The places people ‘miss’ the most

Extensive research by Remitly, a leading digital financial services provider for immigrants and their families, has revealed the locations people develop the largest connections to, and as a result, miss the most once they’ve left.

Homesickness is often experienced by people that move somewhere new, or have simply returned from a holiday, so Remitly wanted to discover where in the world is actually missed the most? With social media a place that many will share their homesick feelings, researchers analysed a total of 1,572,579 tweets, posted over a five-year period, and found that Japan is the country most are yearning to return to.

Globally renowned for its friendly natives, great food and enticing mix of bustling, forward-thinking cities and awe-inspiring natural landscapes, Japan taking the top spot may be no surprise to anyone that has previously visited. With more than 1 in 10 (13.6%) tweets posted about missing Japan, the country is a clear favourite, and is missed more than three times as much as most of the top ten, which includes the United States of America, South Korea and Spain.

However, Mexico, another country known for its vibrant culture and great scenery, in addition to a low cost of living and favourable weather, ranked second, with an impressive 1 in 10 missing the Mexican way of life.

The 10 Most ‘Missed’ Countries In The World

Japan’s popularity is echoed with Asia being the continent people tend to miss the most, however on a city level, the USA takes the crown. With six out of the top ten most missed cities in the world located in America, the connection people develop for their city, its sights, sounds and people is clear.

At the very top is New York City, one of the most visited and populous cities on Earth, its countless tourist attractions, places to eat, drink and work that are spread across its five famous boroughs, all work together to make it a city hard not to get homesick over, even after a short trip.

Elsewhere in the top ten is the West Coast’s own claim to fame, Los Angeles and Europe’s Paris, yet another city that people dream of calling their home, benefitting from a relaxed lifestyle, a rich history and the excellent French healthcare system.

The 10 Most ‘Missed’ Cities in the World

As for the United Kingdom, while London perhaps unsurprisingly ranks as its most missed city, it is Manchester, Liverpool and Edinburgh that people feel particularly sentimental about. England also wins as the most missed country within the UK, ranking in 14th position globally, above Scotland (20th) and Wales (52nd).

Jago McKenzie, Business Management Director at Remitly commented: “Homesickness is something we’ve all experienced at some point in our lives, and is something that becomes even more prevalent for people that have moved somewhere new, and have left loved ones behind.

However, this research shows that it isn’t just the people that have a bearing on our feelings, but the place itself too. If anything, this is a great reminder to enjoy where you’re currently living to the fullest, and also to remember that these positive feelings for somewhere new have to develop over time.

At Remitly, our mission is to take the stress out of sending money back home to loved ones, so anyone living somewhere new can spend more time and headspace on making the most out of wherever they’re now based”.