In the past few years, one of the biggest shifts the world has seen regarding travel is the rise of the digital nomad.
What was once reserved for a small percentage of people around the world has exploded into a 35 million and growing global workforce.
Digital nomads are constantly looking for the next best place to go, the newest undiscovered gem, and the most budget-friendly or easiest place to set up shop for a while. There is no shortage of countries offering digital nomad visas today, with more and more governments adding the option to entice workers to come and log on from within their borders.
While not everything is easy living when it comes to the actual day-to-day life of a digital nomad, most of those who have embarked on this path will be the first to tell you that there is no going back to the office for them.
So, if countries around the world are welcoming digital nomads with visas, tax schemes, and other benefits, which places have become the most popular?
While certain geographic regions offer advantages over others, there does seem to be a solid list of classic favorite countries for remote workers around the world.
In an attempt to identify the most popular spots for digital nomads, online resume builder resume.io has analyzed thousands of Instagram posts with the hashtag #digitalnomad and tabulated the countries with the most posts.
Now, of course, not every digital nomad uses social media, and not everyone posts their life and details as much as others, so this cannot give a 100% accurate picture of the countries where most digital nomads are.
That being said, the information gleaned from this study does help to get a better idea of the places that are popular with digital nomads in general, with the top spots going to places that are not too surprising, given the amount of information on them regarding their popularity with digital nomads.
So, why are these countries so popular with digital nomads? Some are favorites for the price point, some for the climate, and some for the culture and activities that they offer. No matter the reason, here are 8 countries that are popular with digital nomads:
1. USA
Since a large majority of digital nomads are American, it makes sense that the USA is such a popular place for them to live, with more than 200,000 digital nomad hashtag posts.
Being a digital nomad doesn’t necessarily mean you need to leave your home country, and many American remote workers stay within the county (either by choice or work restrictions) and decide to pick different cities or states to explore instead of going abroad.
2. Spain
With a digital nomad visa on offer, a fantastic climate and culture, and an endless list of places to visit, Spain is high on this list.
There is no shortage of places to explore throughout Spain that are perfect for digital nomads. The only question is which one to choose.
Spain racks up about 125,000 #digitalnomad posts on Instagram.
3. Thailand
Coming in right below Spain is Thailand, with just under 125,000 Instagram posts using the hashtag digital nomad.
Having always been a massively popular tourist destination with travelers from backpackers to luxury, the Land of Smiles has now become popular with digital nomads as well.
The main hotspots here are Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Koh Samui, all of which offer a much cheaper cost of living than the U.S., and the stunning scenery does not hurt either.
4. Mexico
With just over 100,000 #digitalnomad tags on Instagram, Mexico’s popularity with digital nomads cannot be overstated.
Many come for the beaches, cities, magic towns, or perhaps one of the world’s best street food scenes.
No matter the reason, there is no disputing that this diverse and entrancing county will continue to lure digital nomads in, with perhaps a digital nomad visa on the horizon.
5. France
The number of digital nomad hashtag uses on Instagram for France hovers around 94,500, making it a very popular spot with remote workers. Many come for the French way of life, with their famous work-life balance winning people over.
It’s definitely not the cheapest place to call home for a while, but the county is inspiring and full of places to explore in your downtime. While there is no digital nomad visa offered, most people can stay up to 90 days as the country is part of the Schengen Area.
6. Indonesia
If there is one place that became a global digital nomad hub seemingly overnight, it would have to be Bali.
What has always been popular with all kinds of tourists has now grown into a hub of remote workers, with nearly 92,000 hashtags mentioning digital nomads hailing from Indonesia; the country is clearly a favorite.
Another reason Indonesia is so well-loved by digital nomads is the fact that it’s budget-friendly, and costs here are drastically lower than many of the other countries on this list.
7. Portugal
This sunny European country has been winning over remote workers in recent years, with over 80,000 mentions on Instagram. As one of the European countries with the best quality of life for digital nomads and some pretty great beaches, it’s unlikely to lose a popularity contest anytime soon.
While the county has scrapped its golden visa program, there is still a digital nomad visa one can apply for.
8. Italy
Nearly 50,000 people have mentioned Italy in their digital nomad posts, and the number seems to keep growing.
Italy’s tourism industry is gearing up for a busy summer, and digital nomads who call this country their home base might want to escape for a bit to quieter pastures while the crowds come.
Many flock here for the culture, the history, the rolling hills, coasts, and mountains, and the food probably doesn’t hurt its cause either.
