According to the research institute Gallup’s recent poll, in a world without borders Finland would be the 18th most desired country in which to live.

The population of only 34 out of 140 countries worldwide would grow if everyone in the world was allowed to live wherever they wished, the daily newspaper Turun Sanomat reports.

"If all the people in the world were able, without any restrictions whatsoever, to decide where to live, where would they choose? Preferably in Singapore, New Zealand and Saudi Arabia, the research institute Gallup's fresh poll says. Moreover, Finland would attract far greater numbers of comers than goers. Sierra Leone, Haiti and Zimbabwe, however, would be left relatively deserted.

During the years 2007-2010 Gallup's researchers asked no less than 350,000 people from around the world what their preferred place to live would be. Based on the answers, a potential net migration index (PNMI) was calculated which details how much the population of each country would grow percentage-wise if all those so inclined would be allowed to move into the country of their choice, while at the same time the dissatisfied were to move away.

Singapore achieved the highest result with a PNMI of +219 per cent. This means the country's 4.8 million population would swell to about 15 million. New Zealand came second with +184 and Saudi Arabia third with +176.

Of the Nordic countries, Sweden took eighth place overall (+78 per cent), but the region's other countries also ranked close to the top. Norway came sixteenth (+36), Finland eighteenth (+29) and Denmark nineteenth (+28). There are 140 countries on the list in all, Iceland not being included due to an insufficient sample.

Based on the thought experiment, then, Finland's population would rise to almost seven million. The tail end is occupied by the unstable countries of Sierra Leone, Haiti and Zimbabwe, with PNMIs in the range of -50. In other words, their populations would fall by half if the results of the poll were actualised.

African nations are also generally found near the bottom of the list. Of the continent's countries only Botswana (+39), Zambia (+5) and Namibia (+2) attained a positive percentage rating.

It is likewise notable that only 34 countries in the entire survey got a positive percentage rating. For most countries, the movement of people would be predominantly towards the exit door.

"Although the results say more about people's hopes than their intentions, countries should seriously ponder what would happen if all this came true," the research institute Gallup noted."

TURUN SANOMAT 28 AUGUST
Lehtikuva - Pekka Sakki