- The number of foreigners living in South Korea increased by 3,896 percent from 1990 to 2020.
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Aspiring to begin a fresh chapter overseas?
South Korea It appears that this location is the global leader for such activities, with Bulgaria topping the list in Europe at No. 1.
According to the findings from the expat specialists at William Russell , resulting in a list of the top 10 countries experiencing the largest growth in their expatriate populations since 1990.
Based on the statistics, South Korea experienced a significant rise in its expatriate community, jumping from approximately 43,000 people in 1990 to over 1.7 million in 2020, marking a growth of 3,896 percent.
In Colombia, the second-largest rise was observed, as the number of expatriates soared from only 104,000 in 1990 to 1.9 million individuals in 2020, marking an increase of 1,727 percent.
South America has become an increasingly appealing destination for expatriates, with Chile ranking third on the list. In 1990, the nation counted only 104,000 foreign inhabitants, which surged to approximately 1.6 million by 2020—a growth rate of 1,430 percent.
Bulgaria ranks fourth globally and leads Europe due to a significant increase in expatriates from 21,000 in 1990 to 184,000 in 2020 (a rise of 757 percent).
In Spain, which ranked fifth, the number of expats significantly increased, jumping from approximately 821,000 in 1990 to around 6.8 million in 2020, reflecting a growth rate of 732 percent.
Serbia (6th place, with 729 percent), Malta (7th place, at 661 percent), Iceland (8th place, scoring 582 percent), Finland (9th place, with 510 percent), and Turkey (10th place, having 420 percent) completed the top ten list.
A representative from William Russell stated: "Although South Korea might not lead globally in terms of the total number of international immigrants, comparing its latest statistics with those from 1990 reveals that the country has experienced the largest shift; over the last three decades, this figure has surged by more than 3,800 percent."
'Among all the countries we've examined, Colombia has seen the second largest increase in expatriates. Given that it provides cost-effective living accommodations and allows for potential citizenship acquisition within just half a decade, it's not surprising that more foreigners are choosing to settle here.'
'Chile rounds out our top three spots. Its affordable cost of living coupled with a high standard of living makes it an attractive choice for retired individuals.'
William Russell utilized UN statistics to identify nations experiencing the most rapid increase in their expatriate communities. To learn more, please visit www.william-russell.com/blog/growing-expat-populations/#google .
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