WCR 2026 survey: citizenship now outranks a university degree among wealthy parents

The World Citizenship Report 2026, published by CS Global Partners on 14 January 2026, records a shift in thinking among mass affluent parents. Of the 546 people surveyed worldwide, 73% have children and 72% are married. When ranking the strategic benefits of a second citizenship in future scenarios, they place family security and generational protection first, ahead of purely financial considerations.

How priorities break down

In the survey, education ranks second among the attractions of a second citizenship at 39.9%, behind only a competitive economy (45.4%) and healthcare (42.7%). Access to education and healthcare for the family ranks fourth among strategic motivations, above business expansion alone.

Asked about the benefits of a second citizenship in future scenarios, participants ranked the factors as follows: family security and generational protection first, emergency and contingency planning second, asset and legacy protection third, and lifestyle factors including education and healthcare fourth.

The role of Global Mobility

The report’s Global Mobility pillar places Singapore first with 91.0 points. Japan and South Korea are tied in second on 89.6 points. Denmark is fourth on 88.9 points. According to the Henley Passport Index 2026, published on 13 January 2026, the Singapore passport gives visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 192 of the 227 destinations assessed.

The report observes that children holding the citizenship of countries at the top of this table gain access to global higher education and cross-border labour markets without major administrative barriers. Candidates holding citizenship of countries with more restricted passports, by contrast, often face administrative obstacles even with degrees from prestigious institutions.

The cost of education in context

The report draws a comparison between the cost of education at leading American and British universities and the cost of residency by investment programmes. Four years of tuition at a top American or British university can exceed US$300,000. Some citizenship by investment programmes cost about the same while delivering lifelong cross-border benefits for the whole family.

The “global citizen” mindset

The survey finds that 49% of participants see themselves as global citizens and regard a second citizenship as a practical form of resilience insurance. Some 33% believe a second citizenship can reshape personal identity. Only 17% reject the notion of global citizenship outright.

On the distribution of citizenships in the survey, around 15% of participants already hold two and 5% hold three or more. The remaining close to 80% hold only one.

Leaders by pillar

The Quality of Life pillar is led by Germany with 90.6 points, followed by Norway (90.2) and Switzerland (89.7). The Economic Opportunity pillar is led by China with 89.3 points, followed by the United States (81.3) and Ireland (80.3). The Safety and Security pillar has Iceland first with 90.5 points, followed by Switzerland (88.4) and Denmark (88.0).