The 2025 ranking of the best countries to live and work is clear: this small country is definitely number 1.
To date, 2.5 million of our fellow citizens officially live outside France according to official government data. But which country should you settle in to live the best? This is the question answered by the firm Henley & Partners, specializing in settling and obtaining nationality throughout the world.
He revealed the results of his study entitled The Henley Opportunity Indexthus ranking the best countries to live and work in 2025. The selection criteria? Career opportunities, advancement in one’s job, salary, economic mobility (which refers to the possibility of changing one’s economic status during one’s life, for example from the middle class to the wealthy class), the level of education as well as the overall level of the living environment.
On the basis of these criteria, we then find the United States on the third step of the podium, a country renowned for its ease of setting up a company and doing business. Then, in second position, we find the city-state of Singapore, a global financial center which welcomes many expatriates working particularly in the banking sector. Here, the living environment also borders on perfection: no insecurity, clean streets, an ultra-high level of service…
But which country is the best? It is a country bordering France, since Switzerland dominates. It must be said that the small country has solid assets up its sleeve. Starting with money, which often attracts candidates for expatriation like Agathe, this French woman who gave us her testimony about her new life in Geneva. According to OECD data, the average monthly salary in Switzerland reaches around €5,617 gross per month, or a net income of €4,382, compared to €3,182 gross per month in France.
Furthermore, according to a study carried out by the firm Henley & Partners in collaboration with the AlphaGeo analysis platform, Switzerland has also been designated as the safest country in the world. It stands out for its particularly low risk levels, particularly geopolitical risks due to its legendary neutrality. Finally, Numbeo also ranked Switzerland 5th in the world among countries with the best quality of life in 2025.
