Expat Insider 2022: How Does Australia Rank Globally?

Australia did well in InterNations’ annual Expat Insider survey, which was just released.

The survey asked questions about everything from financial situation to career opportunities, and Australian expats gave their home nation good marks in the majority of areas.

Australia came in at number nine overall!

What foreigners believe about Australia

The abundance of leisure opportunities, the rewarding business culture, the beautiful weather, and the ease of settling in were all highly regarded by expats in Australia.

1. Excellent job prospects

62% of foreigners living in Australia are satisfied with their employment possibilities there. At 47%, the overall satisfaction rate is substantially lower.

Additionally content with their work-life balance are expats. The fact that Australia has shorter workweeks than other countries may have a big impact on this. While the global average is 40.2, expats in Australia work an average of 35.9 hours per week.

“There is an emphasis on family and not job, and there is a good understanding of combining both,” a Dutch expat remarked of Australia.

2. Excellent corporate culture

The majority of foreigners who live in Australia believe that the business culture of the nation encourages flexibility, and 65% of them also think that it fosters creativity and unconventional thinking.

Furthermore, independent work and flat hierarchies are encouraged by company culture.

Beyond that, compared to 62% globally, 70% of expats feel that they are paid properly for their work. Compared to the average for the world of 59%, another 70% of people are content with their job security.

3. A lot to do, and the weather is also fantastic.

The fact that foreign nationals adore Australia’s leisure opportunities should not come as a surprise.

Australia took the top spot for opportunities for recreational sports and was placed ninth for leisure alternatives! There are many opportunities for kids to enjoy team sports, according to a South African expat.

It is hardly surprising that expats are content with Australia’s environment and weather. The majority of Australia experiences mild winter temperatures along with bright summers.

4. Simple to get used to

It’s challenging to start over in a new nation! Thankfully, relocating to Australia makes it simple to integrate.

Fewer than 75% of expats, as opposed to 62% globally, stated they find it simple to adapt to Australian culture.

Additionally, 65% of foreign nationals indicated they felt at home in Australia. It helps that 65% of expats have a personal support network and that 72% of expats think Australians are generally pleasant.

A British expat observed that “there are no worries here, it is an easy lifestyle,” whereas an Iranian expat claimed that Australia offers a tranquil and laid-back atmosphere.

The negatives? Housing and daily living expenses

Every nation has disadvantages; in Australia, these are the expense of life and housing.

Only 50% of foreign residents felt it was simple to find housing, while 61% were dissatisfied with the cost of housing. This is substantially higher than the global average of 43%, which is only 26%.

Australia ranks 30th out of 52 countries in the Personal Finance category for expat discontent with general cost of living. Internations asked expatriates in this category about their happiness with their financial status, the cost of living in general, and whether they had enough disposable household income to live comfortably.

However, 71% of expats believed that their disposable household income did cover their needs despite Australia’s subpar performance in personal finance.

What’s the procedure for the Expat Insider poll?

11,970 respondents from 177 different nationalities who reside in 181 different countries or territories worldwide were asked to rate their experience living abroad for the 2022 Expat Insider survey.

How is the ranking determined?

The responses of respondents to questions in five categories were used to establish each nation’s overall ranking:

Travel and transit, climate, leisure activities, physical and mental health, and safety and security are all factors that affect quality of life.

Ease of Integration: Community Amity, Making Friends, Culture, and Welcome

Career Prospects, Pay and Job Security, Work and Leisure, Work Culture and Satisfaction when Working Abroad

Essentials for Expats: Digital Life, Administrative Matters, Housing, Language

Financial Services

Additionally, respondents to the survey were asked to rate their general happiness with their lives abroad.

Who answered the questionnaire?

The statistics of respondents are broken out as follows by the Expat Insider survey:

Gender: 52% men, 48% women

Relationship status: 45% single, 55% in a relationship

Family status: 80% of families do not have dependent children overseas, whereas 20% do.

Average age: 45.9 years

Education level: 82% have a university degree (2% have no degree, 8% have graduated from high school, and 8% have commercial/technical/vocational training).

Who answered the questionnaire?

The statistics of respondents are broken out as follows by the Expat Insider survey:

Gender: 52% men, 48% women

Relationship status: 45% single, 55% in a relationship

Family status: 80% of families do not have dependent children overseas, whereas 20% do.

Average age: 45.9 years

Education level: 82% have a university degree (2% have no degree, 8% have graduated from high school, and 8% have commercial/technical/vocational training).

Main conclusions from the top three countries

1. Mexico:

The financial situation of expats in Mexico and the simplicity of relocation have them content. They say the inhabitants are nice and that it’s simple to make friends with them.

Although 36% of expats are dissatisfied with the local air quality, they are content with the culinary variety, eating alternatives, and natural surroundings of Mexico.

Getting a visa to move to Mexico was simple for 64% of expatriates, but 53% had trouble with local bureaucracy.

In general, 91% of foreigners are content with their lives in Mexico.

2. Indonesia:

Indonesian expats are content with their own financial situations, just like those in Mexico. In fact, 64% of respondents stated they have more than enough disposable household income to live comfortably.

Indonesia performed well on the Expat Essential Index, largely due to the affordability and accessibility of housing.

The Quality of Life Index gave Indonesia’s poorest scores. Expats are dissatisfied with Indonesia’s infrastructure for vehicles, the standard of medical care, and the availability of eco-friendly products and services.

91% of foreigners living in Indonesia are content with their lives overall.

3. Taiwan:

The Quality of Life Index gives Taiwan the highest score. Taiwan is safe, and healthcare is both readily accessible and reasonably priced for expats.

Taiwan receives high marks for both personal finances and ease of relocation. In actuality, 70% of people are content with their financial condition.

85% of foreign workers in Indonesia believe they are paid properly for the work they do. The lack of flexibility, innovation, and flat hierarchies in the local corporate culture, however, is unsatisfactory to expats. 73% of foreigners living in Taiwan are content with their lives overall.