73 Brits Share "Unwritten" Rules In Their Country That Foreigners Might Not Know About

The world is more mobile than ever before. In fact, global estimates show that around 281 million people were living outside their country of birth in 2020, which works out to roughly 3.6% of the world’s population. That might sound like a small percentage at first, but when you stop and think about it, that’s hundreds of millions of people packing up their lives and starting fresh somewhere new.

Moving countries is no small feat. It means leaving behind familiar streets, routines, food, people, and often a big part of your identity in search of something different. And yet, every year, more people seriously consider doing exactly that.

That desire to start over somewhere else is far more common than many people realize. According to Gallup’s 2023 global research, about 16% of adults worldwide said they would permanently move to another country if given the opportunity. That translates to more than 900 million people globally imagining a life beyond their current borders.

Gallup gathered this data by interviewing nearly 146,000 adults across 142 countries and territories, asking a simple but powerful question: if they had the chance, would they stay or leave? The results came during a period when international migration was surging again after the slowdown caused by the pandemic. In fact, migration across the 38 OECD countries reached record levels in 2022, showing just how strongly people are once again looking outward for new possibilities.

And if there’s one destination that consistently dominates wish lists, it’s the United States. Gallup’s data shows that 18% of potential migrants worldwide (around 170 million adults) named the U.S. as their ideal future home. That means nearly one in five people dreaming of relocation have America in mind. Other top choices include Canada, Germany, Australia, and Spain, all countries known for strong economies, educational opportunities, healthcare systems, and quality of life. 

Europe, meanwhile, continues to be one of the busiest migration hubs in the world. In 2024 alone, 4.2 million immigrants arrived in EU countries from outside the bloc, while another 1.5 million people moved between EU member states. On the flip side, around 3.2 million people emigrated from EU countries, including 1.6 million who moved to destinations outside the EU entirely.

To put that into perspective, the numbers were similarly high in 2023, when 4.4 million people immigrated into the EU from non-EU nations. These numbers reveal just how dynamic migration patterns have become, with millions of people constantly moving in search of new opportunities, stability, and personal growth.

Interestingly, migration patterns also reveal some noticeable gender differences. In 2024, men accounted for 55% of immigrants entering EU countries, while women made up 45%. In 23 of the 26 EU nations with available data, male immigrants formed the majority.

Countries like Croatia reported the highest share of male immigrants at 73.6%, followed by Lithuania at 71.6% and Romania at 64.5%. Meanwhile, France had the highest proportion of female immigrants at 52.3%, followed by Sweden at 51.7% and Czechia at 50.3%. These differences often reflect labor market demands, family migration trends, and the types of opportunities drawing people into specific regions.

So why do people move in the first place? The reasons are rarely simple. For many, migration is about economic opportunity. A better-paying job, stronger career prospects, or simply the ability to provide a more secure future for their family can be enough motivation to start over somewhere unfamiliar. In some cases, people are leaving countries where wages are stagnant or opportunities feel limited, hoping to build a life with greater financial stability elsewhere. It’s not always about luxury; it’s often about possibility.