The Top 10: Which Countries are Best for Women Expats?

Like their male counterparts, female expats need to be prepared when going abroad. But there are a few factors which are different for female expats and which might result in different advice on where to go than for their male colleagues

INCOME

According to UNDP, there are many countries where women earn less than 50% of men's income, including Benin, Bangladesh, Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea, Togo, Eritrea, Cape Verde and Yemen. It is important to understand that when you are living in a culture where it is accepted that women make significantly less money than men for the same job it can be more difficult to secure a well-paying job or negotiate for raises one you have secured a job.

SAFETY

Clearly the situation is not good for women when there are high rates of domestic violence and rape (often a common weapon in war), such as in Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Sudan, Guatemala, Pakistan, or Somalia. As an expat, male or female, you would likely not want to be in a place where violence was so rampant.

LEGAL RIGHTS

And of course there are places like Saudi Arabia where women have fewer rights - for example, you are not allowed to drive or engage with men publicly - which have significant impact on one's lifestyle and may not make an ideal location.

According to an UNDP report, when you take into account things like life expectancy, education, healthcare and standard of living, some of the best places to live as a woman are:

1. Iceland

2. Norway

3. Australia

4. Canada

5. Ireland

6. Sweden

7. Switzerland

8. Japan

9. Netherlands

10. France 

If we compare this list with Gallup Research's list of countries with the highest "happiness scores" there is some overlap (in bold):

1. Denmark

2. Finland

3. Norway

4. Sweden

5. Netherlands

6. Costa Rica

7. New Zealand

8. Canada

9. Israel

10. Australia

11. Switzerland

Note that some countries which generally score high on lists as good for expats, like Singapore and United Arabian Emirates, are a lot less welcoming to women expats. In the latter example, while there are no formal rules barring female expats, in practice the local culture makes employment as a female expat an impossibility for all but menial tasks. But even in more open societies it is commonly accepted that women earn less than men.

There are of course numerous lists you can use to evaluate your location choices. I recommend using the same reports your employer is using to assess salary levels and benefits to their expatriate employees, to prevent confusion and conflict. 

Looking at all of these factors is important in making the right choice for your next home. But the end of the day, you need to make your own choice based on your own cultural values, lifestyle and work preferences and measure each possibility against it. An ideal country for one woman could be a wrong choice for another.

EXPAT SUCCESS TIP:

Whether you are a woman or a man considering moving abroad, do your homework. Find out about the current statistics on earning power, safety and legal rights before making your decision. But most importantly, be sure that your values and desired lifestyle are aligned with what your potential new home has to offer.