HSBC annually conduct a survey, The Expat Explorer, among expatriates to obtain info on 69 aspects of their lives such as

Hiking the Kogelberg

their finances, quality of life, what it’s like to raise children abroad and others.

Forbes Magazine recently ranked the findings on four criteria to find the Friendliest Countries: ability to befriend locals, success in learning the local language, capacity for integrating themselves into the community, and ease in which they fit into the new culture.

According to Forbes these criteria play a role into the ability of expats to create a new support structure; which is considered essential to integrate into the new culture.

New Zealand, Australia and South Africa topped, the list. And if you add another criteria – having a social life – South Africa moves to the top followed by the Philippines and Turkey. Most people will tell you, it is because South Africans are happy and jovial people.