Uganda voted most attractive country in Africa

Uganda tops African countries with the most attractive environment where people would want to move, live and work, a survey has revealed.

Worldwide, Uganda came 25th in the survey conducted on more than 14,000 respondents representing 174 nationalities and 191 countries or territories that took part and had their say on moving, living and working abroad.

Vietnam, Uganda, and Finland are the biggest winners this year while the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, and Hong Kong see the largest losses in the overall ranking.

"Uganda has gained 20 places in 2016, boosting it into the top half of the overall ranking. It comes in 25th out of 67 countries this year.  

From 2014 to 2015, it rose a more moderate six positions. In 2016, it has improved the most in the Working Abroad (53rd to 34th place), Personal Finance (40th to 24th), and Ease of Settling In Indices (10th to 3rd)," the survey states.

 
For a country to be featured in the indices and consequently in the overall ranking, a sample size of at least 50 survey participants per country was necessary. The only exception to this is the Family Life Index, where a sample size of more than 30 respondents raising children abroad was required.

The overall ranking was based on how people were satisfied with life abroad in general based on parameters of; "quality of life, ease of settling in, personal finance, working abroad and family life where applicable."

In 2016, 67 and 45 countries respectively met these requirements. The online survey ran from February 18 through March 13, 2016, and was promoted through the InterNations website.

According to the survey, expatriates in Uganda are much more satisfied with their working hours and work-life balance. One of the expats was quoted as saying, "I love the lifestyle and the flexibility in the working hours in Uganda! The culture and people are great as well."

In the previous year, only 57% were overall content with their working hours, but this has risen up to 68% in 2016.  Over seven in 10 expatriates (71%) are generally pleased with their work-life balance, and 18% couldn't be happier. In 2015, these percentages were 59% and 12%, respectively.

Uganda was also ranked number three among the top 20 countries in the world where one can easily settle in with very friendly people. Uganda emerged number four among the top 10 countries in the world with the best climate and weather. On quality of medical care, however, Uganda was ranked number seven among the bottom 10.

 
The world ranking puts Uganda ahead of erstwhile global leaders, Switzerland, US and UK in the 67-country Expat Insider survey dubbed, "The World Through Expat Eyes", which was published on Monday (August 29).

The US came 26th (down from fifth in 2014) and Britain 33rd (down from 21st in 2014), although the survey was carried out before Britain decided to leave the European Union in June. That vote has led to increased political instability and concerns about job security.

Switzerland, which is safe and has a high quality of life with excellent schools, has fallen from fourth place in 2014 to 14th in 2015 to 31st this year because it is overpriced and unfriendly, according to the survey.  

Austria was in eighth place as the highest-ranked European country, ahead of Germany (17th) and France (41st). Italy, suffering from a struggling economy, low job security and political instability, came 59th, among the bottom 10.