Balance, Prospects & Pay: The Best Countries to Work Abroad in 2026

Panama defends its title in the 2026 Working Abroad Index, followed by Denmark and the UAE — while Türkiye, Italy, and Portugal are not the places to go for a career.

➡️You’re welcome to use these 2026 Expat Insider results. Please remember to credit InterNations as the source, and where possible, include a link to www.internations.org.

In this article:

Methodology
Another Top Work-Life Balance in Panama (1st)
Fair Pay & Short Hours in Denmark (2nd)
Unbeatable Career Prospects in the UAE (3rd)
A Struggling Economy in Türkiye (31st)
Little to Celebrate at Work in Italy (30th)
Great Country, Bad Job Market: Portugal (29th)
Trends in the Top 10
Trends in the Bottom 10
Full Ranking
Further Reading

Top 5 of the Working Abroad Index 2026 and its subcategories; details in description

Methodology

The Working Abroad Index is based on four subcategories with two to three rating factors each.

The Salary & Job Security Subcategory reflects how expats view the state of the economy in their host country, the local job security, as well as whether expats feel they’re paid fairly for their work.

The Work & Leisure Subcategory sums up expats’ happiness with their work-life balance and working hours.

The local job market; expats’ personal career opportunities; and whether or not moving to the country improved their career prospects form the Career Prospects Subcategory.

Lastly, expats’ general job satisfaction and how much they feel the local business culture supports flexibility (e.g., remote work, flexible hours) make up the Work Culture & Satisfaction Subcategory.

A destination required at least 50 respondents to be included in the index. In 2026, a total of 31 countries met this minimum sample size.

Another Top Work-Life Balance in Panama (1st)

After already claiming the top spot in 2025, Panama defends its title in the 2026 Working Abroad Index — a remarkable result for a country where work still isn’t the main draw. Just 16% of respondents name a job-related reason for their move (vs. 33% globally). Instead, many relocated to retire there (18% vs. 4% globally), for a better quality of life (16% vs. 9%), or simply to enjoy living abroad (11% vs. 4%). In fact, over a third of respondents in Panama (37%) are retired, compared to a global average of 14%.

Those who do work, however, seem to have found the sweet spot. Panama ranks 1st worldwide for work-life balance: nine in ten expats (90%) rate it positively (vs. 62% globally), and close to three-quarters (73%) are satisfied with their working hours, 10 percentage points above the global average (63%). In part, this might be connected to the fact that expats in Panama are much less likely to spend all their time at the job: 41% of working expats do so part time (vs. 21% globally).

Careers don’t suffer for it, either: Panama ranks 3rd for both the local job market and personal career opportunities. And close to three-quarters (74%) rate the state of the economy favorably (vs. 59%).

Fair Pay & Short Hours in Denmark (2nd)

Denmark climbs onto the podium in 2026, ranking 2nd in the Working Abroad Index after a 6th place in 2025. The country leads the world in both the Work & Leisure and the Work Culture & Satisfaction Subcategories.

Expats in Denmark are the happiest worldwide with their working hours (80% positive ratings vs. 63% globally) — hardly a surprise, as a full-time week averages just 39.3 hours there, nearly three hours less than the global average (42.2 hours). More than four in five (81%) rate their work-life balance positively (vs. 62%), and 77% agree that the Danish business culture supports flexibility (vs. 56%), another 1st place.

Money is no sore point, either: Denmark ranks 2nd worldwide for fair pay, with 76% of respondents feeling fairly compensated for their work (vs. 58% globally).

Opinion

I like being able to commute with bicycle, my work-life balance, the high salary, and that there’s lots of quality culinary opportunities. (Greek expat in Copenhagen)

Opinion

The one weak spot is the Career Prospects Subcategory (20th) — despite 86% rating the state of the economy positively (vs. 59%). Denmark only ranks 22nd for the local job market, and over a quarter (27%) disagree that moving there has improved their career prospects (vs. 22%). What’s more, close to a third (31%) worry about their job security (vs. 23%). Fittingly, an above-average share of respondents (14% vs. 9% globally) is currently looking for work.

One’s own career isn’t always the reason for moving to Denmark, anyways — many expats relocated to live in their partner’s home country (28% vs. 11% globally) or for their partner’s job (11% vs. 6%).

Unbeatable Career Prospects in the UAE (3rd)

The UAE completes the top 3 of the 2026 Working Abroad Index — and it’s the destination of choice for the truly career-driven. More than half the respondents (55%) moved there for job-related reasons (vs. 33% globally), including 35% who applied for or found a job there themselves (vs. 17%).

The country delivers on those ambitions: it ranks 1st worldwide in the Career Prospects Subcategory and for each of its underlying factors.* Four in five expats (80%) agree that moving to the UAE has improved their career prospects (vs. 55% globally), 53% rate the local job market positively (vs. 38%), and 64% are happy with their personal career opportunities (vs. 52%). The state of the economy earns a 1st place, too: 92% rate it favorably, and just 2% have something negative to say (vs. a respective 59% and 20% globally).

Opinion

I like the safety, the multicultural environment, and the opportunities to work and grow professionally in the UAE. (Moroccan expat in Dubai)

Opinion

Success comes at a price, though. With an average full-time week of 46.3 hours (vs. 42.2 hours globally), the UAE only ranks 22nd for working hours and 24th for work-life balance. And despite the career highs, the country places just 24th for fair pay (52% positive ratings vs. 58% globally). Still, close to a third (31%) are completely satisfied with their job overall (vs. 21%) — a 3rd place worldwide.

A Struggling Economy in Türkiye (31st)

After a bottom 3 result in 2025, Türkiye finds itself at the very end of the Working Abroad Index, ranking last (31st) in 2026. The country places dead last in three of the four subcategories: Salary & Job Security, Work & Leisure, and Work Culture & Satisfaction.

The state of the economy is rated the worst worldwide: 61% of expats view it negatively, more than three times the global average of 20%. Money worries run deep — over a third of respondents in Türkiye (34%) earn less than 12,000 USD gross per year (vs. 15% globally), and less than half (48%) feel fairly paid for their work (vs. 58%).

Opinion

Currently, the economic and political situations are concerning. (British expat in Bodrum)

Opinion

Interestingly, expats in Türkiye are also the unhappiest worldwide with their working hours — only 20% rate them positively (vs. 56% globally) — even though a full-time week there averages 40.8 hours, below the global 42.2 hours. The local business culture doesn’t help: it ranks last (31st) for supporting flexibility. In the end, just 44% are satisfied with their job overall (vs. 61%).

The consequences are clear: only 13% of expats in Türkiye want to stay forever (vs. 27% globally), while 14% plan to leave in a year or less (vs. 9%).

Little to Celebrate at Work in Italy (30th)

Italy ranks 30th out of 31 destinations in 2026, with bottom 10 results of all four subcategories of the Working Abroad Index.

Career-wise, there’s little good news: just 38% of expats agree that moving to Italy has improved their career prospects, while 37% outright disagree (vs. a respective 55% and 22% globally). Around two in five (42%) rate the local job market negatively (vs. 34%), and only 36% have something positive to say about the state of the economy (vs. 59%).

Opinion

It’s very difficult for an expat’s partner to find a job in Italy, even if they speak the local language. (Indian expat in Milan)

Opinion

Fewer than half the respondents (49%) are satisfied with their job overall (vs. 61% globally), and just 40% find that the local business culture supports flexibility (vs. 56%). Expats are also unhappy with their working hours (28th) despite a shorter-than-average full-time week of 40.5 hours (vs. 42.2 hours globally).

Then again, work is rarely why expats choose Italy: just 21% name a job-related reason for their move (vs. 33% globally), while close to a fifth (18%) moved for love (vs. 11%). And they’re not leaving over a bad job market, either — about a third (32%) want to stay forever (vs. 27% globally).

Great Country, Bad Job Market: Portugal (29th)

Portugal presents one of the sharpest contrasts in 2026: expats rank it 8th out of 31 destinations overall, but a lowly 29th in the Working Abroad Index.

The Career Prospects Subcategory is rated the worst worldwide (31st). Not even a fifth of respondents (19%) have something positive to say about the local job market (vs. 38% globally), and just 29% agree that moving to Portugal has improved their career prospects, while 42% disagree (vs. a respective 55% and 22% globally). Job security is another concern: only 37% rate it positively (vs. 54%).

Opinion

I thoroughly dislike the lack of career opportunities because there are no opportunities for growth and the pay is really poor compared to the living costs and expenses like rent. The market is saturated but even worse for English jobs. (Kenyan expat in Porto)

Opinion

Overall, fewer than half (48%) are satisfied with their job (vs. 61%).Though at least the work-life balance holds up (16th), with 62% positive ratings, right at the global average.

Of course, most expats in Portugal never came for a career: about one in ten (11%) name a job-related reason for the move (vs. 33% globally), while around a fifth each relocated to retire there (20% vs. 4%) or for a better quality of life (21% vs. 9%). In fact, 41% of respondents in Portugal are retired (vs. 14% globally) — and job market or not, 39% want to stay forever (vs. 27%).

Trends in the Top 10

Panama
Denmark
UAE
Luxembourg
Ireland
Netherlands
Belgium
Australia
Saudi Arabia
Mexico

The top 10 of the 2026 Working Abroad Index looks remarkably familiar: nine of the ten destinations already ranked among the best in 2025. The only newcomer is Mexico (10th), which impresses with a 2nd place each for personal career opportunities and overall job satisfaction — though improved career prospects (24th) lag behind.

Once more, European destinations make up half of the top 10: Denmark (2nd), Luxembourg (4th), Ireland (5th), the Netherlands (6th), and Belgium (7th). All five rank among the top 11 in the Salary & Job Security Subcategory. Luxembourg stands out in particular, placing 1st worldwide for both job security and overall job satisfaction.

The Middle East is represented by the UAE (3rd) and Saudi Arabia (9th).* Both excel in the Career Prospects Subcategory (1st and 4th, respectively) and rank among the top 5 for the state of the economy and the local job market. However, they also share the same weakness: the Work & Leisure Subcategory, where the UAE (24th) and Saudi Arabia (26th) receive their worst results by far.

Australia (8th) rounds out the list as the sole destination from Oceania, delighting expats with short and flexible work arrangements — it ranks 4th each for working hours and a business culture that supports flexibility, as well as 5th for fair pay.

Trends in the Bottom 10

United Kingdom
Malaysia
Brazil
Japan
Spain
Norway
Canada
Portugal
Italy
Türkiye

With 31 destinations in the 2026 ranking, the bottom 10 features some familiar faces — Türkiye (31st), Italy (30th), Portugal (29th), and Japan (25th) all received the same dubious distinction in 2025 — but also a few surprises among classic expat magnets.

Canada (28th), Norway (27th), and the United Kingdom (22nd) all disappoint career-minded expats. Norway’s result is particularly striking: it ranks last worldwide (31st) for both fair pay and overall job satisfaction, as well as for personal career opportunities — despite a strong showing for job security (4th) and the state of the economy (8th). The UK shows the opposite pattern: a solid 8th place in the Career Prospects Subcategory, the best result in the entire bottom 10, is dragged down by a second-to-last rank (30th) for the state of the economy. Canada, meanwhile, sits in the bottom 10 for factors across the board, including job security (29th), work-life balance (29th), and the state of the economy (28th).

Southern Europe continues to struggle: next to Italy (30th) and Portugal (29th) there’s also Spain (26th). All three receive some of the worst results in the Career Prospects Subcategory (28th to 31st). Spain at least offers a strong work-life balance (8th) — the best individual result among the bottom 10.

In Asia, Japan (25th) and Malaysia (23rd) fail to impress. Japan’s mix is especially stark: expats appreciate the local job market (10th) and their job security (8th) but rank the country 30th for a business culture that supports flexibility and 29th for fair pay.

Finally, Brazil (24th) proves that happy employees alone don’t make a top destination: despite a 9th place each for overall job satisfaction and the local job market, weak results for salary and job security (26th in the subcategory) keep it in the bottom 10.

Full Ranking

*) Please note that this year’s Expat Insider survey was conducted by InterNations from 1 February to 31 March 2026. Since data collection took place both before and after the outbreak of the US-Iran war, the findings should be interpreted as only partially reflecting its impact on expats living in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.