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A total of 51 000 Swedes settled permanently abroad in 2011, according to DN. This is the largest emigration from Sweden to date, greater than the one at the end of the 19th century! But this time we are not emigrating for jobs but for warmth ...
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ShareLower taxes attract
According to the article in DN, low taxes abroad are one of the reasons why Swedes are emigrating. Spain is the most popular, but Portugal has also been boosted by new favourable tax rules.
According to a press release from Fastighetsbyrån, younger people dream most about moving abroad, while older people are the ones who go ... Would you consider moving abroad? Why/why not? Or do you already have experience of moving to another country?
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Frankie & Co says:
I have done a lot of genealogical research in the past, mostly for others about the emigration in the 18th and 19th centuries, and I find life before and after fascinating, but often conditions were not much better for that generation.
Human endeavour is boundless.
Most of the time I am so happy and grateful for our latitudes and geography, I think I would find it hard to cope without the changing seasons, but there is the idea of different weather, different culture and environment as an attraction and challenge and striving for something new, and it is quite possible that we will join the emigrants of our time, just not right now.
24 May 2012 - 7:51
Maggan and Ingemar says:
When winter and autumn rains come, we "emigrate", and when spring approaches, we begin to long for the Swedish summer. To emigrate for good and settle in another country....no, I have no desire for that.
No country has as beautiful a spring as Sweden, and if we don't have too much bad weather, we are most comfortable here at home.
Thanks to the motorhome, we can now choose how we want to live. This was not possible in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Today we are enjoying better weather than southern Europe 🙂 .
24 May 2012 - 9:11
Catherine in Asia says:
More and more of us are emigrating!
24 May 2012 - 10:37
Tina says:
I have lived the dream in Greece and continue part-time, so to speak, in Malta.
24 May 2012 - 11:44
Ama de casa says:
Well... I could probably imagine moving abroad, I think. If I dare 😉 .
24 May 2012 - 16:05
Ama de casa says:
Ooops! I have already done it. We have been living in Torrevieja since 2006 and I have not regretted it for a second!
🙂
24 May 2012 - 16:07
Agneta says:
we had just such a discussion last night, about moving abroad for a couple of years and working, going to school etc. etc. somewhere else than right here in this country. We have somewhat divided opinions, I would like to live a normal life here at home in the security (yes, security junkie) while the man could imagine abroad.
24 May 2012 - 17:35
annelias says:
I have lived in Malta for almost two years but moved home because I fell in love 🙂 We would love to move abroad and Spain or Shanghai is the most attractive! Spain mainly for the climate and language, and China because of the country's development and explosiveness. Some day soon I hope!!!
24 May 2012 - 18:15
admin says:
Frankie & Co, it's true that you always strive for something... it's probably human nature. If you're in a really bad situation, of course you strive for a better situation... but the curiosity for the unknown seems to be there even if you're in a good situation...
Maggan and Ingemar, motorhome life provides wonderful opportunities! Sounds like a pleasant exodus!
😉
Tina, it will be interesting to go to Malta!
Agneta, yes, and then there's the fact that you don't always want the same thing...
Annelie, Shanghai sounds exciting! I've never thought about moving there, but it's a place I'd like to visit!
24 May 2012 - 19:49
Ninni and the Hjulius motorhome in a corner says:
JAAAA absolutely I could imagine it - winter time in any case. The summer is so nice here in Åland even though it is a bit "quiet" but it is in the summer that something happens and the archipelago is wonderful summertime here! But winter = dead!
We have dreams of someday trying to overwinter in Spain or similar in the future. But it feels like the children need to fly out of the nest first. Do not want to tear them out of school and that they would have to leave friends and class etc. because WE want... it would feel too selfish. Hopefully you have time for yourself later.
24 May 2012 - 20:56
Emmy says:
Well, I have emigrated a couple of times, or rather continued to emigrate to different places. England is very easy to emigrate to with a Swedish passport (except for some paperwork for the National Insurance Number). Australia is more difficult with visas and jobs, but everything is possible if you want it. I moved mostly for the adventure, the social aspect and the culture. Sweden is good, but perhaps not always as good as Swedes often trumpet. For example, I was completely shocked that health care in England is almost on par with Sweden and that it is also free. Even though they are 60 million inhabitants. But there are always pros and cons.
As a parenthesis, I think it is unusual for "ordinary people" (and I mean below senior management level) to go abroad mainly for jobs. It is still difficult to get different types of degrees recognised in other countries and even if Swedes have a good reputation, you have to get a foot in the door somewhere to even get your first job abroad. That's very much a Catch 22 and I've heard many stories about that...
25 May 2012 - 2:39
marina says:
I guess I'm now one of the numbers in the statistics, even if it wasn't intended that way. I actually spend a lot of time in Sweden in the summer and had intended to continue to be registered there for simplicity's sake, but that was not the case...and now it will be another year (at least) here in Singapore anyway, so I guess that's it.
However, I find it hard to imagine staying here forever, but you never know what the future holds...
25 May 2012 - 7:04
Seniors Speculate says:
Moving abroad is something everyone should try. It is a richness in life to live in a country "for real" for a few years. You learn a lot and realise that we Swedes are not the best in all situations, as many people think. Learning about other traditions and other people is very useful. You suddenly get a completely different view of most things. We are so grateful that we had the chance to try it for several years. Take the chance if it's offered! That's what those of us who have done it say. Good luck to you! 3 M
25 May 2012 - 8:26
admin says:
Ninni, it can be difficult when you have children at home, especially if it's only for half the year... (although of course some people choose to move with their children). But you can certainly get the chance later! The campervan really offers great opportunities!
Emmy, when we want to leave Sweden, we are sometimes told that Sweden is "so good". But we don't want to leave Sweden because Sweden is bad (well, the climate maybe...) but because there is more to see here in the world!
Marina, even if you move abroad, there is always the possibility of moving back... if you want to! It would be interesting to know what percentage of all "emigrants" come back home after a while...
Seniors Speculate, thank you for your comment! I also think you learn a lot from living in another culture, both about other cultures and about your own. I myself have lived in Iceland for a year, but otherwise it has mostly been travelling... which also contributes to some interesting reflections!
25 May 2012 - 8:48