A new global survey has placed South Africa among the top 10 most polite countries in the world, alongside nations such as Japan, Canada, and the United Kingdom, recognition that many South Africans say reflects the everyday spirit of Ubuntu woven into their culture.
The study, conducted by global financial services provider Remitly, surveyed more than 4,600 people across 26 countries to understand how politeness is perceived worldwide. Participants were asked to name the nations they believe are home to the most courteous people, based on their own experiences and interactions.
Japan claimed the top spot, earning over 35% of votes. South Africa secured its place with 1.82% of respondents recognising the country for its considerate and welcoming people, placing it 10th on the global list.
The research highlights that politeness extends beyond please and thank you. It encompasses patience when someone is struggling, offering a seat, holding a door, or simply acknowledging another person with a smile.
Ryan Riley, VP of Marketing at Remitly, noted the significance of everyday interactions for people relocating abroad: “Moving to a new country is made a lot easier by positive everyday interactions that signal whether someone feels welcome or not. Small acts of courtesy, whether that’s patience over a language barrier, or giving up a seat on public transport, can have a real impact on someone who is starting over thousands of miles from their home.”
South Africa’s eleven official languages, including English and Afrikaans, add to its accessibility, creating multiple ways to communicate and connect across communities. The country’s complex history has also fostered a resilient spirit of community that visitors consistently find both inspiring and welcoming.
Bigger Picture: Global perception rankings rarely capture the structural complexity of a country, but they do capture something real about daily lived experience. South Africa’s placement in the top 10 alongside countries like Japan and Canada is a signal to investors, tourists, and diaspora professionals that its human environment is an asset, not just its minerals or infrastructure. Ubuntu, the Nguni Bantu philosophy of collective humanity, is not a marketing slogan. It is a cultural framework that shapes how South Africans receive strangers, and in a world where talent and capital move toward welcoming environments, that matters commercially as well as socially.
Source: Remitly
