 percent.
Bulgaria ranks fourth overall and first in Europe thanks to a jump in the number of expatriates from 21,000 in 1990 to 184,000 in 2020 (757 percent).
Spain (fifth) also saw a considerable increase in its expatriate population, with numbers soaring from 821,000 in 1990 to 6.8 million in 2020 (732 percent).
Serbia (sixth, 729 percent), Malta (seventh, 661 percent), Iceland (eighth, 582 percent), Finland (ninth, 510 percent) and Turkey (tenth, 420 percent) rounded out the top 10.
Bulgaria ranks fourth overall and first in Europe thanks to a jump in the number of expatriates from 21,000 in 1990 to 184,000 in 2020 (757 percent). Pictured above is the capital city Sofia.
A spokesman for William Russell said: “South Korea may not have the largest number of international immigrants in the world, but when comparing its most recent figures with those from 1990, South Korea has seen a greater change than any other, with a increase of more than 3,800 percent.” in the last 30 years.
‘Colombia has experienced the second largest increase in expatriates of all the countries on our list. Considering that this country offers affordable housing and the opportunity to obtain citizenship in as little as five years, it is no surprise that expats flock here.
‘Chile completes our top three. The combination of a low cost of living and a high quality of life has made Chile a popular destination for retirees.’
William Russell used data from the United Nations to find the countries with the fastest growing expatriate populations. For more visit www.william-russell.com/blog/growing-expat-populations/#google.