The Sunniest Countries With The Best Weather For Expats

If you were looking to move abroad, what would you put at the top of your checklist? A great job? The chance to start a family? The opportunity to experience fantastic culture and food?

For many expats, the thing that tops their list is the chance to enjoy more sunshine. Research from Internations found 67% of expats said climate was a factor in their choice to move abroad, and one of the most important reasons among expats from the Northern Hemisphere.

If you’re thinking of moving to sunnier shores—whether to the sun-swept beaches of Bali, a countryside villa in Mexico, or the thriving cities of Spain—we’ve shortlisted some of the best places to enjoy the tropical lifestyle as an expat. 

These destinations combine oodles with sunshine, a warm climate and good weather, with a high quality way of life and ample opportunities for expats like you.

The benefits of living in a sunny country

Sunshine is one of the most essential ingredients in a healthy life. Not only do we need sunlight to grow our food, sunlight has a significant impact on our bodies too. It is integral to good health and well-being.

When living in a sunny country, you’ll soon begin to notice the many benefits sunshine brings. From a more positive mood to better sleep, higher energy levels and even stronger bones, here are some of the many benefits the sunshine brings:

It provides us with Vitamin D

Sunlight is an important source of Vitamin D. When we are exposed to sunlight, 7-dehydrocholesterol in our skin absorbs UV B radiation and converts it into previtamin D3, which then isomerizes into vitamin D3. Vitamin D is an essential fat-soluble nutrient that helps us to maintain a healthy immune system, strengthens our bones and teeth, and helps us to absorb minerals such as calcium and phosphorus.

It regulates our circadian rhythm

Your circadian rhythm (also known as your ‘body clock’) is controlled by exposure to light and dark. When the sun sets, your pineal gland starts to secrete melatonin, which is what causes your body to get drowsy and fall asleep. And, when your body is exposed to bright sunlight, your melatonin levels drop, causing your body to feel awake and energised. Sunlight is therefore essential in helping our bodies to wake up and fall asleep.

It improves our mood

There’s a good reason you feel happier in the sunshine. Exposure to sunlight can boost your serotonin levels, lift your mood, make you feel more energised, stave off depression and even improve your concentration. Simply feeling sunshine on your face is enough to boost your serotonin levels, as your skin contains a special serotonergic system, which releases the hormone when stimulated by sunlight.

It can stave off the risk of chronic illness

A lack of sunlight is linked to a number of serious and chronic illnesses, including breast cancer, colorectal cancer, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, asthma, and diabetes. It’s thought that a lack of exposure to sunlight causes around 340,000 deaths in the United States and 480,000 deaths in Europe every year, due to everything from poor mental health, to increased stress and low levels of Vitamin D.

Where are the sunniest countries in the world?

Some countries are naturally sunnier than others due to their location in the world. Over the course of the year, the earth’s rotation around the sun exposes countries in the subtropical latitudes—those between 25° and 35° North and South of the Equator—to more sunlight hours than any other part of the world.

In the Northern hemisphere, this includes countries like Spain, Portugal, Greece, Saudi Arabia, southern China, southern Japan and the southern United States. 

In the Southern hemisphere, it includes parts of Chile, Argentina, South Africa and Australia.

Unfortunately, many of these sunlight hours are localised to areas within countries where life is inhospitable, such as deserts. It’s therefore helpful to break down sunlight hours across major cities, rather than countries as a whole. When we do that, we find that the countries with the most sunlight hours enjoyed per population are:

Countries with the most sunlight hours per year in major cities

Source: Sleepopolis via Tableau Public

Meanwhile, the sunniest city in the world – i.e. the city that receives the most sunshine each year – is Yuma in Arizona, with over 4,015 hours of sunlight per annum. 

The other cities that receive the most sunshine worldwide include:

In Europe, the city that receives the most sunlight hours per year is Nicosia in Cyprus, followed closely by Seville in Spain.

Where are the least sunniest countries in the world?

On the other end of the spectrum, these are the countries that receive the fewest hours of sunshine per population in the world:

Countries with the least sunlight hours per year

Source: Sleepopolis via Tableau Public

The city with the fewest hours of sunshine in the world is Chongqing in China, which gets just 983.2 hours of sunlight per year – making it the only city in the world with fewer than 1,000 hours of sunlight. 

The other ‘least sunniest cities’ in the world—and the ones to avoid if you’re looking for a place in the sun—include:

The best sunny countries for expats

Now it’s time to count down the best destinations for expats seeking sunshine. For this list, we’ve prioritised countries that receive lots of sunshine, that have a suitable climate (i.e. not too hot), fantastic weather and that offer a good way of life for expats.

If you’re looking to start a new life abroad as an expat in a sunny country, these destinations are sure to offer everything you could possibly ask for.

10/ Spain

Average sunshine hours: 2,766
Average annual rainfall: 636mm
Climate type: Oceanic (North), Continental (Central), Mediterranean (South)

No one should be surprised to see Spain on our list of the sunniest countries for expats – in fact the only thing you may be wondering is why it’s so far down!

As a huge and diverse country, Spain is made of lots of different types of climates. Its northern regions, which include Galicia and the Basque country, are known for being cool and mild, with brisk winds drawing in from the Atlantic and high rainfall in the autumn.

The South, stretching from Catalonia to Andalusia, is renowned for its warm Mediterranean climate, despite the occasional thunderstorm. Meanwhile the Spanish interior, and especially the region around the capital Madrid, can range from hot and arid in the summer, to wet and chilly in the winter. In short: there’s something for everyone in Spain!

What you won’t miss out on is sunshine. So integral is it to the Spanish way of life, the locals structure their lifestyles around the sun: taking a siesta during a high point of the afternoon to bask in its warm glow, eating later in the evening to catch the late sunset, and partying late into the night to ensure they avoid the lingering heat.

Spain frequently appears in our rankings—from the world’s healthiest countries, to the best for education and cost of living. Check out our guide to moving to Spain for the full low-down. Just make sure you’re not upsetting the locals if you’re thinking of going as a digital nomad.

9/ Portugal

Average sunshine hours: 2,770
Average annual rainfall: 854mm
Climate type: Temperate, Mediterranean

With the Atlantic on one side and the Mediterranean Sea on the other, Portugal has a diverse and fascinating climate – temperate and cool in the North, hot and dry in the southern Algarve region, but generally speaking warm all year round. Thankfully, Portugal’s advantageous position on the western shores of the Iberian Peninsula, with 586 miles of coastline, means you’ll never be too far from the sea breeze – and the opportunities for surfing.

Of course, the Atlantic influence can bring occasional bouts of fierce weather. This is particularly true on the Portuguese islands of Madeira and the Azores, which are located in the middle of the ocean. Rainfall reaches its peak during the rainy autumn months, but don’t let this put you off: with long, sunny days year-round, there’s no storm Portugal can’t weather.

Portugal offers everything an expat could ever dream of – cities that seamlessly blend the modern with the traditional, intrepid experiences across the whole country, and even a low cost of living. Check out our guide to moving to Portugal to find out more.

8/ Greece

Average sunshine hours: 2,773
Average annual rainfall: 652mm
Climate type: Mediterranean

The country of over 6,000 islands, Greece is known around the world for its pristine sandy beaches, crystal-clear blue waters and amazing food. It’s also well-known for its beautiful climate, which has attracted foreign settlers for thousands of years.

Each island across Greece offers its own microclimate, taking advantage of their position in the Aegean sea to combine bright sunshine with cooling sea breezes. With an average temperature of 33°C/91°F, Kos is renowned as the hottest of these islands, and has also been highlighted as the sunniest place in Europe by sunshine hours. But if island life doesn’t suit you, you’ll still enjoy plenty of light on the Greek mainland, especially in the capital Athens.

There’s good news for expats looking to retire to a place in the sun, as Greece comes in on our list of the easiest countries to buy property abroad.

7/ Chile

Average sunshine hours: 2,841
Average annual rainfall: 1,522mm
Climate type: Tropical (North), Mediterranean (Central), subantarctic (South)

Chile is a long, skinny country with a monopoly on over 6,000km of Pacific coastline, spanning from the Atacama Desert in the North, all the way down to the Magellanic tundra in the southern region of Chilean Patagonia. The vast majority of Chile’s 20 million population inhabits the central region, where you’ll find the capital Santiago, home to 7 million of those people.

Chile enjoys four seasons. A warm summer from December to February gives way to a cool winter from June to August, but average temperatures never tend to reach too high or too low. Of course, things tend to heat up in the northern, arid region; and get very cold in the Antarctic south. But stay close to the centre and you’ll enjoy a mild, Mediterranean climate that offers plenty of heat without too much humidity.

Perhaps it’s this perfectly balanced climate that’s bringing expats to Chile in their droves. We recently highlighted it as one of our fastest-growing expat destinations, with a staggering 1,430.23% increase in international arrivals. Just make sure you’ve packed international health insurance – hospitals can be hard to come by in Chile.

6/ Kenya

Average sunshine hours: 3,030
Average annual rainfall: 630mm
Climate type: Temperate, tropical (coastal), arid (interior)

Kenya offers the complete African expat experience. Whether it’s safariing through the desert, relaxing in a luxurious beach-front hotel, or experiencing the energetic culture of cities like Nairobi and Mombasa, Kenya could be considered a hidden gem among expat destinations. Better still, with a warm climate year-round and constant sunshine, Kenya is perfect for those expats seeking a little extra Vitamin D.

Kenya’s southern region is the preferred choice for many expats in Africa. Here the climate is more mild, while temperatures in the North can be far higher. A subtropical climate and prevailing winds from the Indian Ocean prevent Kenya from getting as hot as its East African neighbours, but temperatures reached as high as 41.6°C/109.8°F in April 2019.

For the opportunity to enjoy a tropical lifestyle with an extraordinarily low cost of living, you may find Kenya ticks all your boxes. Check out our guide to moving to Kenya to see if it’s right for you.

5/ Australia

Average sunshine hours: 3,030
Average annual rainfall: 534mm
Climate type: Tropical (North), semi-arid desert (Interior), temperate (South, South East)

Australia is a vast and diverse landscape encompassing almost every type of climate. An expansive desert known as the Outback spans the centre of the country, pushing 87% of Australia’s 27 million population to within 50km of a coastline. The most popular of these coastlines is the South-Eastern region, where you’ll find major cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.

Here the climate becomes more mild, with exceedingly bright and warm summer suns, cooled by sea winds and interrupted by occasional bouts of oceanic wind and rain. Still, Australia rarely sees more than six rainy days in a given month, even during winter, and never becomes too humid or too dry. As such, expats will enjoy constant year-round sunshine – although be mindful that the nights get much longer during the winter (which is from June to August).

Australia is one of our top expat destinations. We’ve named it the best country in the world for expats in 2025, plus one of the healthiest countries, one of the happiest, and even one of the best for education. All of this, plus unlimited sunshine – what more could you ask for?

4/ Malta

Average sunshine hours: 3,054
Average annual rainfall: 560mm
Climate type: Subtropical, Mediterranean

Nestled in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, and slap bang in the middle of the subtropical zone, Malta is a dream destination for sun-seeking expats. Made up of three main islands, Malta, Gozo and Comino, and with a population of half a million people, Malta is the smallest country in the EU with a size of just 122 square miles, but packed to the brim with history and culture. Plus, the benefit of living in such a small country is that, no matter where you are, you’ll never be more than four miles from the sea.

Malta experiences the full brunt of the Mediterranean weather system. That means warm, sunny days all summer long, with a refreshing rainy season during the mild winters. The constant sea breeze gives Malta just enough humidity to stop it being stifling, although like any warm country it does experience its fair share of heatwaves. The most recent, in June 2021, saw temperatures reach as high as 41.5°C/106.7°F.

We’ve previously named Malta one of the easiest countries in the world to move to, which could explain why up to 20% of the population was born overseas. As an up-and-coming tech centre for Europe, life in Malta is perfect for digital nomads who want to spend their time basking in the sun. Find out how to apply for a Maltese digital nomad visa here.

3/ South Africa

Average sunshine hours: 3,141
Average annual rainfall: 495mm
Climate type: Subtropical, temperate

Appearing at the tail end of the Kalahari Desert, South Africa has a monopoly on the prime real estate across the Cape of Good Hope, offering over 1,700 miles of coastline spanning from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. This fortuitous position means South Africa escapes the relentless arid heat of the northerly desert regions, while also enjoying sea breezes that help to make the country warm, but never too stifling.

That’s not to say South Africa doesn’t get hot, hot, hot. Its hottest temperature this century came in 2024, measuring 47.6°C/117.6°F. But periods of strong heat are balanced out by cool days, even in the summer, as well as short periods of cold in the winter. What South Africa doesn’t experience is long, dark nights – its position in the Southern Hemisphere means sunshine hours stay consistently high all year round.

South Africa is attracting expats of all ages, from young workers who want to take part in its growing industries to retirees looking for a tropical paradise to settle down in. Check out our guide to moving to South Africa to see if it’s right for you.

2/ United Arab Emirates

Average sunshine hours: 3,508
Average annual rainfall: 78mm
Climate type: Arid, desert

Most expats need no introduction to the United Arab Emirates. This tiny nation on the edge of the Persian Gulf has gained an international reputation for its luxurious culture, excellent food and its remarkable job opportunities that offer expats the chance to earn a tax-free income. But of course, for many expats, it’s the chance to live in a warm and sunny climate along miles of pristine coastline that draws them to the UAE.

Having said that, it’s important to remember that the UAE is situated on the Arabian Peninsula, a desert region that is known for extreme temperatures. As such, the heat can become stifling in the UAE, especially during the summer months, when the temperature can regularly reach over 40°C/104°F.

The highest temperature ever recorded in the UAE was 50.1°C/122°F in July 2023.  And, despite its low rainfall (the government of the UAE performs ‘cloud seeding’ to artificially induce rainfall when it’s needed), the UAE is not immune to extreme weather – heavy rains in April 2024 caused massive flooding throughout the region.

Still, don’t be put off – many expats choose to live in brand new, air conditioned apartments to help them beat the heat. If you’re thinking of joining them, check out our guide to moving to Dubai as an expat.

1/ Egypt

Average sunshine hours: 3,710
Average annual rainfall: 18mm
Climate type: Subtropical, desert

When it comes to naming the countries with the best weather, the best climate, and the sunniest countries on earth, Egypt steals the show. As well as having the greatest number of hours of sunshine, Egypt also boasts the lowest rainfall in the world. So, if you value bright sunshine and want to get away from the rain, there’s simply no better place than Egypt.

That said, expats should be aware that Egypt is a largely desert country, and therefore known to experience bouts of extreme heat. The highest temperature ever recorded in Egypt was 50.9°C/123.6°F, which came during the June 2024 heatwave. This is why 95% of Egypt’s population lives with a few miles of either the cooler Mediterranean coast or Nile delta.

Egypt is a rapidly up-and-coming destination among expats, especially those looking to escape the cost of living back home. Check out our guide to the cost of living in Egypt to learn more.

What do sun-seeking expats say about their lives abroad?

If you’re thinking of moving abroad to enjoy more warmth and sunshine, you’re not alone. We reached out to expats on Reddit to ask why they moved to a sunnier country, and how it has benefited their lives:

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