Nigeria has been named the 7th most friendly country to strangers in the world, according to the 2025 World Happiness Report released by the University of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre in partnership with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
The report, which assessed 147 countries, highlighted how Nigerians consistently show acts of kindness to strangers through volunteering, helping others, and spontaneous generosity. This ranking places Nigeria among countries like Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, which also performed well in friendliness despite institutional weaknesses.
However, while Nigeria ranked high in prosocial behaviours, it placed a low 105th in overall happiness—reflecting poor life satisfaction, lack of trust in institutions, and economic challenges.
The report revealed a sharp contrast in how Nigerians perceive help depending on who finds a lost wallet:
-33rd if found by a stranger
-71st if found by a neighbour
-126th if found by the police
This, the report said, shows deep mistrust in public institutions, especially law enforcement.
“In places where institutions are weak, direct kindness becomes the most trusted form of support,” the report explained.
Nigeria also ranked 45th globally in charitable donations, further supporting the pattern of citizens preferring person-to-person support over official channels.
Despite economic and systemic issues, Nigerians continue to show warmth and solidarity, especially in their interactions with strangers. However, experts warn that without stronger institutions and improved public trust, true happiness and national wellbeing will remain elusive.
