Singapore comes top in a survey of what expatriates consider the best places in the world to live and work in, according to The Straits Times.

Singapore was chosen because it provided the right balance of career opportunities and lifestyle as well as a stable economy, the publication said, citing the Expat Explorer survey compiled by HSBC.

Confidence in Singapore's economy is the highest compared to all other countries, the survey showed. Some 79 per cent of them are confident about its economy compared to a global average of just 48 per cent, it said.

The HSBC Expat Explorer sought the views of 21,950 respondents from 39 countries asking respondents to rank countries based on career prospects, financial wellbeing, quality of life and ease of settling for partners and children.

According to the Expat Explorer, more than half (59 per cent) of expats believe Singapore is a good place for career advancements and 53 per cent believe they are able to acquire new skills more so in Singapore than at home.