The map above shows which countries are deemed to be the least friendly according to expats who live in them.
The map is based of the results of the Expat Insider 2016 Survey, which:
offers an in-depth analysis of everyday expat life in more than 60 countries across the globe. More than 14,000 respondents representing 174 nationalities and 191 countries or territories took part and had their say on moving, living, and working abroad.
In terms of the unfriendliness, the top 15 least friendly countries (from unfriendliest to “friendliest”) are:
- Kuwait
- Saudi Arabia
- Czech Republic
- Switzerland
- Norway
- Sweden
- Qatar
- Denmark
- Russia
- Austria
- Chile
- France
- Germany
- Finland
- Belgium
While some countries such as Saudi Arabia and Russia might not be too surprising, it’s interesting to see that the majority are actually wealthy Western and Northern European countries.
This of course may be down to the expectations of expats who move to these countries, rather than the countries themselves being “unfriendly.”
On the flip side, in case you’re wondering, the top 15 friendliest countries are:
- Taiwan
- Uganda
- Costa Rica
- Mexico
- Colombia
- Oman
- Philippines
- New Zealand
- Vietnam
- Portugal
- Brazil
- Spain
- Ecuador
- Canada
- Romania
Interestingly, despite Canada’s reputation for being friendly it only clocks in at number 14 on the list.
Moreover, the other countries on the list tend to be a rather diverse mix, although skewing to slightly to Latin America. Also interesting to note that Oman is in the top 15 when nearby Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are ranked at the bottom.
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What do you think of the countries listed above? Leave your comments below and help us spread this map by sharing it with your friends:
Basem says
Disagree. The list is based on European and american eeds like drink and sex.
Blatt says
I don’t think so, north Europe is not considered friendly, in spite of having access to these “needs”
Patricia Valdoz says
Disagree, I am an immigrant in France. And French are very friendly to their immigrants. They give the rights due to its newcomers. Sweden as well, I heard from a Japanese immigrant in Sweden that she decided to stay in this country for the Swedish government is very supportive. Philippines? friendly to immigrants? LOL, I am a Filipino, they may be hospitable at first but pretty soon, the Philippine government will do all the possible reasons to steal money from the foreigners. Now I never intend to return to my own country since France deemed to be much better than the Philippines.
volkszorn says
I wounder why millions of foreigner imigrate to unfriendly Europe….
Blatt says
Security and work.
I guess they’d choose Spain, if there were jobs, instead of unfriendly center and north Europa
Robert Mounsteven says
Jobs, Money,
Norge Finland says
North Europa is cold, and so its people.
Eoin says
This seems to be an American site so I assume they didn’t consider the USA. It’s now building walls and has a lunatic president. As for its people…
Irish Moron says
It’s Canadian. I’m sorry you are from a country that can’t spell Owen correctly. Enjoy impoverished salary you worthless piece of shit.
H Davis says
How else are you going to keep out another 12 million immigrants that can eventually bankrupt the country, Do you want to feed and house them all? That’s totally irresponsible financially and gross ignorance on your part.
No. 30 says
Romania is not friendly to immigrants, unless they are Christian/ European
Gerry Fitz says
There not expats they are just immigrants; Getting the British immigrants and their sense of entitlement out of the Med would be a good thing. They really lower the tone.
mani says
cuba=friendly
Mike says
What about brexiting UK? One of the main reason for leaving was unlimited EU-Immigration
Alexis says
So untrue, both denmark and switzerland are friendly
Sam says
Denmark, Germany, and Norway are unfriendly countries? Are you kidding?
Shaun Collier says
So Denmark is unfriendly? I found the Danes to be a friendly bunch.
gurinder says
Yeah me too!!
gurinder says
I thought Portugal was 1st in being friendly and China was 1st in not being friendly
Karen says
I found in Europe and Russia that if I was friendly to them: didn’t act like I was better or tell them how America was better than their country,then they were friendly. Russia was a blast.Everyone wanted to know about America.I was there just before the break up. I lived in Italy and spent most of my free time in Germany and Austria.
Nadeem says
Kuwait is one of the most friendly countries in the whole world, unless you’re a worker from a 3rd world country. If you’re r from western Europe or are ‘white’ you can pretty much do what you want!
deschutes says
The Czech Republic is by far the least friendly place in the world. Impossible to make friends here. In Prague it is considered rude and inappropriate to talk to strangers, for example in the metro, on a sidewalk, in a tram, etc. No eye contact is ever made. People are extremely introverted, sullen and in a negative mood. Czechs dislike other Czechs, not just foreigners. The culture here is ‘ignorovat’, which means do not interact with others, don’t look at others, and especially don’t talk to them. I’m planning to leave this horrible place.