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HSBC Survey | 17
HSBC Bank International
Ensuring
Expat Explorer SurvO
e
ffshoreOffspringmethodology ey 08
The Expat Explorer survey was conducted by independent research companies – data capturing was undertaken by
Virtual Surveys between the months of February – April 2008, with data analysis conducted by Freshminds. The
whole survey looked at a wide range of topics relevant to expats’ lives including lifestyle elements such as living
Report Two: Offshore Offspring
standards and an expat’s ability to earn and save; to issues affecting expat offspring such as cost to raise and study
e
time; to integration.
For Offshore Offspring, each country was measured on the cost of raising a family, how much time they spent
outdoors, children’s study time, additional languages learnt and how long parents believe their children will stay in
the country after they have grown up. The final ranking in the data table is based on the average score generated
using the criteria below:
The Expat Explorer survey BestCountry RankingCriteria What determinesa goodscorefora country?
The HSBC Bank International Expat Explorer survey is the largest ever
Offshore 1. Outdoor time An increase in time spent outdoors – ranked on percentage
independent survey of expats, questionin 2,155 expatriates across four con-
Offspring that answered “spend more time”
tinents. The results of the survey, which have been divided into three parts 2. Study time An increase in time spent studying – ranked on percentage
(Expat Experience; Offshore Offspring and Integration), reveal a fascinating
that answered “spend more time”
insight into how expat life differs across the globe.
3. Cost to raise A lower cost (includes education and other costs) – ranked on
the net difference between those who responded “increase”
and those who responded “decrease”
Offshore Offspring 4. Languages Where children speak more than two languages – ranked on
The Offshore Offspring report focuses on the challenges experienced by
total percentage that answered “2/3” or “4/5” or “6+
languages”
families raising
5. Remain in country Parents’ belief that their children will stay after they have
children while living and working abroad. Expat parents were asked to rate
grown up – ranked on percentage who responded positively
the
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ir host country in five areas:
to children remaining in resident country
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Time their children spent outdoors
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Time their children spent studying
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Cost of raising children
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Number of languages spoken by their children
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Sample size of 2,155 living in over 48 countries
tional languages learnt and how long parents believe their children will
Whether their children would remain in the country
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Only countries with more than 30 responses were included in overall table (14 in total) to be statistically significant.
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. The final ranking in the
data table is based on the average score generated using the criteria
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Key Findings
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From the 2,155 expatriates surveyed, 870 had children.
veralThe
abo
leaguel
v
results
e:
tableforsumOffshormarisese aOffsprseriesingof questions and as a result, in some countries the number of respondents
with children falls under 30 when answering specific questions. However, the number of overall responses from
The cost of raising children abroad
Countr
each country
y (base)
in the league
Outdoor
table remains
Study
statistically significant.
Cost Languages Remainin Overall
time time toraise spoken country
Expats revealed that Spain, India and China are the cheapest countries in
Spain 2 4 1 1 5 1
which to raise children, with finance capitals the most expensive – the UK
France 3 2 5 3 4 2
was the most expensive country, followed by the UAE and Hong Kong.
Travel abroad for more active children
Germany 6 6 1 3 3 3
Generally, expats experience a more active lifestyle away from home and
Canada 4 7 7 14 1 4
this is reflected in the experiences of their children. Almost half of expats
Singapore 5 3 4 7 145
reported that their children spent more time outdoors in their adopted US 8951026
countries. Australia leads the table, where over three-quarters (80%) of par-
Australia 1 7 9 13 5 7
ents reported that their children spent more time outdoors, followed by
India 14 1 2 1288
Spain (59%) and France (57%).
China 11 10 3 6 8 9
The cultural advantage
A third of parents overall said that their children studied more since relo-
Belgium 13 12 8 2 1110
cating and over half (56%) revealed that it remained about the same. Only
HongKong 11 5 12 8 12 11
10% of expats overall reported a decrease in study time. Expat children also
Netherlands 9 13 10 5 10 12
speak more languages – those living in European countries learn the great- UK 9 11 14 10 7 13
est number of languages, with almost all (94%) of those in Spain speaking UAE 7 14 13 9 12 14
two or more languages.
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Offshor
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e Offspring methodology circle6
NB:
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The country with the lowest score is deemed the best for
each criterion. These scores are then translated into a ranking, with 1 being the best and 14 the lowest.
The Expat Explorer survey was conducted by independent research com- circle6
Sample size of 2,155 living in over 48 countries
Only countries with more than 30 responses were included in overall
panies – data capturing was undertaken by Virtual Surveys between the
months of February – April 2008, with data analysis conducted by circle6
table (14 in total) to be statistically significant.
Freshminds. The whole survey looked at a wide range of topics relevant circle6
Individual country data has also been used to indicate interesting trends.
to expats’ lives including lifestyle elements such as living standards and an circle6
From the 2,155 expatriates surveyed, 870 had children.
The league table summarises a series of questions and as a result, in some
expat’s ability to earn and save; to issues affecting expat offspring such as countries the number of respondents with children falls under 30 when
circle6
cost to raise and study time; to integration. answering specific questions. However, the number of overall responses
For Offshore Offspring, each country was measured on the cost of raising from each country in the league table remains statistically significant.
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