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A survey conducted by InterNations among expatriates living in 53 different nations worldwide was carried out.
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A survey has identified the most welcoming nation for expatriates globally, and a Central American location leads the rankings.
The outcome originates from a survey conducted by
InterNations
, an expat guide, which asked foreign residents in 53 countries around the globe to rate their new home.
Expat respondents were queried regarding their social interactions, sense of belonging, ease of adapting to the local customs, and the hospitableness of the indigenous community.
So, where are the friendliest places to move as an expat?
The friendliest…
Costa Rica
Costa Rica
stands out as the most welcoming nation for expats looking to move abroad.
Most expatriates (88 percent) report feeling “very welcomed” in Costa Rica, and 83 percent say they feel as though they have found a home there.
Over a third (35 percent) believe that adapting to the local culture is quite effortless, whereas only 21 percent feel this way globally.
A Canadian expatriate shares with InterNations: “The residents here are typically kind and wonderful individuals. One gradually adjusts to embracing the ‘Pura Vida’ lifestyle in Costa Rica.”
Nine out of ten expatriates consider the locals to be friendly, making it unsurprising that 58 percent find forming friendships with locals to be an easy task.
Mexico
Mexico secures the second spot in the rankings thanks to high scores for its welcoming inhabitants.
Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of expatriates report being satisfied with their social lives in Mexico, and an even greater percentage—85 percent—feel welcomed in the country.
According to 67 percent of expatriates, making local friends is straightforward, whereas 31 percent mention that most of their friendships are with Mexicans—a figure significantly above the worldwide average of 17 percent.
An American expatriate shares with InterNations: “Making social connections appears to be significant for locals, hence their enthusiasm in befriending newcomers, such as expats.”
The Philippines
Over forty percent of expatriates (41%) in the Philippines, ranking third on this list, mention that their primary friendships are with locals.
Nearly 70 percent (specifically 69 percent) of expatriates find it easy to make local friends in the Philippines, and about 68 percent report being satisfied with their social lives in this Southeast Asian nation.
A U.K. expatriate tells InterNations: “I enjoy the unrestricted and casual way of life here. People are always ready for a conversation.”
Almost eighty percent of expatriates feel welcomed in the country (85%), and approximately seventy-eight percent report feeling at home in the Philippines (78%).
The least friendly…
Kuwait
Kuwait is ranked as the most unfriendly nation for expatriates. Just one-quarter of expats report feeling welcomed (26 percent), and nearly half (49 percent) do not feel at home there.
Slightly less than half (47 percent) of the respondents find it challenging to adapt to the local culture, whereas merely 22 percent express satisfaction with their social life in Kuwait.
Over half (53 percent) of the expatriates polled indicate that their friendships in the Middle Eastern country are limited to other international residents.
This might be due to the fact that 61 percent of expatriates find it challenging to form friendships with locals in Kuwait.
Norway
Norway is nearly at the bottom of the rankings. Many expatriates struggle to form local friendships in this Scandinavian nation, as 67 percent find it challenging to do so, and 49 percent express dissatisfaction with their social lives.
Fewer than half of the residents in Norway (49 percent) feel like they belong, whereas 40 percent perceive the locals as unwelcoming.
Expatriates also struggle with adapting to the local culture in Norway, even when they have good language skills.
A Kenyan expatriate shares with InterNations: “Despite my proficient Norwegian language abilities, I am unable to form friendships with Norwegians.”
Germany
Germany similarly places low in the rankings, finishing third from last in terms of friendliness with 32 percent of expatriates expressing that they do not feel welcomed there.
Less than 40 percent (39 percent) of expatriates perceive locals as friendly, whereas 65 percent mention difficulties in forming friendships with people from Germany.
A Czech expatriate tells InterNations: “Forming friendships with Germans can be challenging since they often stick to their groups of friends from early childhood or school.”
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