Where do British expats live?

September 2022

By Will Glyn

According to research by the IPPR (Institute for Public Policy Research), over five and a half million Britons live abroad and approximately 2,000 leave the UK every week to reside elsewhere. That’s around 10% of the population. The average age of a British expat is 53 years old.

As well as these expats, another half a million UK citizens choose to live abroad some of the time either because of having a second home or for work.

Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, only two-thirds of these expats leave for work-related reasons. The rest leave to retire abroad.

Of all expats, it’s believed that half won’t return to UK soil permanently.

Top expat destinations for Brits

It might come as no surprise that the top expat destinations for British people are English-speaking destinations. After all, it makes work life and social life much easier. At the top of the list is Australia with some 1.3 million British expats. In second place is the USA with 750,000, with Canada coming just after.

In total, it’s believed that the British expat population is spread far and wide, spanning more than 158 countries. What’s more, 40 of these have over 10,000 British expats! The chances are, therefore, that you’ll never be alone!

Expats in the EU

Of course, going to English-speaking countries has its advantages but for many British expats, there’s also an advantage of being close to your home soil. For this reason, many expats choose to live in the EU.

According to the Office of National Statistics, around 785,000 British citizens live in the EU (not including Ireland). This accounts for 26% of all British-born emigrants. There are three popular EU destinations. Of all British expats in the EU, almost 70% live in Spain, Germany, or France.

In terms of specifics, there are more British men living in the EU compared to women – 53% and 47% respectively. The biggest difference in a single country is in Lithuania where only 15% of British expats are female.

Let’s look at each destination in more detail.

#1 Australia – 1,350,000 expats

Australia comes top of the list and it’s easy to see why! An English-speaking nation with great weather and plenty of sunshine in a no-brainer when you’ve spent years living with the UK’s unpredictable weather! What’s more, there’s a great outdoor culture, lots of wildlife and 21,000 miles of coast to explore.

#2 USA – 750,000

British people are very familiar with the American culture and so it’s no surprise that lots of British expats choose the USA. What’s more, the culture is pretty similar and there are lots of different places to explore, work and live.

#3 Canada – 625,000

Canada is home to some 625,000 British expats who go there for the work opportunities as well as the lifestyle. There are some truly beautiful places in Canada, with fine towns and cities, amazing mountains, and great wildlife on top.

#4 Spain – 310,000

A firm favourite among retirees is Spain. Who wouldn’t want to retire to the Costa del Sol, where you can soak up the rays all year round? What’s more, Spain has a great social life, top golf courses, and fantastic museums and culture. It’s also only a couple of hours away by plane, so it’s really easy to return back to the UK!

#5 Ireland – 278,000

With its friendly pubs and rolling hills, Ireland has a lot to offer British expats. It also has the added benefit of being really close and being English-speaking! Ireland is also an international destination for pharma and tech industries so anyone who works in these fields will likely do well here.

#6 New Zealand – 272,000

New Zealand is another favourite with its outdoor lifestyle, laidback atmosphere, and breath-taking landscapes. It’s a great place for people who still like the green, lush countryside but want to enjoy a quieter environment. The only downside is that it’s possibly the furthest away you can get from the UK!

#7 France – 188,161

Famous for its cuisine and wine, who wouldn’t want to indulge every day in a croissant and a glass of champagne! What’s more, France has the highest number of paid holiday days! If you’ve ever been to France in August, you’ll have seen just how quiet all of the major towns and cities are – that’s because the majority of French people will take the whole of August off and go on holiday! Sounds like a dream!

#8 South Africa – 124,000

South Africa is known for its friendly and welcoming atmosphere. For wildlife lovers, you can also experience wonderful animals on your doorstep! South Africa also has a very outdoorsy lifestyle, which is why many British expats choose this destination. Time-wise, it’s only an hour ahead of the UK, which makes it great for communicating with family and friends back home.

#9 Germany – 104,000

For anyone in manufacturing and business, Germany is an excellent choice of destination. What’s more, Germans are well-known to be very proficient in English. They’re also sticklers for timekeeping and organisation, so you’ll get on well there if you’re very organised and have a dislike for tardiness.

There are also lots of great cities with excellent entertainment – and don’t forget the bratwurst and beer!

#10 Italy – 73,000

In 10th place is Italy. Famous for its architecture, art and opera, Italy is a culture lover’s dream. In addition, you’ve got world-famous food too! If you’re seeking la dolce vita, it’s an excellent expat destination.

Final thoughts on top destinations for British expats

No matter the reason for relocating, it’s important to choose a destination that meets your needs. If being close to the UK is important, there are some firm favourites in the EU. If you don’t want any language barriers, you’ve got South Africa, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand to explore.

However, if you’re considering leaving the UK to work abroad, you might want to consider where your job role is in demand [link to previous post]. The chances are, you’ll earn a fair whack if you’re highly sought-after!

Will is an Independent Financial Adviser with over a decade of experience helping expats make the most of their international status.