Inspiration

These Countries Have the Most Well-Traveled Citizens

Why does it seem like some people get to travel the world while the rest of us are stuck at our desks? Were they just born lucky? As it turns out, they might just be living in the right country. MoveHub, an online resource dedicated to helping people move abroad, conducted a recent study to find out which country's citizens go on the most international trips each year. They pulled data from the World Bank and World Tourism Organization for 111 countries from the years 2007 to 2016 to determine where the most well-traveled people live—and the disparities are huge. Americans are notoriously bad at taking vacations, so it should come as no surprise that the U.S. ranked among the lowest of all countries studied. But this actual stat may make you cry at your desk: U.S. citizens only make 0.2 trips a year per person. Here, a look at the countries with the most well-traveled citizens. We're already considering a major relocation.
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    Albania

    Albania's citizens are some of the most well-traveled in the world, taking 1.36 international trips annually. You probably would, too, if you got 12 paid public holidays and 20 statutory vacation days every year.

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    Denmark

    Denmark's citizens lead the way in work-life balance, accounting for their 1.40 annual excursions. Only two percent of employees work more than 50 hours per week, and full-time workers devote 66 percent of their day to personal care and leisure activities. In addition, all new Danish moms and dads are given a joint total of 52 weeks parental leave, and mothers get an extra four weeks prior to birth.

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    Switzerland

    Switzerland is often considered to be the best country in the world, so why would its citizens want to leave 1.42 times per year? They can afford it, with per capita and household incomes that rank far above the global averages. And they have the time to do it, too, with four weeks of annual work leave for employees over the age of 20, and five weeks of leave for employees under 20.

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    Singapore

    Singapore's citizens make 1.44 trips a year per person. Perhaps having the best airport in the world, a destination in its own right, inspires people to bust out their passports more often.

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    Ireland

    Like Singapore, Ireland's citizens enjoy 1.44 trips annually. Aside from paid vacation days, the country gets bonus points for its generous parental leave policies. Thanks to the Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016, fathers are now entitled to two weeks of paternity leave, in addition to the 26 weeks of paid leave the mother is already granted.

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    Finland

    Despite Finland's gorgeous national parks, its citizens travel outside the country 1.46 times per year. According to the Annual Holidays Act, an employee is entitled to 2-2.5 vacation days for each full month worked, resulting in 24-30 paid holidays every year.

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    Sweden

    One more reason to be jealous of the Swedes? The 1.5 annual international trips averaged by its residents. As if six-hour workdays, 25 designated vacation days, and 480 days of paid parental leave weren't reason enough.

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    Hungary

    Hungarians take 1.62 tourist trips per year. They value their lives outside of work (roughly four percent of employees work more than 50 hours per week), and parental leave can last up to three years.

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    Luxembourg

    Luxembourg citizens take 2.56 trips each year, and also spend more money per person while abroad ($5,767.82) than anyone else. The small country benefits from having a population under 600,000, offering high quality of life, high salaries, and a high life expectancy; it also has a strong social security system to help its citizens after retirement.

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    Hong Kong

    The citizens of Hong Kong were revealed to be the most seasoned travelers, taking an incredible 11.4 international tourist trips each year. And while technically not a country, Hong Kong operates much like a country separate from China (whose citizens only go on 0.06 trips per year). Its sky-high number of trips can be attributed to the region's 12 annual bank holidays, in addition to one rest day per seven work days that companies are legally required to give their employees.