Where to find the best weather in the world

Costa Rica emerged as the overall winner in the survey

 ROME -- When deciding to move abroad, weather will certainly a prime consideration for many. For all those who dream of 365 days a year of sun, the world’s largest international expat community InterNations has identified the places where it shines best.

 In its annual ‘Expat Insider’ survey, the community asked over 14,000 people living in 195 different countries how satisfied they were with the climate of their current place of residence. The answers, on the whole, showed that sun, but not necessarily scorching climates, were the most desirable.

 According CEO Malte Zeeck, our preoccupation with weather is such that it eclipses even what we might consider more fundamental elements: “Expats do not necessarily prioritise hard factors, such as safety and job security, over soft factors, such as the weather and climate, before moving to another country — sometimes it is even the other way round.”

 It was Britons that topped the list for this preoccupation for weather, with 45% (16% above the global average) considering it to be an important factor before relocating to a new country. Other countries highly concerned with climate include Switzerland (41%), Ireland (39%) and Belgium (38%). 

 When it came to picking the countries with the best climate, InterNations expats gave favourable accounts of sunny spots in Europe, South America and Africa, while North America, Oceania and Asia did not receive much appraisal. The bottom ten places, however, were occupied almost solely by European countries, with Belgium and Ireland being considered the very worst for weather. It will perhaps not come as a surprise, then, that it was the residents of these countries who were among the most preoccupied by climate when moving away. 

 The top of the list consisted of countries spread across the world. Costa Rica emerged as the overall winner, with Cyprus, Greece, Malta and Uganda coming next. Kenya followed at number six, while Spain, South Africa, Mexico and Portugal rounded off the top ten.

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