As the cost of living continues to rise globally and economic uncertainty remains, many people are exploring new places that are more affordable and offer a better quality of life. Relocating abroad has become an increasingly popular option for modern professionals—especially in relocating to countries that offer good quality of life, more affordable, and more savings potential.

According to the latest Expat Insider 2025 survey by InterNations, a global community for people living and working abroad, Thailand ranks as the 4th most popular destination for expats, following Panama, Colombia, and Mexico. Panama has retained the top spot for two years in a row, recognized as the country where expats feel happiest living and working. 

The Expat Insider 2025 survey was conducted from 1st to 28th February 2025. . A total of 10,085 expats participated in the survey, representing 172 nationalities living in countries or territories worldwide. The target audience included all kinds of expats, from foreign assignees (i.e., employees sent on a corporate assignment abroad), international retirees, self-made expats who looked for work abroad, and to other expats who moved for a variety of reasons.

Countries were ranked based on 6 key indices:

• General Happiness

• Quality of Life

• Working Abroad

• Ease of Settling In

• Expat Essentials

• Personal Finance

Thailand’s Performance Across Key Indices

Quality of Life (22nd) : Assessed by transportation systems, environment and climate, leisure activities, healthcare, and safety.

Working Abroad (25th) : Based on career opportunities, salary levels, job security, work-life balance, and satisfaction with workplace culture.

Ease of Settling In (11th) : Reflects the friendliness of the locals, opportunities to make new friends, and cultural openness.

Personal Finance (5th) : Driven by satisfaction with financial status, low cost of living, and disposable income.

General Happiness (2nd) : Thailand ranks among the top countries where expats report the highest levels of happiness in both work and daily life.

Insights into Thailand’s Expat Community 

The average age of expats living in Thailand is 54.5 years, with a gender distribution of 77% male and 23% female. Key reasons for relocating to Thailand include: applied for/found a job here (12%); relocated for retirement (11%); came for a better quality of life (9%). When looking ahead, 34% of the respondents plan to stay in Thailand permanently, 35% don’t know yet, and 11% intend to leave within a year.

The most sectors of employment among expats in Thailand are: Education (25%), Information Technology (11%), and Finance (9%). This reflects Thailand’s appeal to both skilled professionals and retirees from around the world.

A Destination That Continues to Inspire 

Thailand remains an attractive destination for expats—not only because of its affordable cost of living and satisfying lifestyle, but because of its diverse job opportunities, warm hospitality, and long-term livability. The survey highlights Thailand’s role as a hub for global talent and for those seeking a fresh start abroad, with strong potential to welcome even more foreign residents in the coming years.