Friendliest And Now Funniest? We’ve Got the Banter And Heart

Sounds cluck | laugh | lol | funny | questions | national anthem | Tom Read Wilson

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A global humour study just placed South Africa in the top 20 funniest nations… and while we didn’t come first, we’ve got the punchlines to prove we belong there.

Global (21 June 2025) – South Africans might not always have the easiest time… but if there’s one thing we know how to do, it’s laugh. Laugh at ourselves. Laugh at the chaos. Laugh with each other. And now, according to a brand-new global study by Remitly, the rest of the world is starting to notice too.

Yep, South Africa has officially been ranked the 19th funniest nation in the world. And while we didn’t take the crown, we’re definitely proud to be on the list.

In fact, we’re convinced the rankings were rigged.

Just joking.

See… we’re funny.

The study was conducted by Remitly, the same digital financial services provider that named us the Friendliest Nation in the World in 2024. If the name rings a bell, it’s probably because of that very feel-good title… and let’s be honest, friendliest and funniest? That’s a pretty solid combination.

Remitly used a psychology-backed tool called the Humour Styles Questionnaire to assess how people across 31 countries use humour in everyday life, from light-hearted banter to self-deprecation, witty quips to emotionally intelligent jokes. Over 6,000 people participated globally, and South Africans held their own against some heavy hitters, landing ahead of the USA (29th), Brazil (24th) and Sweden (22nd).

And you may be thinking that 19th place isn’t a big thing. But we disagree. And just like when Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, prematurely celebrated our U20 Water Polo team, believing they had clinched the world title… only to find out they had actually placed 19th. We’re doing the same.

19 is the best placement we’ve ever had on the World’s Funniest Nations list.

So we will take it.

Also, coming 19th in the Water Polo (or more so, the Minister celebrating it with his full chest) turned it into comedy gold. Memes were made, TikToks were born, and an important national conversation about support for lesser-known sports was kick-started.

If that’s not classic South African resilience (with a dash of humour), we don’t know what is.

The most recent study (about where we place on the funniest nation list) found that we, as South Africans, display an emotionally intelligent humour. In fact, we scored the highest for “affiliative and self-enhancing humour, the two most positive humour styles in the Humour Styles study“. The kind that connects people, defuses awkwardness and builds community. It’s the kind of humour that shows up at a braai, in a WhatsApp group, or when a stranger helps you parallel park with dramatic hand signals and a knowing laugh.

Ryan Riley, VP of Marketing for EMEA and APAC at Remitly, said, “Humour is often the first bridge between people, especially when you’re navigating a new country or culture… Regardless of location, laughter is a universal language.”

The Czech Republic topped the list, scoring the highest overall, thanks to their dry wit and subtle sarcasm. Portugal and Ireland followed closely, with their warm, inclusive styles and emotional cleverness. The full top 30 can be found here.

While we didn’t crack the top 10, we know that South Africans have something special. We know how to find humour in hardship, how to laugh when the power goes out (again), and how to joke about potholes big enough to swallow small cars. Our humour isn’t just funny, it’s necessary.

And maybe, just maybe, that’s what makes it so brilliant.

So while the official rankings may have given us 19th place, anyone who’s ever been around a South African, or in the comments section on TikTok, knows that we’re actually hilarious. And no matter where we rank on paper, we’ll always be champions of laughing through the madness.