Best Countries for Americans by Friendliness (2026)

Frequently asked questions

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  What does "Friendliness" measure in the 2026 Expat Almanac?

  Friendliness blends two things: how easily English gets you through daily life, and how established the American expat community is in the country's main cities. Both matter. A country with excellent English but no American community can feel isolating; a country with a rich American community but no English gets frustrating quickly. The score rewards countries that offer both.

• Which are the friendliest countries for American expats?

  Malta, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Panama score at the top of the Friendliness column. Malta and Ireland offer native-English administration inside the EU. Portugal has become one of the largest American expat destinations of the past decade. Panama's Boquete and David have been mainstream American retirement communities for 30 years.

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  Where can Americans live abroad without learning the language?

  In the top-Friendliness destinations, you can. Malta, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand are English-native. Portugal, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, and Singapore run in English for practically every daily task. Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico's American-heavy expat towns (San Miguel, Ajijic, Puerto Vallarta), and Belize are viable without much Spanish. Country pages walk through the specific towns where English works and where Spanish becomes necessary.

• How large are American communities in Europe?

  Portugal has an estimated 15,000+ American residents (up from under 3,000 a decade ago). Spain has about 40,000 (concentrated in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia). France has about 100,000 (heavily in Paris and Provence). Italy has about 25,000. Ireland and Malta have smaller but growing populations. Germany hosts around 100,000 mostly linked to military and corporate work. These numbers are directional; official statistics lag reality by two to three years.

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  Which Asian countries are friendliest for Americans?

  Singapore is the top scorer: English-native administration, established American community, and low friction across daily life. Malaysia (via MM2H), Japan (established expat neighborhoods in Tokyo and Yokohama), South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand all offer viable landing spots. Southeast Asia's American population is heavily concentrated in specific cities rather than distributed nationally.

• Where is friendliness low and what should you do about it?

  Countries where English is not widely spoken and no American community has established (much of Central Asia, parts of West Africa, some Eastern European destinations) score 2 or below. Moving there is entirely possible; you just need to arrive with either language study or a longer settling-in runway. The main Expat Almanac's country pages walk through the specific challenges for each destination.