Top 10 most-polite countries: South Africa cracks global list

South Africa has officially cracked the top 10 in a new global ranking of the world’s politest countries. The international survey, published this week, highlights the enduring warmth of Mzansi’s people alongside promising national economic and employment recoveries.

According to a global survey, involving more than 4,600 participants, South Africa secured the 10th position for politeness. The country also ranked 15th on the friendliest countries list, cementing its long-standing reputation as the beloved “Rainbow Nation”.

Beyond politeness: South Africa on the mend

This recognition of social harmony aligns with a broader picture of national improvement. South Africa’s labour market recently showed a slight recovery, as the national unemployment rate dipped to 31.4% in the fourth quarter of 2025. Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) reported that 44,000 jobs were added nationally.

While provinces like the Eastern Cape and Gauteng continue to battle massive job losses, the Western Cape rallied by adding 93,000 positions, contributing to the country’s overall jobs recovery.

A fiscal turning point for Mzansi

The positive sentiment extends to the country’s financial outlook. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana recently noted that South Africa has reached a fiscal “turning point”. Following South Africa’s removal from the FATF greylist and its first credit rating upgrade in 16 years, skilled South African expats have an added incentive to return home.

These improvements, coupled with an affordable cost of living and polite strangers sharing the spirit of Ubuntu, make returning to South Africa an attractive prospect. In fact, South Africans rated their own politeness highly, scoring 9.33 out of 10 in the self-assessment index.

Global politeness and friendliness rankings

Here is a look at where South Africa stands globally on the politeness and friendliness lists: