Malta is (almost) the best place in the world for foreigners

Update 11.15am

Malta has been ranked as the second-best place in the world for foreigners to live by an industry survey of more than 14,000 respondents. 

And while Taiwan was considered the better overall bet, the survey found that nowhere topped Malta when it comes to love. Seventy per cent of expats in Malta are in a relationship, 64 per cent are delighted with their partner, and 44 per cent live here with a partner who is from a third country - double the global average. 

The Expat Insider 2016 survey asked respondents to rate 43 different aspects of life abroad on a scale of one to seven, with topics ranging from the friendliness of locals to taxation and provision of services. 

Malta ranked well in all quality of life sub-categories, topping the list for leisure options and coming a close second to Costa Rica when foreigners were asked to rate their personal happiness. 

Expats also rated Malta very well when asked how easy it was to settle down and make new friends.

Ratings were less flattering when foreigners were asked to rate their work experiences. It seems foreigners working here are not as pleased with their work-life balance as they were a year ago, with a smaller...