Majority of SA Expats are Satisfied BUT Miss Friends and Family ‘Very Much’
According to a website survey, almost two thirds of South Africans living abroad are generally satisfied with their new life, although only 10 percent are ‘very satisfied’…and many admitted missing their personal support network and finding romantic relationships difficult. The findings in InterNations second annual ExpatInsider survey found that South Africans are more likely than most expats […]
According to a website survey, almost two thirds of South Africans living abroad are generally satisfied with their new life, although only 10 percent are ‘very satisfied’…and many admitted missing their personal support network and finding romantic relationships difficult.
The findings in InterNations second annual ExpatInsider survey found that South Africans are more likely than most expats to settle for at least five years in their new country; and that they hang out in mainly English-speaking social circles, secure top management positions and earn more than they ever did back in South Africa.
It’s not clear exactly how many South Africans took part in the survey. There was a total of 14,400 respondents from 170 countries of origin – which means an average of roughly 82 people per country. So perhaps these stats are only based on 82 people’s opinions. The top three countries that these 82 or so respondents live in are UAE, Mozambique and Germany.
Safety Comes First
For many South Africans they were more compelled than other expats to move abroad for safety reasons (13%) – with 5% indicating this was their most important reason (compared to only 1% of all respondents) – and for a better quality of life (22%) which InterNations says is possibly related to the element of safety.
Adventure was also important for 28%…who can end up staying longer than they planned to.
An overwhelming majority of South African expat respondents say the move has put their minds at ease regarding their own personal safety (83%), and the health and safety of their children (85%).
For South Africans the top three considerations before moving are Personal safety/crime 62% (32% globally), Cost of living 31% (38%) and Economy 30% (35%)
South Africans are Awesome Achievers
Almost a quarter of the South Africans are in top management positions compared to 11% worldwide; and over 16% work in the academic world (compared to a 9% global average).
Over 60% report earning a higher income than when they were at home!
Apparently South Africans hold fewer degrees (66%) than expats worldwide (83%) BUT the survey says “clearly, this does not hold back the hard-working South African expat, who spends two more hours a week at work than the average expat. Could this be the secret to their success?”
Talking Linguistics and Love
Although many South Africans speak two languages (52% compared to 26% globally)…they’re twice as likely as expats globally to NOT speak the local language!
In fact South Africans are the least likely of all nationalities to speak the local language of their new country (followed by Indians and Norwegians)! Swedes, Hungarians and Poles are the most likely to learn the local language.
Only 23% of South Africans – compared to 48% on average – speak the local language fairly well or fluently.
So it’s no surprise that a higher percentage of South Africans reported that language barriers are a problem for them. Therefore many seek out expat friends who speak the same language as them.
When it comes to love – South Africans seek out their own too, with four out of seven saying their partner shares their nationality, compared to three out of seven globally. South Africans also miss their friends and family back home. At least 36% said they miss their personal support network “very much” while 46% admitted being an expat makes having a relationship difficult (compared to 38% globally).
And How Does South Africa Rate for Other Expats?
As far as people from other countries becoming expats in South Africa, this is where SA was rated out of the 195 countries surveyed:
Top Destinations – 49th (Ecuador came 1st)
Quality of Life – 42nd (Singapore 1st)
Ease of Settling in – 27th (Mexico came 1st, New Zealand 2nd)
Most Welcoming Country – 39th (Myanmar 1st)
Family Life and Top Destinations for Expat Families – 18th (Austria 1st)
South Africa was voted in the top five for child care BUT “South Africa and Kenya are also among the worst destinations for children’s health and safety, with up to 9% very dissatisfied in this regard.”
Cost of Living – 25th (Ecuador 1st)
See the full survey here.