Nigeria has emerged as the 7th friendliest country to strangers worldwide, according to the 2025 World Happiness Report released by the United Nations.
Gatekeepers News reports that the report, compiled in collaboration with Oxford University’s Wellbeing Research Centre and Gallup, highlights Nigeria’s strong prosocial behaviours despite facing challenges in overall happiness.
The report notes that while Nigerians exhibit high levels of kindness to strangers, the country’s overall happiness ranking stands at 105th out of 147 countries assessed. This disparity is attributed to factors such as poor life satisfaction and weak institutions.
Interestingly, the report reveals a trust gap in Nigeria, where citizens have more confidence in strangers than in public systems. This is evident in the rankings related to lost wallets:
– 33rd if found by a stranger
– 71st if found by a neighbour
– 126th if found by the police
According to the report, “Where institutional structures are weak, helping strangers likely becomes the most direct and effective form of benevolence.” This pattern is observed in several countries with fragile systems, including Jamaica, Liberia, and Kenya.
Nigeria also ranked 45th in charitable donations, further highlighting the country’s philanthropic spirit.
The report’s findings suggest that Nigerians prioritise kindness and helping others, even in the face of institutional challenges.
