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Making new friends -

When thinking of making a move abroad, one of the most difficult aspects to consider is leaving your current community and making new friends.

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Importance of friendship -

Loneliness is a big concern for those living far from home. There is no doubt that friendships are an important aspect of daily life.

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Every experience is unique -

But it doesn’t need to be so daunting. While every experience is unique, there are nations where it seems easier to make friends in comparison to others.

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Easiest and most difficult places to make friends -

In this gallery, we provide a list of the 15 easiest countries to make friends in, as well as the 15 nations where it's most difficult to form friendships.

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Regional trends -

Before we list them out, there are some regional trends that are worth noting, according to the InterNations survey data. Some of the most challenging nations to make friends in are Nordic countries and German-speaking nations.

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Nordics and German-speaking countries -

In the Nordic countries (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland), expats in general find it quite challenging to form friendships with locals. Similarly, in German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland), expats also report similar challenges.

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15. Vietnam -

So which are the countries where it’s the easiest to make friends? Coming in at number 15 is Vietnam. A coffee-lover’s delight, make friends in Vietnam while exploring the nation’s rich and diverse culture.

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14. Oman -

The 14th-easiest nation to make friends in is Oman. Oman is one of the oldest independent states in the Arab world and, it turns out, a great place to make friends.

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13. South Africa -

South Africa comes in at number 13 on the list of easiest places to make friends. Enjoy a glass of red on Route 62, the longest wine route in the world, while cheering to new friends.

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12. Egypt -

The 12th-easiest country for making some new friends is Egypt. Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula bridges two continents with the Sinai Peninsula, a great omen for transnational friendship.

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11. Colombia -

Colombia is the 11th-easiest country to make friends in. The nation with the most extensive biodiversity on Earth is also a great place to find community.

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10. Spain -

Do you know which Iberian nation ranks 10th on the list? It’s Spain! Home to a whopping 45 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the culturally rich country is also a great place to explore new friendships.

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9. Greece -

In ninth place is another Southern European nation. Popularly known as the "cradle of Western civilization," Greece is also a country where you can easily make friends.

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8. Thailand -

The eighth-easiest country to make friends in as gem of Southeast Asia. Thailand, comprised of 1,500 islands, welcomes six million tourists every year. With so many people in and out of the nation, it’s easy to make friends with locals and foreigners alike. 

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7. Kenya -

The seventh-easiest nation in the world to make friends in is the East African nation of Kenya. Kenya, home to more than 40 ethnic groups and over 60 languages, is a nation well accustomed to cultural exchange.

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6. Brazil -

Ranking sixth on the list is the largest South American country (and the fifth largest in the world), Brazil. One of the most diverse nations in the world, Brazil is a great option for those seeking to make new friends.

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5. Costa Rica -

The fifth-easiest country to make friends in is Costa Rica. An expat haven, it’s a popular destination for digital nomads and retirees.

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4. Indonesia -

In fourth place is Indonesia. Frequented by surf enthusiasts and nature lovers, Indonesia welcomes many tourists, retirees, and those taking an extended break. 

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3. Panama -

Another big expat location is Panama, which is the third-easiest place to make friends. Quality of life, cost of living, and modern facilities makes it a popular destination for foreigners.

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2. The Philippines -

The Philippines makes the list as the second-easiest country to make friends. Incredible nature and a rich culture bring many immigrants to the nation.

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1. Mexico -

The easiest nation to make friends in the world is Mexico. Mexico has ranked first on the list for many years, given its warm culture and rich diversity.

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15. Japan -

Now on to the most difficult countries to make friends in. In 15th place is Japan. Japan is a largely homogeneous nation, and the Japanese tend to stick to their same group of childhood friends throughout their lives.

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14. Czech Republic -

The 14th most difficult nation to make friends in is the Czech Republic. Expats often perceive Czechs as cold or distant.

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13. United Kingdom -

The United Kingdom is ranked the 13th most difficult nation to make friends in. A rather reserved culture mixed with more recent hostile attitudes towards foreigners are contributing factors.

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12. Austria -

Ranked 12th is Austria. Similar to British culture, Austrians can be quite reserved and, therefore, difficult to interact with.

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11. Hungary -

In 11th place is Hungary. The reserved nature of Hungarians, mixed with stark cultural particularities and a growing dislike of foreigners, makes it hard for Hungarians to open up to newcomers.

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10. Netherlands -

The country ranked as the 10th most difficult place to form friendships is the Netherlands. As another reserved society that has also grown quite hostile to foreigners, the Dutch aren’t known for their social skills.

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9. Luxembourg -

The ninth most difficult country to make friends in is Luxembourg. The tiny European nation attracts a number of foreign workers, but nonetheless is known among expats as a challenging place to building lasting friendships.

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8. Canada -

Ranked eighth is Canada. This may be surprising, given the nation’s multiculturalism and reputation for friendliness, but similar to Japanese tendencies, Canadians tend to stick with the same group of friends throughout their lives.

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7. Denmark -

The seventh most difficult nation to make friends in is Denmark. The Danes are socially reserved and tend to have negative sentiments toward foreigners, making it difficult to form friendships with locals.

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6. Switzerland -

In Switzerland, ranked sixth on the list, it is quite challenging to make friends. The Swiss are often seen as both cold and distant, making it hard to form interpersonal relationships.

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5. Sweden -

The Swedes rank fifth on the list due to their reserved culture and tendency to keep the same friends from childhood throughout their lives.

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4. German -

The Germans are quite notorious for their coldness and generally reserved nature. Therefore, it’s no surprise that they come fourth on the list.

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3. Norway -

Third on the list is Norway. The Norwegians, much like their Scandinavian counterparts, are quite reserved and difficult to connect with.

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2. Finnish -

Completing the tour of Scandinavia, Finland ranks as the second-hardest nations to make friends in. Among the Nordic nations, they are known for being socially awkward in comparison to other European nations.

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1. Kuwait -

The most difficult country to make friends in is Kuwait. Despite a rich history of migration and a great deal of foreign laborers, expats feel that locals are unfriendly.

Sources: (Original Travel) (Travelbag) (Envoys Educational Travel) (Insight Vacations) (National Geographic) (The Irish Times) (Expats) (InterNations)

See also: The most LGBTQ+-friendly countries in the world

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