An annual survey of expats aimed at identifying the most welcoming countries for foreigners and travelers has ranked Mexico at the top of the list.
The World Population Review 2025 survey has named Mexico the “friendliest country in the world”—a title few would dispute.
Expats and tourists frequently highlight the warmth of Mexico’s people, its hospitality, vibrant culture, and the willingness of locals to go out of their way to assist foreigners.
The survey evaluated several metrics, including the ease of learning the local language, the quality of the environment, healthcare systems, and the kindness of residents toward expatriates. The research involved over 12,000 expats representing 171 nationalities and living in 172 countries or territories.
Following Mexico, Brazil secured second place, the Philippines came in third, Indonesia fourth and Vietnam fifth. Among European countries, Portugal ranked highest at 13th, followed by Spain in 16th and Ireland in 19th. Some popular travel destinations, such as the United States, the United Kingdom and France, were categorized as less friendly or even rude, ranking 29th, 34th, and 42nd (out of 59) respectively.
The World Population Review acknowledges that its findings come with a caveat: “It is entirely possible to feel unwelcome in a friendly country or welcome in an unfriendly one, depending on the specific people you encounter. However, when enough personal experiences are combined, trends can and do emerge.”
Meanwhile, another list came out this week as Mexico markedºº Día Internacional de la Felicidad (World Happiness Day) on March 20. While not top of the 2025 Happiest Countries chart, Mexico is in a very respectable 10th place, well ahead of its three neighbors: the United States (24th); Belize (25th) and Guatemala (44th). Nordic countries occupy the top spots: Finland (1st), Denmark (2nd), Iceland (3rd).