In a new study from Cigna Healthcare, the insurance company suggests that half of those who are globally mobile – individuals living and working overseas – are likely to remain so for the next two years, with nearly a third of people who still live in their home country saying they are likely to live abroad.

According to Cigna, globally mobile individuals have a higher average vitality score than those living in their home market, are 10% more likely to feel they can build strong connections with others and are more likely to be engaged in tasks that interest them at work. Those living in Hong Kong, Singapore, the US, and the UK are the most likely to have “higher vitality”, which is described by Wendy Sherry, CEO, Global Health Benefits, International Health, Cigna Healthcare as “a mental and physical feeling of being healthy, capable, and energetic – and a strong sense of meaning and purpose”. Despite the higher average vitality score, we see some variation within the globally mobile community. Those with lower vitality scores particularly struggle in areas such as mental health, where there is a significant gap of 66% compared to those with high vitality.

In Europe, satisfaction levels vary among countries, with Switzerland (70%), Spain (71%), and the UK (68%) reporting relatively high rates, while Belgium (61%) and the Netherlands (64%) show slightly lower levels. Satisfaction levels also vary within Asia, from 87% in mainland China and 74% in Singapore to 56% in Hong Kong. However, despite higher levels of satisfaction in markets like the Middle East and Africa (MEA), top expat destinations for those who wish to relocate are Canada, Australia, the US, and the UK, followed by Western Europe and New Zealand.

Global mobility and finance

Cigna’s findings show that financial wellbeing remains a weak point, with only 36% of respondents reporting this to be ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’. This struggle is exacerbated by the cost of living crisis, which is a stated cause of stress for 43% of globally mobile people. Despite these persistent financial concerns, Cigna reports many choosing to remain living overseas, suggesting that their decision is not solely driven by financial motive.

Challenges of global mobility in MEA

In the MEA region, a high proportion of globally mobile individuals encounter challenges compared with other markets, despite more reporting successful relocations. In MEA, 90% said they had faced at least one challenge in the past six months. MEA expatriates are more likely to experience homesickness and a lack of employer support compared with other regions. Yet globally mobile individuals in the MEA region demonstrate better health across various dimensions, which Cigna says suggests the presence of robust in-market support systems spanning family, social networks, and the workplace.

Challenges of global mobility in Asia

In Asia, the likelihood of encountering work-related challenges is higher in mainland China (24%) and Hong Kong (22%). In Hong Kong, a higher incidence of globally mobile respondents said their move had been a failure, and 91% expressed a desire for support before or during relocation. Specifically, Hong Kong-based foreign respondents seek more assistance in navigating local healthcare, with 40% expressing this need versus 28% in other regions.

Conclusively, most globally mobile workers (79%) report feeling constantly connected to work, with three in 10 saying they regularly work overtime. Despite this, the globally mobile show high levels of satisfaction, determination to maintain their globally mobile lifestyle, and good overall well-being, which Cigna suggests indicates an inherent trait of adaptability among this group.

In January, Cigna Healthcare launched a new wellbeing initiative for expats to raise awareness about the negative effects of putting profit before employee wellbeing.