Panama named top expat destination in InterNations 2026 survey

InterNations' Expat Insider 2026 survey named Panama the best country for expatriates for the third consecutive year, with 87% of the roughly 8,000 respondents expressing satisfaction and a third saying they wish to stay permanently.

Mexico ranked second overall and topped the "ease of settling in" index, praised for friendly locals and straightforward visa and bureaucracy processes. Thailand came third, where 86% of expats reported happiness and 42% wanted to remain indefinitely, highlighting low living costs and affordable housing.

The survey covered 162 nationalities across five indices: working abroad, personal finance, quality of life, expat essentials, and ease of settling in. Only three European nations entered the global top ten—Spain (6th), Portugal (8th) and Luxembourg (10th)—none made the top five. The study required at least 50 expats from each country to participate.