Through an expat's eyes! (results from InterNations Expat Insider 2023)

We take employee experience seriously. Every year, we do a huge variety of "voice of the customer" surveys and interviews, getting both quantitative and qualitative feedback for innovation and building new services. So when we see others getting "voice of the customer" data, we love it! ❤️🤩! 

Internations has been running their Expat Insider survey for the last 10 years, and the latest results for 2023 are out! This is one of the world's largest surveys on living and working abroad. In this case, more than 12,000 expats worldwide took it. They represent 171 nationalities and live in 172 countries and territories. This data outlines the best and worst places for Expats in 2023, looking at everything from ease of settling in abroad to personal finances, work, and quality of life. 

Take a peek at which countries made the top 10 for Best Locations according to expat feedback:

1. Mexico
2. Spain
3. Panama
4. Malaysia
5. Taiwan
6. Thailand
7. Costa Rica
8. Philippines
9. Bahrain
10. Portugal

Anything surprising here? Maybe some changes from last year? 

50% of these countries didn't appear in 2022's rankings. New to the top 10 are Panama, Malaysia, Costa Rica, the Philippines, and Bahrain. Mexico was number 1 last year and stayed at the top in 2023. Spain moved up 3 spots from #5 to #2. Taiwan dropped from #3 to #5 this year. Portugal dropped from #4 to #10. Thailand jumped up 2 places. There were a number that fell out of the top 10, including UAE, Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Settling-in is the key for Mexico's appeal. Here is what the survey has to say about why Mexico continues to win:

"Expats in Mexico are happy with their Personal Finance (2nd) and the Ease of Settling In (1st). In fact, the country comes first in the Local Friendliness, Finding Friends, and Culture & Welcome Subcategories. Expats describe the local residents as friendly (90% vs. 66% globally) and find it easy to make friends among them (75% vs. 42% globally).

The country narrowly misses out on a top 10 spot in the Expat Essentials Index (11th). While 64% of expats found it easy to get a visa in order to move to Mexico (vs. 56% globally), 53% struggle with the local bureaucracy (vs. 39% globally).

Mexico performs worst, but still well, in the Working Abroad (17th) and Quality of Life (24th) Indices. Expats love, for example, the culinary variety and dining options (92% vs. 77% globally) and the natural environment (90% vs. 83% globally), but they are unhappy with the local air quality (36% vs. 19% globally). Overall, 91% of expats are happy with their life in Mexico."

Alternatively, there are some locations that are much more challenging for expatriates and their families to live and work in. Here is 2023's list of the worst:

1. Kuwait
2. New Zealand
3. Hong Kong
4. Cyprus
5. Luxembourg
6. Japan
7. South Affrica
8. Turkey
9. Italy
10. Malta

Kuwait's issue for expats was that it is in the bottom 10 of all areas measured, and it is very challenging to make friends. New Zealand's biggest issue is that it is expensive, while Hong Kong's business culture does not allow room for creativity!

Which locations do those in your mobility program find the best and worst?

Go here to share The Best location for your program.

Go here to share The Worst location for your program.