Germans move abroad mainly for job-related reasons, speak multiple languages, and tend to live in their host countries for a long time.
While close to one in four of the German respondents (23%) cited looking for an adventure or a personal challenge as one of their reasons for relocating, most were in the end mainly motivated to move to their current host countries for work-related reasons. In fact, almost one-fifth (19%) cite being sent abroad by their employer as the most important reason, which is six percentage points more than the global average. One-seventh found a job abroad on their own (14%), and a group of romantics made up by 12% of the German respondents moved to live in their partner’s home country. Similarly, another 12% joined or followed their partner when they relocated for work or education.
Their own education or finances seem to be less of a motivation: only 3% of German expats say they moved abroad in order to go to school or university, which is half the global average of 6%. Similarly, just 2% quote financial reasons as their most important ones, compared to 4% worldwide. The destination country, on the other hand, has played a larger role in the decision making: 7% of Germans say their desire to live in a particular country was the main reason to go, a percentage that is beaten only by Israelis (15%) and is on par with US Americans (7%).
The average age of the German respondents is 45.1 years, which is only slightly higher than the global average of 43.0 years. Regardless of age, two-sevenths (29%) say they have been living in their current country of residence for more than ten years already, followed by close to a fifth (19%) whose stay so far has lasted between five and ten years. Only one out of nine (11%) has been living in their country of residence for less than six months so far.
Expats’ plans reflect this tendency for longer stays as well: the largest group of Germans, made up of 34% of respondents, is planning to stay in their current country forever, if possible. Still, this does not mean that Germans abroad tend to stick to just one destination: while worldwide 27% say that their current experience is their first stay abroad, this is the case for not quite a sixth of German respondents (16%). Instead, 17% even say they have lived in five or more foreign countries so far, against a global average of 11%.
When living in multiple countries, good language skills can only be a boon. Close to two in five Germans (38%) say they speak three languages, including their mother tongue. A further 23% speak four languages and 16% even five or more, against 12% worldwide.
Indeed, 46% of Germans claim to speak the local language(s) of their respective country of residence very well, in contrast to the global average of 28%. One out of five speaks the local language a little and 18% speak it fairly well. Another one in ten even lives in a country where the local language is the same as their mother tongue. As a consequence, almost seven-tenths of the German respondents (69%) generally disagree that the language barrier is a problem for them.
Abroad, most Germans work as either employees or managers, making up half of the respondents. The second-largest group is 15% of Germans who work as entrepreneurs or own a business, while another 13% work as freelancers. The level of seniority among German employees or managers abroad is somewhat above average: almost two-sevenths (28%) are senior employees or experts and 45% work in management positions.
Despite the good positions as well as a good education — 54% have a Master’s degree or even a PhD, compared to 47% worldwide — Germans generally speaking do not earn much more for the same job abroad. In fact, 21% say they earn about the same, and even if 47% say their income is generally higher than it would be in Germany, this percentage is still lower than the global average of 54%.
Most of the German respondents are in a relationship (65%). Interestingly, the percentages of the partner’s nationality are almost equally divided: 33% have a German partner, 35% are in a relationship with a national from their current country of residence, and almost one-third are with a person from another country (32%). The majority, made up by more than four-fifths (84%), lives in the same country as their partner, a percentage that matches the global average.
The unlucky ones who are in a long-distance relationship mainly cite work-related reasons for this. In fact, one-quarter live separately due to the lack of suitable jobs for both partners in the same country, while another 24% cite different career priorities. Almost one-fifth (19%) are living in different countries for family reasons.
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Germans move abroad mainly for job-related reasons, speak multiple languages, and tend to live in their host countries for a long time.
While close to one in four of the German respondents (23%) cited looking for an adventure or a personal challenge as one of their reasons for relocating, most were in the end mainly motivated to move to their current host countries for work-related reasons. In fact, almost one-fifth (19%) cite being sent abroad by their employer as the most important reason, which is six percentage points more than the global average. One-seventh found a job abroad on their own (14%), and a group of romantics made up by 12% of the German respondents moved to live in their partner’s home country. Similarly, another 12% joined or followed their partner when they relocated for work or education.
Their own education or finances seem to be less of a motivation: only 3% of German expats say they moved abroad in order to go to school or university, which is half the global average of 6%. Similarly, just 2% quote financial reasons as their most important ones, compared to 4% worldwide. The destination country, on the other hand, has played a larger role in the decision making: 7% of Germans say their desire to live in a particular country was the main reason to go, a percentage that is beaten only by Israelis (15%) and is on par with US Americans (7%).
The average age of the German respondents is 45.1 years, which is only slightly higher than the global average of 43.0 years. Regardless of age, two-sevenths (29%) say they have been living in their current country of residence for more than ten years already, followed by close to a fifth (19%) whose stay so far has lasted between five and ten years. Only one out of nine (11%) has been living in their country of residence for less than six months so far.
Expats’ plans reflect this tendency for longer stays as well: the largest group of Germans, made up of 34% of respondents, is planning to stay in their current country forever, if possible. Still, this does not mean that Germans abroad tend to stick to just one destination: while worldwide 27% say that their current experience is their first stay abroad, this is the case for not quite a sixth of German respondents (16%). Instead, 17% even say they have lived in five or more foreign countries so far, against a global average of 11%.
When living in multiple countries, good language skills can only be a boon. Close to two in five Germans (38%) say they speak three languages, including their mother tongue. A further 23% speak four languages and 16% even five or more, against 12% worldwide.
Indeed, 46% of Germans claim to speak the local language(s) of their respective country of residence very well, in contrast to the global average of 28%. One out of five speaks the local language a little and 18% speak it fairly well. Another one in ten even lives in a country where the local language is the same as their mother tongue. As a consequence, almost seven-tenths of the German respondents (69%) generally disagree that the language barrier is a problem for them.
Abroad, most Germans work as either employees or managers, making up half of the respondents. The second-largest group is 15% of Germans who work as entrepreneurs or own a business, while another 13% work as freelancers. The level of seniority among German employees or managers abroad is somewhat above average: almost two-sevenths (28%) are senior employees or experts and 45% work in management positions.
Despite the good positions as well as a good education — 54% have a Master’s degree or even a PhD, compared to 47% worldwide — Germans generally speaking do not earn much more for the same job abroad. In fact, 21% say they earn about the same, and even if 47% say their income is generally higher than it would be in Germany, this percentage is still lower than the global average of 54%.
Most of the German respondents are in a relationship (65%). Interestingly, the percentages of the partner’s nationality are almost equally divided: 33% have a German partner, 35% are in a relationship with a national from their current country of residence, and almost one-third are with a person from another country (32%). The majority, made up by more than four-fifths (84%), lives in the same country as their partner, a percentage that matches the global average.
The unlucky ones who are in a long-distance relationship mainly cite work-related reasons for this. In fact, one-quarter live separately due to the lack of suitable jobs for both partners in the same country, while another 24% cite different career priorities. Almost one-fifth (19%) are living in different countries for family reasons.
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