The Top Introvert-Friendly Countries To Consider Moving To

You could have all sorts of reasons for packing up and moving abroad, but at least one valid one can be your personality type and your lifestyle preferences. It’s not too different from choosing to live in an urban environment or somewhere more rural, it all comes down to what you want and why you want it. If you consider yourself an introvert, the space you occupy or navigate regularly plays a big role in your life. If you’re comfortable with your surroundings, you’re more likely to go out, not only for basic necessities – but even recreationally! Which is fairly rare for the more reserved introverts out there.

Having an environment they feel comfortable in is super important for any introvert. The town or country they live in could definitely influence how they live and their sense of comfort and freedom. There are multiple factors like ease of transportation, weather, geographical layout, local conveniences, and more that affect how you live and how satisfied you are living that way. That’s why it’s worth it for some to consider moving to another country. Some of the best places in terms of quality of life are foreign countries.

Whether you already were entertaining the idea of moving abroad or not, take a look at this list of the top introvert-friendly countries to move to. It might give you the push you need or introduce you to a new world of possibilities.

1. Finland

If you’re looking for a destination where everyone is known to keep their distance and their quiet mannerisms, Finland will be your dream home. Finland has a population of around 5.5 million people, considered one of the most northernly remote countries in the world, and its residents speak Finnish and secondarily; Swedish.

This Nordic country was named the happiest place on Earth for three years in a row (no joke! 2018-2020) because of promising policies related to welfare, freedom, equality, and general mutual trust by citizens. How did they achieve this you ask? You could guess by offering free healthcare, free quality education, generous parental leave, and more policies that encourage a healthy lifestyle and work-life balance.

Why move there: As the Finnish are famous for minding their own business, they’ve spaced populated areas like cities and towns – even individual residences an ideal distance from each other. If you’re an introvert seeking space from people in general (at home or out-and-about), you’ll love the separation Finland provides in multiple ways. It’s one of the most sparsely populated European countries, with about 15 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Just because you like your space, doesn’t mean you don’t want to be in the middle of the hustle and bustle once and a while though. You might think it’s too good to be true, but Finland also offers thriving urban environments like its capitol city, Helsinki.

But even when you get into town, you can expect a more laid back atmosphere with people that love to keep it peaceful. Some of the more popular activities are to enjoy the beautiful green spaces and parks scattered throughout the city, sit back and people-watch at a cafe, or enjoy the local delicacies at a food market. And remember, there’s a reason the Finnish invented saunas and the art of lounging in dry-heated rooms.

Where to live: Helsinki might be the obvious choice, but it’s also honestly, the best. Helsinki is a city practically boasted as the perfect destination for an introvert to kick back and just be themselves. The locals aren’t likely to strike up conversation and tend to keep to themselves. This doesn’t mean you won’t be able to socialize while there if you choose to, but you can at least count on feeling less anxious about getting an unexpected greeting and struggling to communicate or getting dragged out of your peaceful introvert bubble.

Being alone isn’t seen as strange in Finland, so even the capital city won’t cause as much concern in terms of public scrutiny. If you’re eating at a table for one or browsing a museum or art gallery you’re not going to draw any eyes. Besides, you’re probably not truly alone. With a country that sees loners as one of their own, you won’t be the only one on a solo trip.

2. United Kingdom

The United Kingdom (comprising of four constituent countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and North Ireland), is an attractive destination to move to for not only introverts, but anyone that can appreciate its position as a global leader in technology, public health policies, education, music, a long and rich history, Shakespeare, fashion, and of course, alcoholic beverages and the establishments that you consume them in – pubs and taverns.

Why move there: Now that we’ve established that the UK is a well-liked place for obvious reasons, why is it so great for quieter folks? The answer is the people. Of course, not everyone is the same and the UK is a diverse place with many different people traveling to it on account of its bustling tourism industry year-round, as well as those who decide to stay for good. But for the most part, you can expect people to have a quieter persona and the lifestyle is somehow suited to those types of personalities.

Each country that makes up the UK have distinct cultural and social norms. Depending on where you travel to, you should prepare for some differences between them – although they are all considered part of the United Kingdom. It can range from religious beliefs, mannerisms, values, cuisine, and sociability. There are tons of other differences between the countries but you can rely on some of these overall guidelines for fitting in or adapting to life there.

Some of the people might be quieter and more reserved, or just remarkably all right with being on their lonesome. This is to be expected in Britain, specifically. If you travel north though, many would say that the people become more talkative and sociable.

Ireland might not be the ideal place for some introverts, but it also offers a lot of balance and fulfillment to those willing to make meaningful connections with the famously generous and inviting locals. The same can be said about Scottish and Welsh and many other cultural groups, even if they’re smaller and you aren’t as likely to run into “true” members of some ethnic groups.

Where to live: Wales is a surprising suggestion but a good suggestion nevertheless. Throw in the fact that it was rated as the most introvert-friendly location in the UK. Wales is home to smaller cities that have unforgettable natural surroundings that you can enjoy in solitary bliss.

If you want to be away from the normal noise and activity of a regular city, you should definitely look into the smaller communities in Wales. Equally great options are Sheffield in Northern England and Wells, which is located in Somerset. All choices have smaller populations and offer beautiful environments that are likely to be quiet and open.

3. British Columbia

Anyone who’s heard about Canada has already heard about its unbelievable views and the abundance of offerings it has in terms of picturesque cites, quaint, postcard-perfect towns, and the mix of Canadian and European culture. But, they might not realize that what they’re imagining is probably a scene in British Columbia, a specific province in Canada.

If you’re wondering what makes BC different from the rest of Canada, good thought. Because it’s definitely different. What makes BC stand out the most is its geography. The region or territory that it occupies is thickly forested and features tall mountain ranges, deep valleys, and long rivers. But thanks to its occupational history (once jointly owned by the United States and Britain), and groups like Europeans, Asians, and First Nation people that have inhabited and influenced the region and still do to this day.

The dominant or more populated areas in the province like Vancouver can offer what seems like endless options for both work and play. It’s also the most populous and popular place in BC. It’s recognized as one of the best cities to live and work in globally and that attracts visitors and residents from around the world.

Why move there: While Vancouver is packed and expensive, the province of BC is not as a whole. Small towns are where an introvert wants to be. Especially if they want to be closer to nature – if not live within it without calling a tent their permanent residence. Any smaller community that can range from a few thousand to over 10,000 residents is worth considering.

The fact that the people already living in those towns live there probably means they had the same idea you did. These communities offer the same spectacular views without the stress of dealing with a bigger city. You can find the amenities you need and get around without worrying about traffic. There’s tons to do, especially if you enjoy the outdoors.

Where to live: Tofino provides a great mix of Canadian heritage vibes and surprisingly enough, California with its views and access to the Pacific Ocean. It offers some of the best surfing in Canada thanks to those shores. Since it provides that appeal, Tofino gets a ton of tourists every year, but if you ever find it too busy and can’t stand the lines at the local restaurants or galleries, you can trade it in for Nelson, a hidden city in the Selkirk Mountains, or Golden; a town surrounded by six national parks.

4. Russia

I know what you’re thinking. “Isn’t Russia a scary place with unapproachable people? What about the crime? I heard it’s dangerous.” Admittedly there are plenty of stereotypes out there about Russia as a country. But like a lot of stereotypes, they don’t get things right and they shouldn’t be considered factual. Russia is a huge place with a very diverse population and just like any other culture, Russians have their own values, attitudes, beliefs, and norms associated with them.

Yes, Russia can be dangerous – but so can most developed countries in way or another. To be Russian can mean different things depending on where you’re from in the Russian Federation (also known as Russia today). Most of the Russian population lives in developed and industrialized areas, an estimated 74% of its population residing in urban areas or cities. But there are also rural towns and villages in the countryside and with the immense size of the country – they have plenty of room to stretch their legs.

Why move there: Russia is one of the most historically rich countries in the world. As a country, it attempts to unite hundreds of different groups from separate ethnic groups and nationalities. If you live in Russia, you’ll have a banquet available to you with all those traditions and a wealth of cultural offerings from different languages, literature, dance, theater, music, and more.

The Russian people (the majority that make up an estimated 77.7% of the population) known as russkiye, can come off as more serious than the typical person you meet, but that’s only because they consider it polite to be that way with strangers or when initially meeting others. Once you get to know people better, they’re likely to warm up and become more casual. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

Where to live: The first and obvious choice is Moscow, as it’s the top option for most foreigners or expats moving to Russia. It has a large expat community and you can get by with the basics of the Russian language. There are also arguably the best employment opportunities here and a great place to study as well.

The follow-up would have to be St. Petersburg. If you wanted to experience that rich Russian history – you won’t be able to avoid it in this city. The salaries for jobs can be lower here but so is housing. You’ll also reap the benefits of such a historic city. Try a ballet performance or visiting museums and art galleries. If you’re bored with those, just take a tour of the city and be awed every time at some of the most extravagant and stunning architecture in the world.




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Hana Othman

Hana Othman is the founder of SimpleHermit.com and identifies as an INFJ. Most days you can find her typing away or reading a book. Beyond that, she keeps busy as a dog and cat mom.