If you are already living as an expat, or considering the possibility, you likely have done (or will do) an incredible amount of research.
I distinctly remember checking out EVERY book about India in our library system (some books even from 45 miles away!), TiVo-ing every show that had the word "India" in it and trying desperately to find blogs and websites that would tell me EXACTLY how it would feel to move a family to Delhi, India.
I distinctly remember checking out EVERY book about India in our library system (some books even from 45 miles away!), TiVo-ing every show that had the word "India" in it and trying desperately to find blogs and websites that would tell me EXACTLY how it would feel to move a family to Delhi, India.
HSBC Bank International is one of the leading banks that offers international services to its customers, and since 2008, they have conducted an annual Expat Explorer survey. Since its inception, it has grown to be the world's largest survey of expats, covering every minute detail of life abroad. HSBC utilizes the findings from this survey to better understand their customers and seek to make the lives of expats just a bit easier.
However, the benefit of this survey, is that it can also serve to inform and educate YOU!
However, the benefit of this survey, is that it can also serve to inform and educate YOU!
On Monday, Expat Explorer launched a new interactive tool, containing three distinct categories and reports, Expat Economics, Expat Experience and Offshore Offspring.
I had the opportunity to take this tool for a test drive before the survey/findings were made live and available to the public, and while I was not asked to write about it, I wanted to make sure that you all had a chance to poke around as well!
Could you share with me a bit about the demographics that are included in the tool?
The Expat Explorer survey, now in its third year, is the largest global survey of expats. Commissioned by HSBC Bank International and conducted by third party research company GfK, 4,127 expats were questioned through an online survey from 26th April 2010 to the 7th June 2010, with expats from over 100 countries worldwide taking part – making this unique survey the largest of its kind. Individuals from four continents described the opportunities and challenges they experience living away from home. The survey provides an insight into how expat life differs from country to country, continent to continent and from an expats’ country of origin.
The survey allows expats to share their experiences of life abroad and covers all the aspects of expat life from career development and job prospects to economic circumstances, lifestyle experiences and even what it’s like to raise children overseas –
A sample size of 30 or more respondents from each country was required for inclusion in the league tables and thus to be in the Expat Explorer tool, in order to be considered robust and indicative of the views and trends of the specific population. The league tables are based on a series of interrelated factors (rather than a single factor or question) to ensure a fair assessment of how individual countries rate across the full criteria. The responses of those who responded “not applicable” or “refuse to say” have been excluded. Each criterion is equally weighted to arrive at a score. The overall ranking is based on the average score for a country across the criteria.
Is HSBC hoping that this is a tool that future expats to a specific country will utilize when making their final decision before accepting a new position overseas?
Commenting on the launch, Lisa Wood, Head of Marketing at HSBC Bank International said:
“The online launch of Expat Explorer is a proud moment for us and one that demonstrates our commitment to building on the success of our Expat Explorer Survey and understanding expats’ lives. With us undertaking the world’s largest study of expats, we have such a wealth of information on the experience of living overseas and wanted to bring this to life for expats in a visually rich and engaging way.
Considering a move abroad can be a daunting prospect, often involving a huge amount of research and hopefully through our new online resource we’ll provide some really useful insights for any potential expats. Individuals will be able to view information tailored to their priorities in life and lifestyle expectations.”
It’s a resource that’s got something for everyone, from those interested simply in where their country ranks to would-be expats and regular movers looking for their next location. By making the findings social media friendly we hope to have developed a tool that expats and non-expats alike will want to share with their peers.”
So on to the tool itself. Some of the questions asked of people currently living as expats were :
How easy was it for you to ::
- Organise schools for their children
- Set up finances; healthcare; utilities
- Find accommodation
- Learn the local language
- Adapt to local food; weather; work culture
- Make friends
- Travel around locally
- Adjust to the new culture/lifestyle (in general)
And ...
How much do you agree with ::
- I enjoy having local food rather than having food from my home country all the time
- I am happy to experience local culture
- I try to learn / use the local language
- It is easy for me to make local friends
- I am integrating well in the local community
- I feel welcome at work
- I like shopping for local produce in the local shops / markets
Interesting to me was that the majority of expats living in Asian countries who responded to this survey had been living there less than 2 years ... while most other countries had a higher percentage of expats responding to the survey who had lived there 6 or more years!
So ... where does India rank? Where does the United States rank?
Out of 25 countries included in the survey, India is .... Number 25. The United States is ... 18th (for the Quality of Life Score).
(For the sake of giving you all of the details, overall, the United States ranked 16th as a favorable location to live in terms of expat experience. Broadly speaking, US-based expats felt that their social life, healthcare, food and diet were better in their country of origin.
There appears to be a mixed picture painted for the United States. While the quality of life ranking was comparatively low (18th), the US ranked 8th in terms of ease of integration. One in five (20%) felt it was easy to pick up the local language, which could be attributed to English being the second most spoken language around the world. Half (50%) of all US-based expats found it easy to make local friends compared to the average of 42%. The results of the survey suggest that ease of learning the local language and adapting to the local culture are areas that the United States fares well as an expat destination.)
The most difficult regions were BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) countries and the Middle East. India was the most difficult country for expats to set up in overall (25th) with adjustment to the new culture and lifestyle something expats here found particularly challenging. Russia (23rd) and China (20th) also dominated the bottom percentages, with expats having particular trouble when it came to organising their healthcare and travelling around locally.
Curious about the Top 10 for Overall Quality of Life?
Thailand
Bahrain
South Africa
Canada
Bermuda
Spain
France
Switzerland
Australia
Malaysia
(I'm wondering where the heck Italy is ??? Why isn't Italy even ON this list of survey responders?)
The tool has information on all of the following specific segments and is really quite fascinating!
Economics
- Expats and the credit crunch
- Expat Finances remain strong
- Career prospects / higher salaries lure expats to establish centres in the East while retirees head to Europe and Thailand
- BRIC Countries appear to be emerging expat hotspots
- Wealth gap between the East and Mainland Europe continues to widen
- Expats repatriate a considerable proportion of wealth
Experience
- Expats keen to continue travelling
- Retirees head for a better quality of life
- Expats gravitate to fellow expats
- Career prospects and quality of life don't go hand in hand for Expats
- Emotive worries top the list of expat concerns
- UK top for entertainment but makes a poor lifestyle location for Expats
- Personal development is more important than financial gain for most expats
- European expats find it hardest to make friends
- BRICs and the Middle East are the most difficult expat locations to set up in
Offspring
- Better education and childcare for expat children
- Expat children adapt well to their new life abroad
- Belgium scores top for expats with children
- A universally recognised education system is important for expat parents
- Offspring safety improves with relocation
- Spain ranks top for health and wellbeing of offshore offspring
Check HSBC's Expat Explorer blog to find out all about this new tool!
