Map shows where in the world South Africans want to live
There is one country that is the most appealing for moving South African's...
If someone told you you could live in any city in the world, you would obviously pick your dream location.
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Some dream of living in the hustle and bustle of London or New York, others of the opulence of Paris and Dubai.
But if you had to choose a more realistic option, you would probably choose a city that is more 'under-the-radar'.
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International migration is more prevalent than ever, with around 281-million people living in countries other than their nation of origin in 2020.
That's 3,6% of the global population.
Remitly, a company that helps immigrants settle in new countries has analyzed Google search statistics to gather data on the most popular cities people want to move to.
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They used statistics from the Google search phrase 'move to [city]' and omitted the capital city and the country's top choice.
Using this data, they mapped the results, which was pretty surprising.
The top country of choice is Canada, and the number one city, with people in 17 countries naming it their preferred alternative city, is Vancouver.
You can see all the results on the map below:
The list of the number of countries where this city is the top alternative relocation destination is:
- Vancouver - 17
- Barcelona - 12
- Miami - 10
- Dubai - 6
- Valencia - 6
- Utrecht - 5
- Toronto - 4
- Quebec - 4
- Brisbane - 2
- Calgary - 2
Canada dominates the top 30 with Vancouver, Toronto, Quebec, Calgary, Montreal and Edmonton making the list.
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It does seem like Canada has become one of the most popular destinations for those looking to immigrate.
However, the colder months of the Great White North do not appeal to everyone, and many more warm-weather cities like Miami and Barcelona also ended up high on the list with their mild climate and beaches a sure appeal.
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In 2023, Dubai was the top city by a landslide, with 60 countries naming it their preferred relocation destination.
According to BusinessTech, South Africans are also very interested in moving to Canada, and an influx of immigrants are choosing to make it their new home.
The Canadian census in 2021 indicated that 51,590 South Africans were living in the country.
These numbers could have since grown, as John Dunn, Citizenship and Immigration Director, Sable International, said that Canada was one of the top five countries that South Africans emigrated to in 2023 – alongside Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
One of the various reasons why South African medical professionals prefer Canada is because they do not to re-certified their qualifications.
Canada is also looking to welcome skilled individuals from all around the world to their country.
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Main image courtesy of iStock