Expats give SA thumbs-down over safety, education costs

Uganda and Morocco are the destinations of choice for foreigners working in Africa‚ with SA dropping down the rankings as expat parents grow increasingly anxious about the country.

SA has slipped 13 places for family life (from 19th to 32nd) in the 2018 Expat Insider survey by InterNations‚ compared with 2017’s survey.

“Expat parents are less satisfied with both the availability and the costs of childcare and education than last year.

“While 63% said childcare was easy to afford in 2017‚ only 43% of expat parents still agree in 2018‚” the survey’s authors said on Thursday.

“The same is true for education‚ which was rated affordable by 44% in 2017 – but just 34% think so in 2018.”

Apart from childcare and education‚ close to two in five expat parents (38%) also worry about their children’s safety‚ which is close to four times the global average (10%).

Safety is not only a concern among expat parents‚ but one shared by many expats in SA‚ the survey authors said.

Just 29% feel safe in SA‚ which is 53% lower than the global average (82%).

In addition‚ only about one in five (22%) regard SA as politically stable‚ compared with the global average of 63%.

More than one-third (35%) already considered the political situation in SA a potential disadvantage even before moving here (compared with 13% globally)‚ InterNations said.

A thumbs-up is given to SA’s weather (92% v 61% globally) and the available leisure options.

More than four in five (83%) rate SA’s leisure options positively (compared with 75% globally).

“The climate is among the best in the world‚” a Dutch expat is quoting as saying.

“Nature,” he said, “is beautiful and easily accessible.”

Out of all the expat destinations in Africa featured in the survey‚ Uganda is the best-rated country in 2018 (26th)‚ with expats saying they found it easy to settle down there‚ although they were unhappy with their career prospects.

Nearly nine in 10 expats in Uganda (87%) perceive the attitude of residents towards them as friendly.

As a result‚ they say they have no trouble stepping outside of the “expat bubble”‚ with more than three in five (63%) saying their social circle mostly comprises a mix of residents and expats.

This is far above the global average of 47%.

“People in Uganda are incredibly friendly‚” an American expat said.

When it comes to quality of life‚ however‚ Uganda ranks only 55th out of 68 countries worldwide. And just 43% of expats in Uganda consider the country politically stable – 20% less than the global average (63%).

Morocco is ranked 32nd overall. With 71% of expats feeling safe there‚ Morocco is the best-rated destination in Africa for this factor.

However‚ this is still 11% below the global average (82%).

Uganda (66%)‚ Egypt (64%)‚ Kenya (33%)‚ and SA (29%) are perceived to be less safe.

When it comes to politics‚ close to three-quarters (74%) rate Morocco’s political stability positively‚ which is above the global average (63%).

Egypt ranks the lowest in Africa – at 63rd place out of 68 countries worldwide – with expats citing a low quality of life and unsatisfying working conditions.

Just 39% of expats in Egypt are happy with the transportation infrastructure (compared with 68% globally) and only 27% rate the quality of the environment positively (compared with 69% globally).

More than one-fifth (21%) are unhappy with the available leisure options. “The entertainment here is pathetic!” an expat from Zimbabwe said.

Safety and politics play a significant role in the country’s ranking too.

Just 24% consider Egypt politically stable (compared with 63% globally) and only 64% feel safe there (compared with 82% globally).

Only one in five expats (20%) rates the state of the economy in Egypt positively‚ compared with 64% globally.

Overall‚ this year’s top 10 destinations for expats are Bahrain‚ Taiwan‚ Ecuador‚ Mexico‚ Singapore‚ Portugal‚ Costa Rica‚ Spain‚ Colombia and the Czech Republic.

Bahrain defended its first place‚ which it secured in 2017‚ thanks to excellent results for working abroad and ease of settling in (first for both).

Seven in 10 expats in Bahrain (70%) are happy with their career prospects (compared with 55% globally) and 81% find it easy to settle down in that country (59% globally).

More than three-quarters of the expats living in secondplaced Taiwan (76%) are satisfied with their job security (59% globally)‚ with the destination ranking first in the world for this factor.

Taiwan also offers the world’s highest quality of life‚ and 77% of expats feel at home there (compared with 64% globally). –

Only about one in five (22%) regard the country as politically stable