Aside from the countries which occupy the top and bottom ranks of the Expat Insider survey, there are some destinations that – although they don’t come out on or remain at the bottom – still achieved remarkable results.
For this year, Norway, Portugal and Malaysia are the biggest winners in 2017 report. The report even cited that ‘It’s A Big Leap for Malaysia’ this year.
Curious to know why? Herewith are the details:
1. Malaysia climbs from 38th place in 2016 to 15th in 2017 for the overall report of The Top Expat Destinations 2017 list.
![Malaysia's Thaipusam Festival | Remote Lands](https://www.remotelands.com/travelogues/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Thaipusam.jpg)
2. Malaysia takes the biggest leap in the Ease of Settling in Index where it jumps 23 places. Climbing from 18th place in 2016 to 5th in 2017. In fact, 78% generally find it easy to settle down in Malaysia, compared to 69% in 2016.
![Source Image: The Daily Star](http://www.thedailystar.net/sites/default/files/styles/very_big_1/public/feature/images/malaysia-tourism-afp-wb.jpg?itok=99xXQs9A)
3. Seven in nine also agree it’s easy to get used to the local culture with 26% even agreeing completely compared to 12% in 2016.
![Malaysia's National Day celebrations | Source Image](http://darkroom-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/2016/08/Malaysia-59th-National-Day-08312016.jpg)
4. One in four expats finds it very easy to make new friends in Malaysia, while only 18% said the same in 2016.
![Source Image: IDEAS](http://www.ideas.org.my/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/img-malaysian.jpg)
For the ‘Ease of Settling In’ category, herewith is the full list where Malaysia is ranked Top 10, together with two nations in the region:
1. Bahrain
2. Mexico
3 Costa Rica
4. Portugal
5. MALAYSIA
6. Oman
7. PHILIPPINES
8. Uganda
9. CAMBODIA
10. New Zealand
Note: Factors that are counted into the country ranking for this country covers these variables; feeling welcome, friendliness, finding friends and language.