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Revealed - the most stressful countries in the world

Expats finding the going tough might want to check out how high their host country features on HiFX’s all-embracing location stress register, as Hannah Beecham reports.

Analysis of the top 10 most popular emigration destinations has found that the most stressful countries to move to are not necessarily those most alien to Brits in terms of language and culture.

According to independent analysis from currency experts HiFX and psychologists, it is the hidden hurdles that are psychologically causing the most stress – a finding that catapults South Africa to the top of the stress barometer. Germany ranks as the least stressful place to move to. However, the research also shows that, with a small amount of preparation, it is possible to significantly reduce the potential stress emigrating can create.

According to the study, emigrating to an English-speaking country does not mean the process will automatically be easier for British expats. Factors such as currency fluctuation, alien legalities and different taxation systems mean that the US and Australia followed hot on the heels of South Africa when tested against a number of ‘stress inducing factors’.

Over 385,000 people emigrate from the UK each year – often in search of a more relaxed lifestyle abroad. While it’s commonly accepted that moving house is one of the most stressful things that people ever do in their lives, it could be easy to underestimate all the extra issues there are to consider when moving abroad.

Mark Bodega, Director at HiFX, who helps over 30,000 people buy property and emigrate abroad each year, explains these findings to Expat Investor.

“Moving abroad isn’t just about moving your belongings and pursuing a new lifestyle. Decamping to a different country means getting to grips with a whole new way of living – from the language you’ll be speaking to the money you’ll be spending. Many of us don’t fully understand the tax and legal systems in this country; however the same lack of knowledge as a foreign national abroad could lead to problems. With so much to think about when packing up and setting off, people should make the most of all the assistance available from specialists such as tax advisers, and removal experts. Emigrating can mean the start of a fantastic life abroad so it is important that people mitigate any potential stress caused by the actual moving process.”

A scientific formula, devised in consultation with HiFX, was used to assess the top 10 emigration destinations against 10 factors contributing to the stress of moving. Leading psychologists assessed the causes of stress and weighted the factors accordingly. Based on this analysis, mathematicians devised a formula to determine each country’s stress score. Those factors are civil stability, legalities, currency, quality of life, social services, distance from the UK, language, ease of visa application process, tax system, and cultural idiosyncrasies.

Dr David Lewis, leading psychologist with The Mind Lab, explains, “Stress levels are based on the degree of control people are likely to be able to exert over a situation – the less control, the higher the potential for stress. Moving to a country with several issues beyond a person’s influence naturally increases the potential for stress. Whilst learning a new language can be daunting, it is not insurmountable, whereas civil instability and complex legal systems are beyond an individual’s control.”

With high unemployment, increasing crime levels and complex rules relating to the sale of any property, South Africa scores particularly highly on civil instability and legal issues.

Despite a laid-back English-speaking culture, Australia has an unfamiliar and complex tax system. A long and uncertain visa application process also means émigrés must take additional steps to ease the stress of a move there. Plus, the Australian dollar is a commodity currency, making it extremely volatile, which can significantly affect people’s future wealth if they do not fix their exchange rate when transferring assets.

Intriguingly, Germany, while not traditionally thought of as a laid- back nation, is the least stressful country to move to. With easy links back to the UK, a stable currency and great social services, Germany is most likely to herald émigrés’ dreams of a more relaxed life abroad.

Other countries’ stressful factors are revealed as follows. Canada, America and Italy all have complex legal systems when buying property and the process is very different to that in the UK, making it additionally stressful. The visa application process in New Zealand can take up to 18 months. Recent volatility in the US dollar leads to uncertain times. Italian is not commonly taught in UK secondary schools therefore Brits need to make added effort to acclimatise to the country.

“When moving aboard it is vital to investigate your intended destination and take steps to make the process as easy as possible. Think about the move as early as possible and seek professional assistance,” advises Mr Bodega.
Readers can input their circumstances for a stress score and bespoke tips on how to ease the process at www.hifx.co.uk/ stress_calculator


Stress Ranking    Country                      Score
1                               South Africa              80.0
2                               USA                            56.0
3                               Australia                    51.0
4                               Southern Cyprus     50.6
5                               Canada                     50.4
6                               Italy                            49.4
7                               Spain                         48.4
8                               New Zealand           47.8
9                               France                      44.4
10                            Germany                   41.8