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
September 24, 2016 at 3:25 pmDisagree. The list is based on European and american eeds like drink and sex.
Blatt says
November 2, 2016 at 4:15 pmI don’t think so, north Europe is not considered friendly, in spite of having access to these “needs”
Patricia Valdoz says
May 17, 2018 at 8:52 amDisagree, 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
September 27, 2016 at 10:05 amI wounder why millions of foreigner imigrate to unfriendly Europe….
Blatt says
November 2, 2016 at 4:17 pmSecurity and work.
I guess they’d choose Spain, if there were jobs, instead of unfriendly center and north Europa
Norge Finland says
December 23, 2016 at 6:39 pmNorth Europa is cold, and so its people.
Eoin says
March 22, 2017 at 6:19 amThis 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…
No. 30 says
May 30, 2017 at 7:40 amRomania is not friendly to immigrants, unless they are Christian/ European
Gerry Fitz says
June 21, 2017 at 9:12 pmThere 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
April 9, 2019 at 2:38 pmcuba=friendly