Czechia ranked world's 8th friendliest country for expats in new study

Czechia has been ranked as one of the world’s most welcoming countries for expats, placing eighth in a new international study that evaluated how easily newcomers can settle into life abroad.

The ranking by international insurance provider William Russell scored countries based on factors including expat experiences, foreign-born employment rates, migrant populations, attitudes toward immigrants, safety and visa openness. Czechia received an overall welcoming score of 7.62 out of 10.

Prague also performed strongly in the city rankings, placing sixth globally among the most welcoming cities for expats with a score of 7.86.

According to the study, Czechia’s position was supported by its strong employment outcomes for foreign-born residents. The country recorded a foreign-born employment rate of 79.5 percent, one of the highest figures among the countries included in the ranking.

The study found that countries where expats can participate in the workforce and build stable careers tend to perform better overall. Czechia ranked ahead of several popular relocation destinations, including Portugal and Austria.

The country’s migrant population was listed at 9.5 percent of residents, below the study average of 15.5 percent. However, researchers noted that a large international population is not the only factor determining whether expats feel welcome.

The report also highlighted the importance of practical integration, including access to work, safety, social connections and the ability to establish a long-term life after moving abroad.

“Being welcoming often goes further” than simple friendliness, the study said, pointing to factors such as finding employment, navigating systems and feeling part of everyday society.

Prague ranked sixth in the study’s city comparison, behind Zürich, Singapore, Tokyo, Copenhagen and Munich.

The Czech capital scored ahead of other major international cities including Dubai, Warsaw, Seoul and Hong Kong. The ranking considered factors such as safety, happiness and social acceptance.

William Russell said city-level experiences can differ significantly from national trends, with larger urban centers often offering stronger international networks, services and communities for newcomers.

The study’s overall ranking was topped by Iceland, which scored 8.94 out of 10, followed by Luxembourg and New Zealand. Iceland’s high position was linked to its strong foreign-born employment rate of 84.2 percent and positive expat experiences.

Other countries in the top 10 included Australia, Switzerland, Ireland, Colombia, Portugal and Austria.

Czechia has seen steady growth in its foreign resident population in recent years, with hundreds of thousands of international residents now living and working in the country.

For many newcomers, factors such as employment opportunities, public safety, transport connections and the availability of international communities play a key role in deciding whether Czechia becomes a long-term home.

The William Russell study noted that feeling welcome is only the first step in settling abroad. Building friendships, learning local systems and becoming involved in community life often determine whether expats move from simply living in a country to feeling they belong there.