African Nation Crowned World’s Most Generous Country Amid Festive Spirit

South Africa has been ranked the world’s most generous nation in a new global study that measured everyday kindness and empathy rather than financial donations. The research, conducted by digital financial services provider Remitly, placed the Philippines second and the United States third.

The study used the Interpersonal Generosity Scale, a psychological tool, to assess generosity as a broad behaviour. It surveyed over 4,500 people across 25 countries on traits like empathy, emotional support, patience, and a willingness to put others first. South Africa emerged top with an average score of 51.57 out of 60.

“Generosity is often seen purely through a financial lens, but our study shows it’s much more than that,” said Ryan Riley, Remitly’s Vice President of Marketing for EMEA and APAC. “The countries that rank highest are those where people consistently show up for others with kindness, empathy and everyday acts of support.”

The Top 10 Most Generous Nations

The study’s ranking, released as the festive season approaches, is as follows:

South Africa (51.57)

Philippines (50.2)

United States (49.23)

Ireland (48.4)

Canada (48.03)

Portugal (47.75)

Greece (47.62)

United Kingdom (47.53)

Australia (47.43)

Mexico (47.29)

Cultural Drivers of Generosity

Researchers noted that high-scoring nations often have strong cultural concepts underpinning community support. South Africa’s result aligns with the philosophy of Ubuntu, which emphasises communal humanity and connection. The Philippines’ second-place position is linked to pakikipagkapwa, a core value highlighting empathy, shared identity, and mutual help.

The United States ranked highly for active community engagement, such as volunteering and fundraising. Several European nations, including Ireland, Portugal, and Greece, also featured in the top ten, recognised for their cultures of hospitality and care.

The full study tested participants from 25 countries, with Japan, Poland, and Brazil ranking at the bottom of this particular list. The research was based on a validated scale developed by academics Christian Smith and Jonathan P. Hill.