The Danes are reserved people

Expats have a hard time settling in Denmark

In Denmark, we often draw attention to our ability to balance work and family life. We are simply one of the best places to work in the world with good salaries, a solid social safety net and flat hierarchy.

However, if you ask expats in Denmark, foreigners who live and work here, we are not a particularly attractive country, and the reason is the Danes themselves.

InterNations, an expat network, made a survey on life abroad and got more than 20,000 expats to rank the country they now live in on several parameters. This study indicates that Denmark is the country in which it is most difficult to make new friends.

Nevertheless, the reserved Danes are just one of the reasons why Denmark is the worst ranked Nordic country on the list.

Out of a total of 68 countries, Denmark is ranked as the 48th best country to be an expat. Finland is number 19, Norway is 35 and Sweden is 44.

The high ranking destinations for expats include Taiwan, Vietnam and Portugal. On the other end of the spectrum, Kuwait, Italy and Nigeria are placed at the bottom of the barrel.

Perhaps you recognise some of the challenges outlined in the Expat Insider. In IDA we strive to support and include our international members, and encourage you to join one of our many networks where you can improve your competences as well as meet others working in your field of interest.

IDA also has 3,000 events a year, about 500 of them are conducted in English. As an expat, you may want to consider joining some of the many social events, even if they are announced in Danish. The social events are a great opportunity to practice your Danish in an informal setting and to meet locals while enjoying yourself and some of that special Danish “hygge".