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Expats: Germany great for kids, bad for friends

Alex Evans
Alex Evans - [email protected]
Expats: Germany great for kids, bad for friends
Photo: DPA

A global expat study has named Germany as the world's best country for raising children abroad and the second best place for expats to live in the world. But it scored badly for social life, making friends and staying healthy.

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The HSBC expat league table brought together survey results from 37 countries including China, the USA and Britain.

Germany scored in the top three in the world for availability of good education and the cost of education, with 30 percent of expat parents spending less on educating their children after moving abroad.

It was ranked second for quality of childcare with 60 percent of expats reporting an improvement over childcare in their home country.

And 73 percent said moving abroad had benefited their child's health and well-being, compared to a global average of 56 percent.

Germany also outshone many of the other surveyed countries in economic matters, coming seventh overall.

Of the expats asked 87 percent said they were satisfied with Germany’s economy - 34 percent above the European average - while 27 percent reported their financial situation had improved since moving here.

But even though 51 percent of expats in Germany said they now had more disposable income, the country's high taxes and cost of living put it at number 24 for the amount of disposable income.

Germany scored highly for its travel opportunities, transport system and for organizing finances, but earned some of the lowest scores in the world for sport opportunities, making friends and keeping a healthy diet.

Just 16 percent said their social life had improved since moving here, making Germany the fourth-worst country surveyed for expat social life.

Do you agree with the results of the survey? Leave your comments below.

READ MORE: German universities slip in world rankings

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