Foreigners love Singapore but mixing with the locals is not a priority, according to the HSBC Bank International Expat Explorer, which surveyed more than 3,100 expatriates in 26 countries.
Singapore ranked fourth — behind Australia, Canada and Thailand —
in the survey, which looked at the job prospects, amenities and the
lives of expatriates in each of those countries. Bahrain was fifth, South Africa
sixth, France seventh, America eighth, Spain ninth, and Hong Kong 10th.
Britain finished 23rd, ahead of only Russia, India and Qatar. China was
22nd, the United Arab Emirates 18th, Japan 16th, Switzerland 13th,
Germany 12th and Malaysia 11th. The complete list is at the end of this
post.
The survey found expats are most likely to fall in love in Thailand, Germany and Brazil and make friends with the locals in Canada, South Africa, India and Russia.
See how the countries rank when it comes to expats making friends with
the locals. Note that they don't make friends easily in Thailand and
Germany, too, though they are likely to fall in love.
The countries where expats live longest are Thailand (82 per cent of expats living abroad for more than five years), Bahrain (81 per cent), South Africa (73 per cent), Russia and the United States (both 70 per cent).
Length of contract and job prospects are what keep expats in Singapore though they generally like the environment and lifestyle too.
Expats like the infrastructure in Singapore, the quality of transport, the ease of organizing their healthcare and finances and setting up utilities at home. Overall, Singapore ranked fifth for the quality of life.
"However, expats in Singapore did not prioritise socialising with local people and it came 24th out of 26th for expats choosing to join a community group and 18th in terms of the ease of making local friends," says the report. You can download it here.
Top reasons for staying in Singapore, according to the report:
- Length of contract: 65%
- Career prospects: 40%
- Better environment/quality of life for children: 32%
- Lifestyle: 20%
- Friends I have made: 16%
So, yes, there are those who stay on because of the friends they make. One has to reach out, I guess.
The report says:
While making friends is easy for most expats, there is a preference for making friends within the expat rather than the local community. An exception to this is in Brazil, which ranks highest for local community integration (94% of expats making local friends easily). This was closely followed by Canada and South Africa (both 91%), India and Russia (both 90%).
The report adds:
One in five (20%) expats have found love overseas, with Thailand being the most likely place to fall in love, followed by Germany and Brazil. Almost half (47%) of expats in Thailand alone say that they have found love, however if you are a single expat in India or Qatar, you best buy a teddy bear — just 4% of expats have found love whilst living in these countries. Those earning less are also more likely to find love, with expats earning less than $60,000 more likely to find love abroad than any other group — over a quarter of expats in this group. Similarly, expats over the age of 55 will have greater chances at finding their life partner — one in four expats around the world aged 55 and over have found love or a life partner whilst living abroad.
According to the survey, 45 per cent of the expats in Australia were enjoying better health while 56 per cent in Singapore said their healthcare had improved. In Hong Kong, 49 per cent said their social lives had improved. In the UK, 58 per cent were enjoying better entertainment.
The overall rankings — based on quality of life, education for children, food, accommodation, ease of organizing healthcare and finances and setting up utilities at home, learning the local language, making friends, joining community groups, working hours, family life, social life and commute to work — are:
- Canada
- Australia
- Thailand
- Singapore
- Bahrain
- South Africa
- France
- United States
- Spain
- Hong Kong
- Malaysia
- Germany
- Switzerland
- Saudi Arabia
- Belgium
- Japan
- Netherlands
- United Arab Emirates
- Vietnam
- Brazil
- Mexico
- China
- United Kingdom
- Russian Federation
- India
- Qatar
Here is how the countries compare in selected categories.
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I think one reason that expats may find it hard to make local friends in Singapore is that there is an air of hostility between locals and foreigners. It could be intimidating to a foreigner. Also, the Singaporean culture is a lot different than that of the majority of the expats here. It’s easier to find friendship among people you can relate to.
I’ve been in Singapore for a year and a half and I don’t have any local friends. My friends are all expats. Oddly enough they’re not expats from my own country. They’re expats from the Philippines and Indonesia. That’s not to say that Singaporeans aren’t friendly, because I know a lot of great Singaporeans. I just haven’t felt the desire to get to know them any better.
Also, I just wanted to point out that the 55+ folks being likely to find love, especially in Thailand, made me laugh a bit. It plays on a stereotype of old white guys with young Asian girls.
I understand. Thank you for your comment.
I had a friend stay just a year in Singapore as she found it tough to find decent paying work. She had solid credentials and was from Canada. Ironically she’s miserable being back there and maybe should be off to Russia or Thailand next.
Like that comment, expats fall in love in Thailand…shouldn’t that be lust