A recent study highlights South Africa as the friendliest country in the world. The research, conducted by Remitly, found that South Africans are notably warm and welcoming, making it easy for travelers and visitors to feel comfortable around them.

The study, based in Seattle, awarded South Africa a score of 34.63 out of 40 on the “agreeableness” aspect of the Big Five Personality Test, which measures key personality traits such as openness, conscientiousness, agreeableness, extraversion, and neuroticism. The UK, while ranked 18th for friendliness, is seen as the second friendliest by people from other countries.

The Big Five model assesses traits like friendliness, generosity, helpfulness, and the ability to compromise. Higher scores indicate greater friendliness and willingness to engage positively with others.

South Africa, located at the southern tip of Africa between two oceans, is not only known for its friendly people but also for its appealing lifestyle. The country offers a relatively affordable cost of living, where the South African rand has significant purchasing power, allowing for a comfortable standard of living with lower housing and daily expenses.