Nigeria Ranks 7th Globally For Helping Strangers In UN World Happiness Report 2025.
Nigeria has earned international acclaim for its generosity, securing the 7th spot globally for helping strangers, according to the UN World Happiness Report 2025. The report, published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford in partnership with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, highlights Nigeria’s remarkable culture of kindness, despite challenges in other areas of benevolence.
The 2025 report, themed “Caring and Sharing,” draws on data from the Gallup World Poll (2022–2024) and the World Risk Poll (2019), evaluating six key indicators of benevolence, including charitable donations, volunteering, and acts of kindness towards strangers. Nigeria’s high ranking in helping strangers underscores the country’s strong community-driven ethos, where informal acts of generosity thrive in the absence of robust institutional social safety nets. “The relative frequency of benevolent acts depends on local social and religious norms,” the report notes, suggesting that Nigeria’s communal values foster direct support for those in need.
While Nigeria excels in assisting strangers, placing it among the top 10 globally alongside countries like Jamaica, Liberia, and Kenya, the report indicates lower performance in charitable donations and societal trust, particularly in the return of lost wallets. This contrast reflects a preference for personal, immediate acts of kindness over formal giving, a trend also observed in other African nations like Sierra Leone. The report suggests that in countries with weaker institutional frameworks, helping strangers is often a more effective way to support others compared to donating to charities, which may lack credibility or efficiency.
The findings have sparked pride across Nigeria, with social media platforms like X buzzing with celebration. Posts describe the ranking as a testament to the nation’s “heart of gold” and its tradition of communal support. “This is who we are as Nigerians – always ready to lend a hand,” said Aisha Bello, a Lagos-based entrepreneur.
John F. Helliwell, a founding editor of the report, emphasised the link between kindness and wellbeing, noting that societies where people believe others care—such as through returning lost wallets—tend to report higher happiness levels. Nigeria’s ranking in helping strangers aligns with this, reflecting a culture of trust and empathy at the grassroots level, even if institutional trust remains low.
The World Happiness Report also revealed broader global trends, with Finland retaining its title as the happiest country for the eighth consecutive year, scoring 7.736 on the Life Evaluation Index. Nigeria, however, ranked in the lower half overall, at 118th globally, due to challenges like low GDP per capita, limited social safety nets, and perceptions of corruption. Despite this, its standout performance in helping strangers offers a beacon of hope and a reminder of the power of individual kindness.
Experts see Nigeria’s ranking as an opportunity to build on its strengths. “This recognition should inspire policies that harness our communal spirit while addressing gaps in institutional trust and formal giving,” said Dr. Chidi Okonkwo, a sociologist at the University of Ibadan.
The report’s findings also suggest that promoting awareness of others’ benevolence could boost national wellbeing, as people tend to underestimate the kindness around them.
As Nigeria continues to navigate economic and social challenges, its global recognition for helping strangers shines a light on the resilience and compassion that define its people.
