Malaysia Named the 22nd Best Country in the World for Expats to Live in, Surpassing Singapore

Building a life in a foreign country can be a scary milestone. While it can be intimidating, it’s also an exciting opportunity to be an open book and embrace new experiences.

These individuals, known as expats, are those who choose to live outside their home country. We’re thrilled to announce that Malaysia has been named one of the top destinations for expats to call home!

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Are expats considered immigrants?

Before you get confused between an expat and an immigrant, it’s important to understand the difference. According to Ranking Royals, it mainly comes down to the reasons for moving.

Expats usually move abroad for work and may plan to return home eventually, whereas immigrants typically move to a new country to stay permanently.

The world through the eyes of expats!

According to InterNations‘ Expat Insider 2024 survey, Malaysia ranked 22nd among the best countries in the world for expats to live in, surpassing neighbouring country Singapore, which placed 30th.

A few other Southeast Asian countries also made the list, including Indonesia in 3rd place, Thailand in 6th, Vietnam in 8th, and the Philippines in 9th.

Panama took the top spot as the best country overall in 2024, with over 4 in 5 expats (82%) feeling happy with their lives there. While Mexico followed closely in 2nd place.

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The survey methodology

The survey covered a wide range of expats, from retirees and self-employed people looking for jobs abroad to corporate workers on international assignments and anyone who moved for different reasons.

In total, 12,543 expats from 175 nationalities residing in 174 countries and territories participated in the survey.

InterNations looked at various key factors in the survey, such as quality of life, essential expat needs, working conditions abroad, ease of settling in, personal finance, and overall happiness.

Do you agree with the rankings? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Also read: Study: Malaysia Ranked as 6th Most Trustworthy Country in Asia & 38th Best Nation in the World