Worldwide expat population expected to hit 56.8 million in 2017

A recent market research survey has revealed that the present world expat population of over 50 million will rise dramatically to over 56 million over the next three years.

The 2013 survey placed Saudi Arabia as the country with the largest proportion of expat residents, with the USA and the United Arab Emirates following close behind. China and India, it noted, were increasingly popular expat destinations due to the need for foreign workers to service their rapidly-growing economies.

The majority of expatriates worldwide were individual workers, accounting for 73.6 per cent of the total. Students comprised 8.8 per cent, retirees accounted for a mere 3.7 per cent and the remaining 7.4 per cent were classified as corporate transferees.

Students studying overseas are expected to fuel expat numbers over the next three years, with most seeking a recognised degrees from foreign universities charging less than in their home countries and offering post-graduate jobs and permanent residency as a bonus. Deteriorating weather conditions over much of Europe could also swell the move to warmer destinations overseas, and the First World’s increasing costs of living could encourage older migrants to head for cheaper, sub-tropical Asian destinations.