Ranked: The Most Attractive Countries for University Grads (2010-2023)

Most Attractive Countries For University Graduates

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This graphic visualizes the top 20 most attractive countries for university graduates in 2010-12, 2013-15, 2016-18, and 2021-23, ranked by The Economist’s Footloose index.

The index is based on data from the Gallup World Poll, an annual survey of 150,000 people around the world, and asks if people want to move abroad and, if so, where.

Only respondents who said they had completed an undergraduate degree were included. This first graphic shows rankings by potential total net immigration.

Where Do University Grads Want to Move to the Most?

Below, we show the top 20 countries that respondents with a undergraduate degree said they would want to move to, by total rankings, and across the four time periods.

Since 2010, Canada has consistently ranked between first and third as the most desirable destination for graduates.

According to The Economist’s latest estimates, around 17 million graduates would choose to move to Canada if given the opportunity.

When factoring in Canadians looking to leave, Canada’s net gain would be approximately 15 million graduates.

In comparison, Australia would see nearly 9 million new graduates, while the U.S. could attract a larger talent pool of 21 million. However, with 16 million graduates potentially leaving, America’s net gain would be much lower at just 5 million.

According to The Economist’s analysis, Canada is the most attractive country to Mexicans, while Australia and America attract Chinese workers.

Canada is generally an attractive destination for skilled workers due to the country’s relatively high immigration targets, range of immigration pathways, support for newcomers, and reputation as a welcoming and inclusive country for immigrants.

Most Attractive Countries, Relative to Grad Population

When looking at per graduate rankings, the countries fluctuate a bit in the standings.

This graphic shows potential net immigration relative to each country’s existing graduate population (e.g., a 100% increase means doubling the current number of graduates through migration).

By per graduate net immigration, New Zealand has been the destination of choice since 2010.

Similar to Canada, New Zealand has generally welcoming immigration policies, such as robust post-study work visa programs.

In the table below, we show the top 20 countries that respondents with a undergraduate degree said they would want to move to, by per graduate rankings, and across the four time periods.

Portugal experienced one of the most significant jumps in rankings, moving from 24th in 2010 to 13th in 2023 for total rankings, and from 25th to 8th for per graduate rankings during the same period.

This meant that between 2010-12 and 2021-23, the share of global graduates interested in moving to Portugal tripled, marking the largest increase of any country in the index.

The country has focused heavily on positioning itself as an attractive base for remote workers, with polices like the Digital Nomad Visa.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about the trends behind when and where people move, check out this graphic shows the average age at which Europeans leave their parental homes.