Emigrating in 2025: These 5 countries are particularly popular with Germans
The idea of starting a new chapter abroad is fascinating. According to a survey conducted by YouGov and Statista in April 2025, almost every second person in Germany (49 percent) can imagine emigrating permanently.
Today, the focus is no longer solely on the desire for adventure or wanderlust: Instead, values such as political stability, social security, quality of life, and a functioning healthcare system are increasingly coming into focus. Countries like Canada, Australia, and Sweden are particularly elevating these qualities, while former favorites like the USA are significantly losing their appeal.
While the survey found that one in three people (32 percent) would vacation in the United States, only 9 percent of respondents would consider permanent residence. The main reasons cited for reluctance were the political climate and social tensions (59 percent), crime and gun violence (46 percent), high healthcare costs (45 percent), and high living costs (39 percent), especially for younger people.
We present the five most popular countries for Germans to start a new life and what they actually offer. Finally, we provide an overview of the top 20 emigration destinations for 2025.
In fifth place is a country outside of Europe: Canada. It's not only a popular alternative to the USA for travel , but it's also winning over many Germans as a new home.
Canada attracts visitors with its high quality of life, stable economy, breathtaking natural beauty, and cosmopolitan society. According to a 2024 study, the locals are among the friendliest people in the world . Canada is also one of the safest countries in the world . According to the 2025 Gay Travel Index, it is also the most queer-friendly country.
Many Germans also appreciate the excellent healthcare and diverse cultural offerings in major cities such as Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.
The country offers good job opportunities, especially in sought-after sectors such as IT, skilled trades, and healthcare. Canada also boasts a straightforward immigration system and numerous skilled labor immigration programs.
Canada is one of the friendliest countries in the world.
Source: IMAGO/Cavan Images
Further information on emigrating to Canada: The Federal Office of Administration offers more detailed information for emigrants to Canada on its website with numerous useful links.
Endless forests, picturesque lakes, scissor gardens , and the magical Northern Lights – Sweden is not lacking in natural wonders . This northern European country is also characterized by a very high quality of life, reflected in areas such as healthcare, education, safety, and environmental quality. According to the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI), Sweden is consistently among the top performers. According to the 2024 Environmental Performance Index, Sweden is also one of the most environmentally friendly countries in the world.
Sweden also offers many advantages for families: In addition to a very good work-life balance, the country scores points with generous parental leave policies, flexible working hours, and good childcare. Parents are entitled to a total of 480 days of parental allowance per child (approximately 16 months), with 90 days allocated to each parent individually, and the remaining 390 days can be divided flexibly, as Hannoversche Lebensversicherung AG explains in a comparison . In Germany, both parents are entitled to approximately 425 days of parental allowance.
Another advantage for German emigrants is that many Swedes speak English very well, which makes it easier to get started, especially for those who do not yet speak Swedish.
Sweden is an attractive emigration destination, especially for young families.
Source: IMAGO/Zoonar
Further information on emigrating to Sweden: Further information on immigration and residence permits can be found on the Swedish Migration Agency website .
Austria scores with an even lower language barrier. Germany's neighboring country ranks third among the most popular emigration destinations. As a German-speaking country, integration is linguistically straightforward.
Since Austria is an EU member state, it's relatively easy to emigrate there if you have German citizenship. You simply need to register with the relevant authorities if you plan to stay in the country for more than three months and provide proof of health insurance coverage.
Whether it's the Alps for winter sports enthusiasts, numerous hiking and biking trails, picturesque lakes, or iconic cities – the country offers a high quality of life. According to the 2024 Global Liveability Index, Vienna was named the most livable city for the third year in a row. Cultural overlaps and shared values such as punctuality and politeness should also make adjusting to life in Austria easier for many Germans.
Vienna has so far successfully defended its title as the most livable city in the world.
Source: IMAGO/Pond5 Images
Further information on emigrating to Austria: The Austrian Federal Economic Chamber offers detailed information on job opportunities and entrepreneurship in Austria.
Switzerland may be very expensive, especially for tourists, but for working people, the high cost of living is largely offset by correspondingly attractive salaries. The country is known for its high purchasing power and its low unemployment rate, which was only 2.4 percent in 2024. By comparison, in Germany it was around 6 percent in the same year.
There are many well-paid jobs, particularly in the fields of finance, pharmaceuticals, IT, and engineering. Numerous international companies, such as Novartis, UBS, Glencore, ABB, Philip Morris International, and Adecco, are headquartered in Switzerland, opening up numerous career opportunities for skilled workers from Germany.
Switzerland also scores highly with a low crime rate, a high quality of life, and a stable political situation. Its healthcare system is considered excellent: While in Germany, citizens can choose between statutory and private insurance, basic insurance is mandatory for everyone there. In 2021, healthcare expenditure in Switzerland amounted to CHF 86.3 billion, or 11.8 percent of GDP. In an OECD comparison, Switzerland ranks seventh in per capita expenditure, behind the USA and neighboring countries such as Germany, France, and Austria, according to the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) .
According to the Swiss Institute of Management and Sciences, Switzerland is one of the countries with a world-leading education system that takes into account linguistic diversity with four official languages (German, French, Italian and Romansh) and focuses on specialization and the dual education path at an early stage.
Thun has one of the most beautiful old towns in Switzerland.
Source: IMAGO/Pond5 Images
Further information on emigrating to Switzerland: The FDFA provides comprehensive information and a clear overview of the steps required for emigrating.
Spain is not only one of the most popular holiday destinations for Germans, but according to a survey, it is also the most sought-after emigration destination. The Mediterranean climate with mild winters and sunny summers makes the country particularly attractive for anyone looking to escape the often gloomy German weather.
The south of Spain, in particular, boasts particularly many hours of sunshine and high temperatures. According to the German Meteorological Service (DWD), Seville is the warmest city in Spain, with an average daily maximum of 26 degrees Celsius throughout the year and over 35 degrees Celsius in summer. The port city of Almería in southeastern Andalusia is also particularly sunny. With around 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, it is considered one of the sunniest places in Europe , according to the DWD and satellite data.
In addition, many people are likely to appreciate the relaxed lifestyle. The so-called "Beckham Law" allows certain professional groups, such as highly qualified professionals, to benefit from tax advantages for a certain period of time. This can be particularly attractive for entrepreneurs and investors.
From the Alcazaba in Almería you can see the whole city.
Source: IMAGO/Depositphotos
Further information on emigrating to Spain: The Federal Office of Administration provides detailed information for emigrants to Spain on its website with many helpful links.
- Spain
- Switzerland
- Austria
- Sweden
- Canada
- Italy
- Portugal
- Netherlands
- Denmark
- Thailand
- Australia
- USA
- Hungary
- France
- Great Britain
- Poland
- Türkiye
- Russia
- United Arab Emirates
- Belgium
Looking for more inspiration? You can find tips for all the top travel destinations at reisereporter, and the best travel deals on our deals page .
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