Forbes' 8 Friendliest Countries for 2012

Forbes has announced on January 6, 2012 the World's Friendliest Countries. The list was based on HSBC's Expats Explorer survey of 3385 expatriates living in 100 countries between May - July 2011. Less than 30 respondents in a particular country were not calculated because of  statistical insignificant.

The selected countries are based on the following:
1. ability to befriend locals
2. success in learning the local  language
3. capacity for integrating themselves into the community
4. ease in which they fit into the new community

The top 8 friendliest countries and their rank last year ( ) are:

1. New Zealand ( nil)

2. Australia (5)

3. South Africa (3)

4. Canada (1)

5. US (4)

6. Turkey (nil)

7. UK (8)

8. Philippine (nil)

Please be informed that the above list is only based on HSBC's survey. It did not take into account tourists who stayed for a short period of time in the countries of the world.

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For those who wish to know no. 9 and 10, here they are:

9. Spain (6)

10. Malaysia (9)