Now that remote working has taken hold around the world, you might think the desire to move to a new country would have waned. But this is not the case: according to Gallup research, some 900 million people would be willing to leave their home country to start a new life abroad – equivalent to 16% of the world’s population.

This figure is higher than the 12-15% measured between 2011 and 2018, although it is unchanged from the levels recorded between 2021 and 2022.

The prospect of living overseas appeals to people all over the world, although it is particularly attractive to adults living in Latin America. The results of this survey indicate that those most inclined to migrate are Hondurans (50%) and Ecuadorians (49%). This is hardly surprising, given that both countries are plagued by violence and poverty.

This desire for international mobility is also evident in sub-Saharan Africa, where 37% of adults would be willing to leave their country of origin. Indeed, 76% of Liberians and 75% of Sierra Leoneans want to move abroad. People from Ghana, the Republic of the Congo, and Nigeria are also particularly likely to dream of going elsewhere.

East Asians, on the other hand, seem quite content where they are: only 8% would like to move abroad. As for Europeans, one adult in five could see themselves leaving their country to discover other lands and cultures.

The US remains the preferred destination for would-be expatriates, as it has been every year since 2007. Last year, 18% of potential migrants saw themselves living there, although this figure is down from the 22% recorded in 2011 – and only time will tell if the return of Trump to the White House will affect future statistics.

The UK is seeing the same downward trend, as is France. Canada, meanwhile, is increasingly popular with people who still dream of relocating to a new country.