Survey Shows Most Expat Brits Don’t Ever Want To Return

Results of a recent survey have revealed just under two thirds of expat Britons have no intention of ever returning to the home country.

Some six out of every ten respondents to the survey said they’d never repatriate to the UK, with another eleven per cent saying they’d at least consider doing so. Only 27 per cent said they’d maybe come back as some time in the future. It seems that, in spite of the global coronavirus pandemic as well as the increasing worldwide social, political and economic tensions, living overseas is the preferred option for those who’ve made the move.

The survey took in British expats in a wide swathe of countries worldwide, including EU member states, Australia and New Zealand, the Gulf States, several Southeast Asian locations and even Russia, Zimbabwe, Hong Kong and China. Quoted reasons for permanent expatriation included Brexit, the UK’s high taxes, a lack of quality lifestyle, the high cost of living, increasing crime, the weak pound and low interest rates. Political issues and the notoriously poor British weather also played a considerable part for many respondents.

British expats’ reasons for staying put in their new countries mirrored their reasons for leaving, with the weather and low crime statistics as well as higher wages and lower taxes playing a major part. For expat families, quality education and affordable childcare were important and, for expat professionals, career opportunities and a higher quality of life were valid reasons for staying put. Many retirees cited lower costs of living and the friendship and support of local people as well as the positive experiences they’d had as the reasons why they’d never return to the UK.