People often talk about digital nomads as a trend, almost a romanticized idea of freelancers working on beaches or in hipster cafés. But the Global Digital Nomad Report 2025 points to something much larger: a geopolitical shift where countries are competing for a new type of global workforce.
As an entrepreneur, polymath, and someone who has lived across countries, systems, and identities, I don’t just see this report as statistics. I see it as a signal of where the world is heading – and a guide for how we can navigate it.
From Lifestyle to Geopolitics
The most striking insight is how fast governments have moved. 91% of all digital nomad or remote work visas were launched after 2020.
The pandemic closed borders but also opened a new realization: work is no longer tied to one place. Countries that once competed to attract factories now realize that people are capital. Not banks, not industries – but knowledge workers with laptops, networks, and global incomes.
Digital nomadism has shifted from being a subculture to becoming part of national economic strategy. Competing for nomads means competing for income, consumption, entrepreneurship, and sometimes even new citizens.
It reminds me of the 19th century when cities competed for railways and factories. Today, the competition is over coworking hubs, tax incentives, and high-speed internet.
An Elite Movement – For Now
The report shows that the average digital nomad earns over $120,000 per year, with nearly 80% making more than $50,000 annually.
This is important: despite the romantic narrative of “escape from the rat race,” the reality is that nomadism is still dominated by the already privileged. You need economic safety and the right passport to make it work.
The report also highlights “passport privilege” – those from countries with strong mobility (EU, US, parts of Asia) have much greater opportunities than those from nations with weaker passports.
In other words, while digital nomadism is marketed as universal freedom, it is still deeply unequal.
Visas – Between Freedom and Control
Most digital nomad visas are valid for one year, usually with the option to extend. Only a handful (Spain, Greece, Czechia) are directly linked to citizenship, and just 14 countries allow conversion to permanent residency.
This means freedom is often on loan. You are welcome – but only temporarily, and only as long as you bring economic value. It’s a modern echo of how trading cities once treated outsiders: “You may do business here, but you’ll never fully belong.”
Digital nomadism always carries this double edge: you are free, but also vulnerable.
The New Tax Arena
Taxation may be the most decisive factor. The report shows:
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53% of countries apply worldwide taxation – taxing all your income, no matter where it comes from.
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20% offer zero-tax regimes.
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17% have territorial taxation – taxing only income earned inside the country.
This isn’t a detail. It’s the core of the issue. Digital nomads are not only freelancers – they are also tax strategists.
In the past, governments competed for corporations with tax havens. Now they compete for individuals with similar incentives. Each nomad, in a way, becomes a “mini multinational,” negotiating where they want to contribute, consume, and pay taxes.
Regional Variations
The report’s rankings highlight different strengths and weaknesses:
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Europe (Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Czechia) tops the list, but often comes with high costs and bureaucracy.
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Latin America offers lower costs and vibrant lifestyles, but sometimes political instability.
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Asia has the best infrastructure in cities, but usually limited paths to residency or citizenship.
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Africa can be cost-attractive, but infrastructure challenges remain.
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Oceania (Australia, New Zealand) sits in the premium segment: high quality but very expensive.
This means the question is not simply “where is it cheapest?” but:
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Where can I actually put down roots?
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Where am I safe when rules change?
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Where can I build a life, not just an Instagram feed?
The Risks That Aren’t Measured
The report provides extensive data, but there are aspects that resist measurement:
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Social integration – do you join the community or remain in a coworking bubble?
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Psychological well-being – how do you feel moving every six months?
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Local impact – rising rents, displacement of locals.
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Environmental cost – constant flights and overconsumption of resources.
This is where the greatest challenge lies: we measure digital nomadism in terms of attraction and mobility, but we forget that it’s about people trying to live real lives.
Slomadism – The Next Step?
The report also mentions slomadism – a slower form of nomadism where people stay longer, build relationships, and form semi-permanent ties.
I see myself in this. Being in Bansko or Sofia isn’t just “passing through” – it’s about building, sharing, and contributing.
Maybe this is the future: not endless travel, but strategic hubs, where nomads become co-creators instead of just passing consumers.
What This Means for Me – and for Us
For me, this report isn’t just about top lists and rankings. It makes me reflect on:
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How to use these insights in my projects – by creating hubs, events, and networks that attract nomads seeking more than Wi-Fi.
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How to position places like Bansko – not only as a cheap ski resort, but as a home for experience, creativity, and international collaboration.
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How to rethink aging and experience – today’s nomads are mostly young and wealthy, but what happens when more senior entrepreneurs, with skills and resources, also step into this life?
I believe the future of nomadism will not only be about young freelancers. It will also be about experienced seniors who refuse to be sidelined by pension systems and instead choose to remain part of global networks.
Conclusion: Freedom on Loan – but Also a Chance for Transformation
The Global Digital Nomad Report 2025 reveals a movement that is both promising and paradoxical. Promising, because people can finally choose lives beyond national borders. Paradoxical, because freedom remains conditional – dependent on money, passports, and politics.
To me, the conclusion is this: this is not a finished model. It is an open field. We can either be consumers of it – chasing the next visa, the next destination – or we can be co-creators, shaping communities and networks that are built on something deeper than mobility.
Perhaps the greatest freedom isn’t the right to move. It’s the ability to find meaning in movement. To build bridges between cultures. To live in the in-between – and make that in-between a new kind of home.
By Chris...
