South Africa Crowned Friendliest Nation, But Critics Highlight Grim Realities
South Africa has been named the friendliest country in the world, but the announcement has sparked mixed reactions among its citizens.
The title comes from a study conducted by money transfer service Remitly, which used the Big 5 Personality Test to rank nations based on their levels of agreeableness.
According to the study, South Africa scored an impressive 34.63 out of 40, placing it at the top of the global rankings. Greece followed closely with a score of 33.71, while the United Kingdom ranked 18th.
Interestingly, despite its lower ranking, the UK is still perceived as the second-friendliest country by people from other nations.
The Big 5 Personality Test, which evaluates traits like openness, conscientiousness, agreeableness, extraversion and neuroticism, was used to measure friendliness.
Remitly focused specifically on the agreeableness trait, asking participants how much they care about others, whether they take time for people, and if they enjoy making others feel at ease.
High scorers were described as warm, generous and optimistic—qualities that make them ideal hosts for newcomers.
However, not all South Africans are convinced by the results.
Many have taken to social media to express skepticism, pointing to issues like crime, inequality, xenophobia and unemployment as evidence that the country’s friendliness may not reflect reality.
One Twitter user remarked, “Only in South Africa can you get hijacked, robbed, and scammed—but they’ll still tell you, ‘Sorry my broer, it’s just business,’ with a big smile.”
Another added, “We have problems of racism, xenophobia, and crime. Foreigners are not safe here.”
According to iHarare, the study has reignited debates about South Africa’s social challenges, with critics arguing that the country’s friendliness is often overshadowed by its systemic issues.
Some have even suggested that the ranking reflects a superficial interpretation of friendliness, rather than a deeper analysis of societal harmony.
