Top 10 World’s Friendliest Countries

Once, an American visited Japan and he was excited about exploring a new culture. On the first day, he got lost while looking for a small temple. He asked a local woman for directions, and to his surprise, instead of explaining, she accompanied him all the way and chatted enthusiastically.

Later, at a family-run hotel, the American tourist accidentally left his coat behind. The owner hurriedly returned the thing and bowed when handing it back. In Japan, this culture is often called omotenashi, which translates to “Japanese hospitality.”

Many countries are very welcoming to tourists and the people who live there, often going out of their way to make them feel at home.

Another example comes from India, where guests are treated as gods and hosts will go to great lengths to ensure their comfort and satisfaction (अतिथिदेवोभव).

In this article, we will reveal the 10 friendliest countries in the world that welcome tourists with open arms and genuine warmth. Additionally, these countries are also ideal for those who may want to move there to find a new job or study.

These countries prioritize creating a positive and inclusive environment for visitors and residents alike, allowing them to feel part of the community.

List of the friendliest countries in the world

Here is a list of the 10 friendliest countries in the world for tourists and residents, known for their hospitality and welcoming culture.

The data comes from Remitly, which ranked them based on the Big 5 personality test. Here, they asked more than 3,000 participants from around the world to answer a series of questions on the “agreeableness” portion of the Big 5 personality test.

So, now you may be wondering, what is this big personality test? The Big Five personality test looks at five main traits: openness, conscientiousness, agreeableness, extraversion and neuroticism.

Remitri’s research focuses on agreeableness, which measures the extent to which a person cares about others, helps them feel comfortable and is willing to cooperate. The following list includes:

rank

nation

mainland

Average “friendliness” score

1

South Africa

Africa

34.63

2

Greece

Europe

33.71

3

Croatia

Europe

33.50

4

Mexico

North America

33.47

5

Sweden

Europe

33.30

6

Australia

Oceania

33.13

7

Canada

North America

32.84

8

Germany

Europe

32.66

9

Estonia

Europe

32.58

10

Belgium

Europe

32.50

11

Spain

Europe

32.41

12

Czech Republic

Europe

32.36

13

Italy

Europe

32.34

14

Japan

Asia

32.33

15

USA

North America

32.31

16

Netherlands

Europe

32.27

No. 17

Portugal

Europe

32.25

18

U.K.

Europe

32.21

19

Poland

Europe

31.99

20

Switzerland

Europe

31.89

twenty one

Austria

Europe

31.83

twenty two

France

Europe

31.71

twenty three

Ireland

Europe

31.54

twenty four

Hungary

Europe

31.43

25

Finland

Europe

31.38

Source: Remitly

Information: The maximum score is 40 points

in conclusion

As part of the study, participants were asked which countries they considered the friendliest. Interestingly, more than half (57%) of respondents selected their country as the friendliest.

South Africa was rated the friendliest country in the study and stood out for particularly patriotic responses, with an impressive 97% of South Africans believing their country to be the friendliest in the world.

While some countries may seem friendlier than others, it’s important to realize that building friendships, no matter where one moves, requires contact with local communities, culture, and customs.

In addition, the above data may fluctuate due to various factors including current events, political climate and economic conditions. Ultimately, perceptions of a country’s friendliness are subjective and vary from person to person.