Nigeria has been named the 7th friendliest country to strangers globally, according to the 2025 World Happiness Report released by the United Nations.
The report, prepared by Oxford University’s Wellbeing Research Centre in partnership with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, evaluated 147 countries based on indicators such as life satisfaction and prosocial behaviours like helping strangers, volunteering, and charitable giving.
Despite challenges in overall well-being, Nigeria stood out for its generosity and friendliness toward strangers.
However, the country ranked 105th in overall happiness, largely due to low life satisfaction and weak institutional trust.
The report highlighted a striking trust gap in Nigeria.
Survey results showed that Nigerians are significantly more likely to trust a stranger than a public official when it comes to returning a lost wallet:
33rd if found by a stranger
71st if found by a neighbour
126th if found by the police
This trend reflects a broader issue common to countries with fragile institutions, where acts of kindness among individuals often substitute for unreliable public systems.
“In societies with weak institutional frameworks, direct support from strangers may become the most reliable form of altruism,” the report noted.
Other countries showing similar trends include Jamaica, Liberia, Trinidad, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Venezuela, Ukraine, and Zambia.
Additionally, Nigeria placed 45th globally in charitable donations, reinforcing its reputation for individual generosity despite systemic challenges.