World’s funniest countries, revealed – and it’s bad news for Brits,
As a nation we’re known for our sarcasm and self-deprecating humour.
And some of our favourite comedians, including Ricky Gervais and Richard Ayoade, fully embrace this trait.
But when it comes to being funny, the UK lags behind other countries, according to a new study.
A survey of 6,000 people across 30 countries found the Czech Republic tops the list as the funniest in the world, followed by Portugal and Ireland.
The UK placed 18th – under Australia, France and on par with Canada.
However, in good news, Brits ranked funnier than Germans and Americans, who placed 27th and 29th respectively.
Ryan Riley from Remitly, who carried out the study, said: ‘The data especially highlighted the dry wit of the Czech Republic, the warm, socially intelligent humour of Portugal and the storytelling charm of Ireland.
‘Regardless of location, laughter is a universal language. For anyone living or working internationally, understanding these differences can be a quick shortcut to feeling at home.’
The research involved asking participants to complete a psychological tool called the Humour Styles Questionnaire.
This test analyses how funny people may be in the real world and how they use different types of humour.
Statements they could agree or disagree with included ‘Sometimes I think of something that is so funny that I can’t stop myself from saying it, even if it is not appropriate for the situation’.
Others like ‘If someone makes a mistake I will tease them about it’ and ‘I don’t have to work very hard at making other people laugh – I seem to be a naturally humorous person’ were also included.
The higher they scored on the test, the funnier they could be seen as by others, according to the research.
Scientists calculated the average score of people in each country to provide a ‘humour score’ for each nation. The highest score any nation could achieve throughout the study is 112.
The Czech Republic, who claimed the top spot, stood out for their self-defeating humour, razor-sharp irony and well-timed sarcasm, the study showed.
Their comedic style is ‘subtle, clever and can catch you off guard’.
| Rank | Country | Average ‘humour’ score (out of 112) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Czech Republic | 72.3 |
| 2 | Portugal | 71.4 |
| 3 | Ireland | 71.2 |
| 4 | Belgium | 71.1 |
| 5 | Chile | 71.1 |
| 6 | Greece | 71.1 |
| 7 | Australia | 71 |
| 8 | Poland | 70.8 |
| 9 | Denmark | 70.6 |
| 10 | Hungary | 70.5 |
| 11 | Switzerland | 70.3 |
| 12 | Netherlands | 70.1 |
| 13 | France | 70.1 |
| 14 | Mexico | 70 |
| 15 | Austria | 69.8 |
| 16 | Estonia | 69.5 |
| 17 | Canada | 69.5 |
| 18 | UK | 69.5 |
| 19 | South Africa | 69.3 |
| 20 | Norway | 69.1 |
| 21 | Finland | 69 |
| 22 | Sweden | 68.8 |
| 23 | Spain | 68.6 |
| 24 | Brazil | 68.6 |
| 25 | New Zealand | 68.4 |
| 26 | Japan | 68.2 |
| 27 | Germany | 68.2 |
| 28 | Italy | 67.9 |
| 29 | USA | 67.8 |
| 30 | Philippines | 67 |
Portugal, which ranked second, has a national sense of humour that blends warmth and quick wit. The Portuguese are ‘equally adept at charming, teasing or defusing tension when the moment calls for it’, the researchers found.
Ireland, meanwhile, took third place, with high scores in affiliative and self-enhancing humour. This reflects the nation’s reputation for storytelling, friendliness and emotional intelligence, the study said.
Belgium claims joint fourth place with a dry, balanced sense of humour that scored steadily across all styles – subtle, clever and effective. Chile, also in joint fourth, favours emotionally expressive, uplifting humour that is rooted in strong family and social ties.
At the same time Greece, also in fourth place, blends wit and warmth with a Mediterranean flair for self-deprecation and inclusivity, the researchers said.
The UK ranks 18th overall, with Brits scoring solidly across humour styles, favouring dry wit and self-deprecation, the study revealed.
However the US, which came in 29th, has a humour style that leans more toward self-enhancement, they discovered.
‘Humour is often the first bridge between people, especially when you’re navigating a new country or culture,’ Mr Riley added. ‘It helps to break the ice, build trust, and create those all-important moments of connection that make us feel seen and understood.
‘Our research shows that while every culture uses humour differently, understanding those differences can be the biggest win when forging new relationships.
‘This is true if you’re visiting a new city for a break or even making small talk with new colleagues after you’ve moved abroad.’
A previous study has found that men and women prefer different styles of humour.
Men like visual jokes and slapstick pratfalls, enjoying these more than women, the research found.
Meanwhile women rate jokes about political issues and domestic relationships more highly than men.
The finding came from 3,380 people who attended an exhibition of cartoons published in British newspapers and magazines between 1930 and 2010.
Remitly, who carried out the study, provides digital financial services.
