European countries feature prominently among the world’s most polite nations, but a new survey suggests their citizens are often far more critical of their own manners than outsiders are.
Research by Remitly, based on responses from nearly 5,000 people across 26 countries, compared how nations are perceived globally with how individuals rate their own behaviour. Participants were asked both to identify the most polite countries and to evaluate their personal conduct in everyday interactions.
The results show a clear trend: while Europe performs strongly in international rankings, self-assessments frequently tell a different story.
The United Kingdom stands out as Europe’s highest-ranked country and places third globally, behind Japan and Canada. Its reputation is linked to everyday social habits such as queuing, frequent use of polite expressions like “please” and “thank you”, and a culture of understated humour.
Yet British respondents placed themselves in the lower half of the rankings, reflecting a notably modest self-image.
Germany follows a similar pattern. It ranks fifth worldwide in external perceptions, with respondents highlighting punctuality, respect for personal space and consideration for others. However, Germans rated themselves much lower, placing 21st.
In contrast, France is viewed less favourably abroad than at home. While international respondents ranked it 19th, French participants placed their own country fifth.
Japan presents the most striking contrast. Although it tops the global rankings for politeness, its respondents ranked themselves 25th out of 26 countries, one of the lowest self-assessments recorded.
Overall, the survey found that differences in self-perception were minimal, with less than one point separating the highest and lowest scores. This suggests that while most people consider themselves polite, national reputations are shaped by behaviours that may be more visible and valued by others.
Politest Countries In The World (Global Perception)
Countries That See Themselves As Most Polite (Self-Assessment)
Source: Euronews - Remitly