New Survey: Czechia Ranks Among the Least Friendly Countries for Expats

The latest Expat Insider 2024 study has revealed a surprising and somewhat alarming reality: Europe is far from a welcoming place for foreigners.

The Czech Republic has landed among the least friendly countries, with only Kuwait ranking worse globally.

Europe Struggles with Friendliness

The Expat Insider 2024 survey, conducted by InterNations, assessed 53 countries based on the experiences of expats—individuals living and working abroad long-term. The ranking considered factors such as ease of settling in, quality of life, and local attitudes toward foreigners.

A striking result was that eight out of the ten least hospitable countries are in Europe, with Central and Northern Europe scoring particularly poorly.

Norway, Finland, Ireland, Germany, and the United Kingdom were among the worst-rated nations. One possible explanation could be the harsh climate and long winters, which may lead to reduced social interaction with foreigners.

However, the findings were not solely tied to weather conditions. Italy, Malta, and Turkey—all known for their warm climates—also ranked surprisingly low. Beyond Europe, Canada and Kuwait joined the list of the least welcoming nations.

Czech Republic’s Decline in Friendliness

Czechia’s ranking dropped by 18 places compared to last year, making it one of the least friendly countries for expats. It now ranks 15th from the bottom, performing worse than in previous years. Neighboring Hungary fared even worse, placing 11th from the bottom.

A deeper analysis of the survey showed that Czechia ranks as the seventh most difficult country for foreigners to settle in. Expats struggle with making friends, citing low local friendliness as a significant barrier.

In the specific friendliness ranking, Czechia placed third-worst globally, with only Austria and Kuwait scoring lower. Regarding the ease of forming friendships, the country placed 40th out of 53.

Another major issue for expats in Czechia is the language barrier. Czech was rated the second most difficult language in the world, just behind Hungarian. Additionally, the country ranked poorly in digital infrastructure, bureaucratic efficiency, and housing accessibility, placing it among the five worst countries in these categories.

Kuwait Ranked Worst, Panama and Mexico Best

Kuwait finished dead last in the ranking, with more than half of respondents describing the locals as highly unwelcoming. The Kuwaiti government also does not encourage tourism, as the country already has a high number of foreign workers, who make up 60% of the population.

At the other end of the spectrum, the most welcoming countries include Panama, Mexico, and Indonesia. Spain was the only European nation to make it into the top ten, finishing fourth. Other highly ranked countries for friendliness were Colombia, Thailand, Brazil, Vietnam, the Philippines, and the United Arab Emirates.

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