Spain has long sold something that is difficult to quantify: quality of life.
Now there are numbers behind it.
The InterNations Expat Insider 2026 survey ranks Spain as the 6th-best country in the world for expats — and the highest-ranked European country in the overall global ranking.
Even more strikingly, Spain ranks No. 1 in the world for Quality of Life.
For Spain’s international property market, these figures matter. They help explain why the country continues to attract foreign buyers, retirees, remote workers, entrepreneurs and families looking for something more permanent than a holiday home.
The message from expats already living here is remarkably clear:
Spain isn’t simply a great place to visit. It is one of the best places in the world to live.
Spain: No. 6 in the World
The 2026 Expat Insider ranking places Spain 6th out of 31 destinations surveyed.
The global top 10 is:
| GLOBAL RANK | COUNTRY |
|---|---|
| 1 | Panama |
| 2 | Mexico |
| 3 | Thailand |
| 4 | UAE |
| 5 | Brazil |
| 6 | Spain 🇪🇸 |
| 7 | Singapore |
| 8 | Portugal |
| 9 | Malaysia |
| 10 | Luxembourg |
Spain therefore finishes ahead of major international expat destinations including Singapore and Portugal, while also taking the position of Europe’s highest-ranked country overall.
Of the European countries making the global top 10, Spain ranks:
- #1 Spain — 6th globally
- #2 Portugal — 8th globally
- #3 Luxembourg — 10th globally
That is a significant endorsement of the Spanish lifestyle.
Source: InterNations Expat Insider 2026.
The Bigger Story: Spain Is No. 1 in the World for Quality of Life
Spain’s overall sixth-place position is impressive.
But arguably the most important number for anyone considering buying a home in Spain is 1.
Spain ranks:
No. 1 in the world for Quality of Life
And this isn’t a one-off result.
2026 is the fifth consecutive year that Spain has topped the InterNations Quality of Life Index.
Spain finishes ahead of:
- Spain
- Singapore
- UAE
- Japan
- Austria
- Panama
- Denmark
- Switzerland
- France
- Luxembourg
That means Spain isn’t simply competing with Mediterranean neighbours.
It is outperforming some of the wealthiest and most developed countries in the world when expats are asked about their actual experience of living there.
82% of Expats in Spain Are Happy With Their Lives
Perhaps the strongest statistic of all is this:
82% of expats living in Spain say they are happy with their life.
The global average is just 70%.
That’s a 12-percentage-point advantage for Spain.
It also helps Spain rank 4th worldwide for expat happiness.
For property buyers, this is an important distinction.
People aren’t simply attracted to the idea of Spain before they move.
The overwhelming majority remain happy after they actually live here.
89% Love Spain’s Climate and Weather
Spain’s weather remains one of its greatest competitive advantages.
According to the survey:
89% of expats are satisfied with Spain’s climate and weather.
Globally, the equivalent figure is only:
58%
That’s a huge 31-percentage-point gap.
Spain consequently ranks 2nd worldwide for climate and weather.
For buyers considering destinations such as the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca and Mallorca, this is particularly relevant.
Climate doesn’t just influence holidays.
It changes how people live.
More days outside, walking, swimming, cycling, golf, restaurants, terraces, beaches and outdoor social life all become part of the everyday experience rather than something reserved for a few weeks each year.
87% Praise Spain’s Food and Dining Options
The Mediterranean lifestyle isn’t only about sunshine.
87% of expats positively rate Spain’s culinary variety and dining options.
The worldwide average is 75%.
Spain also ranks 2nd globally for culture and nightlife and 2nd for recreational sports.
Together, these help Spain achieve 2nd place overall for Leisure Options.
This combination is difficult for competing destinations to replicate.
Spain offers beaches, mountains, golf, skiing, sailing, major cities, historic towns, restaurants and international communities — often within relatively short travelling distances.
Healthcare Is Another Major Advantage
Healthcare is often one of the biggest considerations for international buyers, particularly those planning retirement or permanent relocation.
Spain ranks 4th worldwide for healthcare in the survey.
The numbers are particularly strong:
- 80% positively rate healthcare affordability.
- 83% positively rate healthcare availability.
- 83% positively rate the quality of medical care.
For comparison, the respective global averages are 61%, 71% and 71%.
For buyers considering making Spain their primary residence rather than simply owning a holiday property, access to healthcare can be a major part of the decision.
77% Say Spaniards Are Friendly
Moving country isn’t just about finding a property.
It’s about finding a home.
And Spain performs strongly here too.
77% of expats say local residents are generally friendly.
The worldwide average is 63%.
Spain ranks 6th globally in the Ease of Settling In Index.
It also ranks:
- 7th for Local Friendliness
- 7th for Finding Friends
- 6th for Culture & Welcome
Meanwhile, 72% say it is easy to get used to Spanish culture, compared with a global average of 60%.
That ability to integrate matters enormously for people deciding whether a move that begins as an experiment eventually becomes permanent.
And 41% Want to Stay Forever
This may be the statistic Spain’s property industry should pay closest attention to.
41% of expats living in Spain say they want to stay forever.
Globally, only 27% say the same.
In other words, the proportion wanting to make Spain their permanent home is around 52% higher than the global average.
That suggests Spain’s international appeal isn’t purely transient.
People arrive.
They settle.
And a substantial proportion decide they don’t want to leave.
Why Are People Moving to Spain?
The survey provides another fascinating clue.
20% of expats in Spain say they moved specifically in search of a better quality of life.
Globally, only 9% of expats give that as their reason for moving abroad.
So people are more than twice as likely to move to Spain specifically for lifestyle reasons.
Interestingly, only 17% moved to Spain primarily for work-related reasons, compared with 33% globally.
That tells us something important about the Spanish international property market.
Spain increasingly competes for people whose location is flexible — retirees, remote workers, business owners, entrepreneurs, international families, people with investment income, and professionals who no longer necessarily need to live where their employer is based.
For these groups, quality of life can become more important than proximity to an office.
Spain Isn’t Perfect — and the Survey Shows It
The report isn’t universally positive.
Spain ranks only 20th for Expat Essentials and 26th for Working Abroad.
Bureaucracy remains a particular frustration.
54% of expats say dealing with Spanish authorities is difficult.
The global average is 39%.
Housing is another increasingly important issue.
Only 29% describe housing as affordable, while 37% say housing is easy to find.
That compares with global averages of 32% and 44% respectively.
For the property industry, this is both a warning and an opportunity.
International buyers increasingly need professional guidance — not simply finding a property, but understanding locations, pricing, documentation, legal processes and the wider mechanics of relocating to Spain.
Spain’s 2026 Expat Scorecard
| METRIC | SPAIN 2026 |
|---|---|
| Overall expat ranking | #6 worldwide |
| European position | #1 in Europe |
| Quality of Life | #1 worldwide |
| Consecutive years #1 for Quality of Life | 5 years |
| Expats happy living in Spain | 82% |
| Global happiness average | 70% |
| Climate & weather satisfaction | 89% |
| Global climate satisfaction | 58% |
| Positive about food & dining | 87% |
| Healthcare affordability positive | 80% |
| Healthcare availability positive | 83% |
| Healthcare quality positive | 83% |
| Locals considered friendly | 77% |
| Easy to adapt to Spanish culture | 72% |
| Want to stay in Spain forever | 41% |
| Global average wanting to stay forever | 27% |
| Moved for better quality of life | 20% |
| Global average | 9% |
| Personal Finance ranking | #8 |
| Ease of Settling In | #6 |
| Working Abroad | #26 |
What Does This Mean for Spain’s Property Market?
Property markets ultimately follow people.
And Spain continues to give international buyers compelling reasons to come.
The Expat Insider results don’t tell us how many homes will be sold or where prices will move next.
But they do measure something arguably more fundamental: how people who have already made the move feel about living here.
And the answer is overwhelmingly positive.
Spain combines several characteristics international buyers increasingly value: climate, healthcare, safety, food, culture, outdoor living, social life, and international connectivity.
And, critically, a lifestyle people appear reluctant to give up once they have experienced it.
The fact that 41% of expats want to remain permanently may ultimately be more important to the long-term international housing market than Spain’s position in any single annual ranking.
The NLS Conclusion
Spain’s 6th-place global ranking is impressive.
Being the highest-ranked European country for expats is even more significant.
But the headline we believe matters most is:
Spain is the world’s No. 1 country for expat Quality of Life — for the fifth consecutive year.
When 82% of expats are happy living here, 89% love the climate, 83% positively rate healthcare quality and 41% want to stay forever, Spain’s attraction to international property buyers becomes easier to understand.
For agents operating in international markets such as the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca and Mallorca, this is bigger than a lifestyle story.
It helps explain the underlying demand.
People aren’t only buying Spanish property because they think Spain might be a good place to live.
Increasingly, they’re buying because millions of people have already made that decision — and the expats who are here are telling us they like what they found.
Spain is No. 6 in the world for expats. No. 1 in Europe. And when it comes to quality of life, No. 1 anywhere.
Source: InterNations, Expat Insider 2026 survey.
