Singapore remains No. 1 liveable city in the world for Asian expats for 10th year in a row

The city state of Singapore has taken the No. 1 spot in the newest rankings for “Top 20 most liveable places globally for East Asian abroad employees”. The rankings are compiled yearly by ECA International, which gives international mobility options to companies.

Releasing its 2023 Location Ratings Report in mid-January 2024, ECA International stated in a media launch: “Singapore remains the most liveable city for Asian expatriates, with low crime charges amongst the sights.”

Elaborating on this, Mark Harrison, General Manager for Asia at ECA, stated: “With glorious infrastructure and amenities, low crime charges and little publicity to socio-political tensions, Singapore remains a very enticing location for expatriates. However, different places in the area have improved, and [as a result] the hole between Singapore and different places has fallen.”

Some of the different salient options of the 2023 rankings, in accordance with ECA International, are:

• Removal of pandemic restrictions sees liveability of Hong Kong and mainland China enhance over previous 12 months.
• Steady enhancements over the previous decade additionally see mainland Chinese cities change into extra liveable in comparison with 10 years in the past.
• Hong Kong’s general rating falls in the previous 5 years, nevertheless it remains in the Top 10 most liveable Asian cities.
• Parts of South-East Asia stand up the rankings, due to regular enhancements over the previous decade.

Explaining how the cities are ranked, the media launch stated: “ECA’s Location Ratings objectively consider cities round the world to kind an evaluation of the general high quality of residing for expats in over 500 places throughout the globe.

“The rating is predicated on a number of liveability components, together with availability of well being companies; housing and utilities; isolation; entry to a social community and leisure and leisure amenities; infrastructure; local weather; private security; socio-political tensions; and air high quality. The impression of a few of the components assessed will differ in accordance with the house location of the assignee.”

South-East Asian cities climb up

Harrison stated: “We have seen plenty of small however important enhancements in areas reminiscent of transport infrastructure, well being companies, and leisure amenities in a number of places all through South-East Asia, main to those places changing into extra enticing.”

This sample of incremental enchancment has seen the likes of Jakarta (213th to 196th), Phnom Penh (2 hundredth to 184th) and Hanoi (one hundred and sixtieth to 144th) climb the rankings.

Mainland China and Hong Kong

Mainland Chinese cities have climbed considerably in the rankings in the previous 10 years, regardless of dropping a few of their momentum throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Some facets of life proceed to be difficult for expatriates, reminiscent of excessive ranges of air pollution, censorship, and suboptimal healthcare amenities.

However, enhancements in areas reminiscent of transport infrastructure and worldwide education provision are the cause cities like Shenzhen (137th this year in comparison with 152nd a decade in the past), Xi’an (163rd this year in comparison with 176th), and Wuhan (up from one hundred and sixtieth to 145th) have improved in the rankings.

Hong Kong has improved its liveability since 2022 as a result of the elimination of the closing COVID-related restrictions. “Hong Kong and mainland China had been amongst the final locations globally to elevate restrictions, that means they had been comparatively tougher places to reside in throughout the closing phases of the pandemic,” stated Harrison. “With these restrictions belatedly lifted, each Hong Kong and mainland Chinese places have seen enhancements over the final 12 months.”

The 2023 Location Ratings by ECA International characterize the scenario in November 2023, with all scoring correct at the time of publication. The rankings are in contrast with these from 2013.