If you have ever contemplated living abroad, especially if you are looking for a career boost and/or have children, then you should consider Switzerland as a possible new home, according to the results of one study.
The Henley Opportunity Index “empowers investors to identify high-potential countries they can access through investment migration programs (also known as golden visa programs) to secure residence rights or citizenship, ultimately enhancing their own and their children’s prospects for long-term success.” That’s according to Henley & Partners, the global leader in residence and citizenship by investment and the firm that compiled the index.
How countries were ranked
Henley & Partners ranked nations around the globe according to six different factors in order to create an overall “total opportunity score,” linked to allowing investors and their children to “pinpoint locations with optimal ecosystems for growing their global networks and maximizing their career prospects, earning potential, and economic mobility for greater success and prosperity across their lifetimes.”
The six factors considered were earning potential, career advancement, top-tier employment prospects, premium education, economic mobility and high livability.
While some of the parameters are self-explanatory, economic mobility “represents the sum of the national GDP shares of global GDP for each of the destinations to which its passport holders have visa-free access.”
High livability, meanwhile, “uses the scores for private healthcare, quality of life, and safety and security, equally weighted.”
Switzerland beats Singapore, but USA not far behind
Switzerland came top of the list with a “total opportunity score” of 85%, ahead of Singapore (79%). Despite growing political unrest, the United States is third when it comes to career opportunities and advancement (78%), with Australia (76%) and Canada (73%) completing the top five.
The Henley Opportunity Index top 16 based on “total opportunity score”
- Switzerland – 85%
- Singapore – 79%
- USA – 78%
- Australia – 76%
- Canada – 73%
- United Kingdom – 70%
- United Arab Emirates – 67%
- Austria – 66%
- New Zealand – 65%
- Italy – 64%
- Hong Kong – 62%
- Latvia – 60%
- Malta – 59%
- Hungary – 58%
- Greece – 57%
- Portugal – 57%
Switzerland and Singapore were the only two countries to achieve a top score of 100 in any category, both for earning potential. The United States ranked in the top three for four of the six parameters, with the exception of economic mobility and high livability.
Switzerland: high living costs, ample opportunity
The cost of living in Switzerland is high, although the average gross monthly salary was estimated to be 6,665 Swiss Francs in 2024, which corresponds to approximately $7,439.
More than 850 international companies have their head office or other central functions in Switzerland, while the World Health Organization (WHO), World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Economic Forum (WEF) are among the organizations based in Geneva alone.
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