- A survey conducted by InterNations among expatriates living in 53 different nations worldwide was carried out.
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The world's friendliest country for expats has been revealed in a survey - with a Central American destination topping the list.
The outcome originates from a poll conducted by InterNations , an expatriate guide that invited foreigners living in 53 different countries worldwide to evaluate their adopted homes.
Expat respondents were queried regarding their social lives, their sense of feeling at home, the ease with which they adapted to the local culture, and the amiability of the indigenous populace.
Therefore, where are the most welcoming locations for expats to relocate?
The friendliest...
Costa Rica
Costa Rica tops the list as the most welcoming nation for expats looking to move abroad.
The vast majority of expats (88 per cent) feel 'very welcome' in Costa Rica while 83 per cent say they feel at home there.
More than a third (35 per cent) think it's very easy to get used to the local culture, compared to just 21 per cent worldwide.
A Canadian living abroad shares with InterNations: "The residents here are typically kind and delightful individuals. One gradually adjusts to embracing the 'Pura Vida' way of life in Costa Rica."
Nine out of ten expatriates consider the locals to be welcoming, so it comes as no shock that 58 percent find forming friendships with locals straightforward.
Mexico
Mexico secures the second spot in the rankings, earning high scores particularly for its welcoming inhabitants.
Almost 75 per cent (73 per cent) of expats are happy with their social life in Mexico while 85 per cent feel welcome there.
Making local friends is easy according to 67 per cent of expats, while 31 per cent say the majority of their friends are Mexican - much higher than the global average of 17 per cent.
A U.S expat tells InterNations: 'Social connections seem important to people here, so they are eager to make new friends, including expats.'
The Philippines
More than two in five expats (41 per cent) in the Philippines, which ranks third on the list, say they are mostly friends with local residents.
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 adore 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 nearly eight out of ten people (78%) report feeling at home in the Philippines.
The least friendly...
Kuwait
Kuwait is considered the least welcoming 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.
More than half (53 per cent) of the expats surveyed say they are only friends with other foreign residents in the Middle Eastern country.
This could be because 61 per cent of expats say it is difficult to make friends with local residents in Kuwait.
Norway
Norway is nearly at the bottom of the rankings, coming in just above one other nation. Many expatriates struggle to form local friendships in this Scandinavian country, as evidenced by 67 percent who find it challenging to do so. Additionally, 49 percent express dissatisfaction with their social lives.
In Norway, fewer than half of the residents (49 percent) report feeling at home, whereas 40 percent perceive the locals as unwelcoming.
Expatriates also struggle with adapting to the local culture in Norway, even when they have picked up some language skills.
An expatriate from Kenya told InterNations, "Despite my proficient Norwegian language abilities, I am unable to form friendships with Norwegians."
Germany
Germany similarly places low in the rankings, ranking third from last in terms of friendliness with 32 percent of expatriates feeling unwelcome.
Less than 40 percent (39 percent) of expatriates perceive locals as friendly, whereas 65 percent mention finding it difficult to form 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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