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Nine out of ten expatriates would recommend a life abroad to their friends or family and three in every four say their quality of life has improved since moving to a new country.
These are just some of the findings of a new major survey of expatriates, conducted by BUPA International. The world's largest expat insurer polled 1,787 people living outside their home country, to gain a unique insight into the lives of the global expat community.
When asked what they liked best, more than two-thirds (68 percent) of expats plumped for the better way of life and six out of ten (60 percent) for the weather.
Living abroad also seems to have a positive psychological impact on expats with 58 percent claiming to be more open-minded and nearly half saying they are happier and more relaxed in their new country.
All is not perfect abroad, however, with six in every ten expats admitting to missing their friends and family back home and nearly half pining for particular foods. Integrating abroad can also pose challenges, with only one in five spending time to learn the local language of their new country and even less trying the local cuisine.
Tim Slee, head of European Sales at BUPA International, said: "Moving abroad is a huge life-changing challenge and while our survey shows it's a very successful move for most people, careful planning is essential.
"This is particularly the case when it comes to health and financial security, as foreign healthcare systems can be difficult to navigate, especially if you do not speak the local language. State-subsidised healthcare for expats can also be confusing, varying enormously from one country to another.
"Our expatriate customers have peace of mind from knowing that wherever they are abroad, their private medical insurance will fund not only cancer tests, drugs and consultants' fees, but also serious, costly operations - helping to alleviate the financial strain at what is often a very stressful time, particularly when the individual is outside their home country."
BUPA International's expat survey also revealed that for most people the expat life is a long-term commitment with nearly half (49 percent) having lived abroad for over 10 years.
The poll also showed that more than three-quarters of expats are married or living with a partner (78 percent), while six out of 10 have children (59 percent). When it comes to age, half of expats are between 35 and 55, with just one in five below the age of 35.
