Editors Pick Majority of expats are happy with their life in Thailand: Survey

[Jonathan Fairfield]

 

Thailand has been ranked as the fourteenth best destination for expats to live and work, according to the Expat Insider 2021 survey by InterNations.

 

The survey, which was carried out between 7 to 31 January 2021, had a total of 12,420 expats participating from 174 nationalities and living in 186 countries or territories.

 

One of the key findings of the survey was that the vast majority of expats said they were happy with their life in Thailand. 

 

For the rankings themselves, respondents were asked to rate up to 37 different factors related to various aspects of expat life on a scale of one to seven. 

 

The rating process emphasizes the respondents’ personal satisfaction with these factors and considers both emotional topics (e.g., getting used to the local culture) and more factual aspects (e.g., transportation infrastructure) with equal weight.

 

Thailand scored well in the Cost of Living Index where it ranked 10th overall, with 70% of respondents indicating they are happy with this aspect of life in the Land of Smiles, compared to 48% of respondents globally. 

 

“The cost of living is lower than in other large and developed places”, an American expat was quoted as saying. 

 

Similarly, Thailand was found to perform well in the Personal Finance Index (12th) with two thirds of expats (67%) saying they were satisfied with their own financial situation compared to 64% globally. 

 

Additionally, 82% of expats in Thailand said their disposable income is enough or more than enough to cover their living expenses in the Land of Smiles compared to 77% globally.

 

While Thailand landed a mediocre score in the Quality of Life Index (33rd place overall), it  performed very well for the quality of its medical care (7th), with 85% of expats rating this positively (compared to 71% globally).

 

“I like the first-class medical facilities and healthcare in Thailand,'' said a British expat.

 

Thailand also ranked in the the top 10 in the Leisure Options subcategory (7th), with 82% expats saying they were satisfied with their socialising and leisure activities, compared to 67% globally. 

 

Additionally, the survey found that 85% of expats were happy with their life in Thailand compared to 75% globally, ranking 7th out 59 in the Personal Happiness subcategory.

 

Some of Thailand’s worst rankings came in the Quality of the Environment subcategory, where it ranked 51st overall.

 

Over half of expats (51%) said the poor air quality was a negative aspect to living in Thailand.

 

An American expat in Chiang Mai said “the smoky season” was a problem, adding “in Thailand, there is the worst air quality in the world for about three months every year”.

 

Expats (22%) were also dissatisfied with water and sanitation infrastructure in Thailand, compared to 12% globally. 

 

Thailand also ranked in the bottom 10 amongst expats for political stability (55th).

 

Thailand’s performance was weakest in the Working Abroad Index (42nd): 45% of expats are unhappy with the local career opportunities (vs. 33% globally), and 29% rate the state of the local economy negatively (vs. 19% globally). 

 

However, most expats (72%) are satisfied with their work-life balance (vs.  66% globally), and over two-thirds (69%) are happy with their working hours (vs. 66% globally). 

 

In Thailand, full-time employed expats work an average of 44.4 hours a week (vs. 43.2  hours globally). Most expats in Thailand (70%) are overall satisfied with their job (vs. 68% globally).

 

Many expats in Thailand (61%) say the pandemic has not had an impact on the length of their current stay abroad (vs. 63% globally). 

 

However, 24% will not move home as soon as they had anticipated due to COVID-19 (vs. 18% globally). A lot more expats in Thailand follow the news about COVID 19 through expat news channels and international media than the global average (55% vs. 32%  globally). Additionally, half the expats in Thailand (50%) also use social media to stay up to date (vs.  40% globally).

 

Expats in Thailand are slightly less satisfied with the official communication on COVID 19 than the global average (63% vs. 66% globally). Still, an Australian expat shares: “I am impressed  with the way the Thai government has managed issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.”

 

Overall, Taiwan topped the list, followed by Mexico, Costa Rica, Malaysia, Portugal, New Zealand, Australia, Ecuador, Canada, and Vietnam.

 

Kuwait (59th), Italy, South Africa, Russia, Egypt, Japan, Cyprus, Turkey, India, and Malta (50th) were voted the worst countries for expats.

 

Thailand’s 14th place ranking was a significant improvement from its ranking in recent years.

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-05-20

 

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[Pattaya Spotter]

I've nothing to complain about...even during this Covid-19 pandemic. Pattaya after the first lockdown was a breeze and Phuket has been great the past 3 months.

[worgeordie]

Yes it's great, cannot stop laughing........now if they could only

get to grips with this Covid  thing  .

regards worgeordie

[lupin]

so ... survey asked a whopping 59 people living in Thailand to come up with this nonsense

[The Cipher]

Wow. Never would've guessed it by hanging out here.

[pedro01]

38 minutes ago, lupin said:

so ... survey asked a whopping 59 people living in Thailand to come up with this nonsense

 

No - go back and have a read - was 12,000 - but you have to wonder where they asked?

 

Like - was it 2am at the entrance of walking street and only asking males over 60 accompanied by 2 teen females?

[NCC1701A]

52 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

One of the key findings of the survey was that the vast majority of expats said they were happy with their life in Thailand. 

 

52 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Over half of expats (51%) said the poor air quality was a negative aspect to living in Thailand.

 

53 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Expats (22%) were also dissatisfied with water and sanitation infrastructure in Thailand, compared to 12% globally. 

 

Thailand also ranked in the bottom 10 amongst expats for political stability (55th).

 

why even bring this up? I am here for the carnage on the highways. 

 

followed by unsafe

54 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

socialising and leisure activities.

 

 

[tomazbodner]

Majority of expats are happy, the rest are on ThaiVisa.

[RotBenz8888]

58 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

 “I am impressed  with the way the Thai government has managed issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.”

 

59 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

The survey, which was carried out between 7 to 31 January 2021

Add the one about vaccine to foreigners...... 

[richard_smith237]

I would agree that the vast majority of expats are happy in Thailand. 

 

Then we have a discussion on Road Fatalities and some tool respond’s “If you don’t like it go back home” 

Or we have a discussion on the corruption here and some tool responds “You are a guest in this country” 

 

I could go on and on and on......  Pretty much everyone enjoys living here, that doesn’t make Thailand perfect and having a negative opinion on a number of aspects does not impact our lives in any significant way, voicing a negative opinion of one (or even a few) facets of life in Thailand does not mean those who have scratched the surface don’t like it here. 

 

 

[lupin]

14 minutes ago, pedro01 said:

 

No - go back and have a read - was 12,000 - but you have to wonder where they asked?

 

Like - was it 2am at the entrance of walking street and only asking males over 60 accompanied by 2 teen females?

it was 12,000 in 186 countries ... the number in Thailand was 59

[Randell jones]

No matter what, your worse day here Is always going to surpass any day you had in your  mother country. 

[WineOh]

Why did nobody ask me?? ????

[Moonlover]

4 minutes ago, Randell jones said:

No matter what, your worse day here Is always going to surpass any day you had in your  mother country. 

Speak for yourself! I've had many fabulous days in my mother country and many other countries too.

[bluesofa]

21 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

why even bring this up? I am here for the carnage on the highways.

How's it going - are you still causing plenty?

[sammieuk1]

Still, an Australian expat shares: “I am impressed  with the way the Thai government has managed issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.”

 

Was he riding a Kangaroo or facing defamation charges at the time ????

[pedro01]

12 minutes ago, lupin said:

it was 12,000 in 186 countries ... the number in Thailand was 59

 

My bad - total nonsense then as you say.

[bdenner]

Don't have to ask me. Lived in the rice paddies of Issan 》20 years and inspite of Anutin and the Czar including the many hoops I jump through with my annual visa extension I would not be any where else.

 

[Ventenio]

30% are NOT happy .........

 

and 70% LIED.

 

like anywhere......new and different is fun, cheaper means it can all last longer, but in the end women will be women, money will be money, and life will be life

 

ups and downs.   Thailand is great, good, fun, really fun, cheap.......  and then you get older and great goes to good...........

 

 

[clivebaxter]

I like the first class prostitutes replied 65% of British ex pats ????

[clivebaxter]

20 minutes ago, WineOh said:

Why did nobody ask me?? ????

 

Probably all made up and nobody was asked

[Antonymous]

1 hour ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Thailand also ranked in the the top 10 in the Leisure Options subcategory (7th), with 82% expats saying they were satisfied with their socialising and leisure activities, compared to 67% globally. 

 

Additionally, the survey found that 85% of expats were happy with their life in Thailand compared to 75% globally, ranking 7th out 59 in the Personal Happiness subcategory.

 

Nudge nudge, wink wink ????

[RobMuir]

39 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

I could go on and on and on..

Don't forget you are guest in this country.

And if you don't like it why don't you go back home.

[RobMuir]

1 hour ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

An American expat in Chiang Mai said “the smoky season” was a problem, adding “in Thailand, there is the worst air quality in the world for about three months every year”.

 

They interviewed

@rumak 

 

He gets around.

[richard_smith237]

5 minutes ago, RobMuir said:

Don't forget you are guest in this country.

And if you don't like it why don't you go back home.

 

Can you back that up with source ?

 

 

[Justgrazing]

2 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

 

Over half of expats (51%) said the poor air quality was a negative aspect to living in Thailand.

 

Not to mention the sense of jeopardy and whether you'll see the next morning after a trip on the roads .. 

[djayz]

44 minutes ago, Randell jones said:

No matter what, your worse day here Is always going to surpass any day you had in your  mother country. 

Are you from some war torn country? While my life here is, generally speaking, satisfactory, it most certainly doesn't surpass Falangistan. 

 

[from the home of CC]

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

I would agree that the vast majority of expats are happy in Thailand. 

 

Then we have a discussion on Road Fatalities and some tool respond’s “If you don’t like it go back home” 

Or we have a discussion on the corruption here and some tool responds “You are a guest in this country” 

 

I could go on and on and on......  Pretty much everyone enjoys living here, that doesn’t make Thailand perfect and having a negative opinion on a number of aspects does not impact our lives in any significant way, voicing a negative opinion of one (or even a few) facets of life in Thailand does not mean those who have scratched the surface don’t like it here. 

 

 

if peoples home countries were so great, they'd be there. The others just love the sound of their own whines, makes em' feel childlike again and important for a minute..

[from the home of CC]

I wouldn't be here if I wasn't happy - really dumb survey..

[Aforek]

9 minutes ago, from the home of CC said:

I wouldn't be here if I wasn't happy - really dumb survey..

When you see how numerous are Thai bashers on this forum, my guess is that many would prefer to be somewhere else, but for some reason ( home country too expensive ? ) they are stuck here ; Thailand must be hell for these people , day after day ????