The 15 Friendliest Countries in the World

Last updated: 2026-08-21 · Rankings update in real time as votes come in.

• 1. Indonesia – two-time reigning champ of local warmth, per InterNations.
• 2. Colombia – strangers-to-friends culture that expats rave about.
• 3. Mexico – friendly streets, plus a top-10 happiness score.
• 4. Philippines – hospitality baked into daily life.
• 5. Ireland – the pub-conversation capital of Europe.

Our Methodology

We rank these 15 countries by blending live community votes on thebestcountry.net, our primary and most current signal, with three widely recognized public benchmarks: the InterNations Expat Insider 2025 local friendliness index, the World Happiness Report 2025, and the Global Peace Index. Voters on our platform weigh in daily on how welcoming a country actually felt to them, so the order you see below shifts as new votes land. Where community sentiment and survey data agree, we bump a country up. Where they diverge, we note it in the description.

This isn’t a lab experiment. It’s a running tally of real opinions layered on top of established research, updated continuously rather than once a year.

The 15 Friendliest Countries, Ranked

1. Indonesia

Indonesia has taken the top spot in InterNations’ local friendliness index for the second year in a row, and our community votes back it up. Locals are described as warm by default, not just polite to tourists. See where Indonesia ranks right now.

2. Colombia

Colombia sits at #2 on the same InterNations index, with expats noting they built real friendships fast, even without fluent Spanish. Check Colombia’s live score.

3. Mexico

Mexico ranks third for local friendliness and also lands in the World Happiness Report’s global top 10 for 2025. It’s a rare double win: happy locals and a genuinely welcoming vibe toward outsiders. See Mexico’s ranking.

4. Philippines

The Philippines rounds out InterNations’ top 5, and hospitality here shows up everywhere, from sari-sari store chats to instant invitations to family meals.

5. Ireland

Ireland doesn’t top the survey charts but consistently wins in reputation and community votes for sheer conversational openness. Strike up a chat at a pub and you’ll have a new friend before your pint’s empty. Vote on Ireland’s ranking.

6. Portugal

Portugal blends laid-back locals with strong Global Peace Index scores, making it a repeat favorite among long-term expats and short-term travelers alike. See Portugal’s current standing.

7. Thailand

Thailand lands at #8 in InterNations’ friendliness index, and the “Land of Smiles” nickname isn’t just marketing copy, our voters cite genuine warmth in everyday interactions.

8. New Zealand

New Zealand keeps showing up near the top of Global Peace Index rankings, and that low-conflict, high-trust environment translates into locals who are relaxed and quick to chat. Check New Zealand’s live votes.

9. Costa Rica

Costa Rica cracked the World Happiness Report’s top 6 in 2025, and “pura vida” isn’t just a slogan, it’s a genuine social attitude locals extend to visitors.

10. Vietnam

Vietnam sits in InterNations’ top 10 for local friendliness, with community votes highlighting curious, welcoming locals especially outside the biggest tourist hubs.

11. Fiji

Fiji’s reputation for warmth is practically a national brand. Community votes consistently rate it among the friendliest island nations on the planet.

12. Greece

Greece’s philoxenia, literally “friend to the stranger”, is a cultural cornerstone, and our voters flag genuine hospitality far beyond the tourist islands. See Greece’s ranking.

13. Canada

Canada’s friendliness reputation is practically a meme at this point, but the data holds up too, with strong Global Peace Index scores and consistently high community votes.

14. Panama

Panama ranked #1 overall in InterNations Expat Insider 2025 in the overall index, and friendliness is a big part of that win. Vote on Panama now.

15. Italy

Italy rounds out our list on the strength of community votes praising loud, generous hospitality, especially in smaller towns where a shared meal turns strangers into family. See where Italy sits today.

Want to weigh in yourself? See the live ranking and have your say.

Key Insights

Latin America and Southeast Asia dominate the InterNations friendliness data, while Nordic countries dominate happiness scores instead. That split matters: a country can be “happy” without necessarily being “friendly” to outsiders, and vice versa. Finland tops global happiness for an eighth consecutive year with a score of 7.736, yet it rarely tops friendliness surveys the way Indonesia or Colombia do.

Peace and stability also correlate loosely with friendliness. Countries with high Global Peace Index rankings, like New Zealand and Canada, tend to produce relaxed, low-friction social environments where strangers feel safe striking up conversation.

Our community votes add a layer surveys miss: recency. Annual reports like InterNations’ capture a snapshot from months of prior survey collection, while thebestcountry.net’s live rankings shift week to week as travelers and expats share fresh impressions.

💡 Key finding: Indonesia has now held the #1 local friendliness spot for two consecutive years in the InterNations Expat Insider survey, a rare repeat win in a ranking that usually reshuffles year to year.

Curious how a specific region stacks up? Browse Asia’s live rankings or check out Europe’s friendliness votes for a regional breakdown.

FAQ

What is the friendliest country in the world right now?

According to InterNations Expat Insider 2025 and our own community votes, Indonesia currently holds the top spot for local friendliness, followed closely by Colombia and Mexico.

Is Ireland really one of the friendliest countries?

Yes, by reputation and community consensus. Ireland doesn’t always top formal expat surveys, but travelers consistently rank it high for casual, easy conversation with strangers.

How is “friendliest” different from “happiest”?

Friendliness measures how welcoming locals are toward outsiders and strangers. Happiness, as measured by the World Happiness Report, tracks residents’ own life satisfaction. Finland is the happiest country but rarely tops friendliness rankings.

Do these rankings change often?

Yes. Annual surveys like InterNations’ update once a year, but thebestcountry.net’s community votes update continuously, so the order here can shift week to week.

Where can I vote on the friendliest countries myself?

Head to our live rankings hub to cast your vote, or check out the blog for more country breakdowns.