The ranking, posted on social media, raises questions over its methodology, with Singaporeans expressing mixed reactions.
SINGAPORE: Ho Ching, wife of Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, recently shared a social media post claiming Singapore ranks 48th out of 50 countries with the friendliest people.
The list, posted by a Facebook page focusing on visa sponsorships and job opportunities, places Canada at the top, followed by Portugal, Bhutan, Mexico, and Pakistan. Malaysia secured the 47th spot, just ahead of Singapore.
However, the methodology behind the rankings remains unclear. The Facebook page has not disclosed how the rankings were determined, prompting skepticism and curiosity among Singaporeans.
While Ho Ching shared the post without any accompanying comments, it has sparked a variety of responses online. Many Singaporeans questioned the credibility of the ranking, noting that “friendliness” is subjective and difficult to quantify.
Contrasting Reports on Friendliness
In other global rankings, Singapore has performed significantly better. According to the US News & World Report’s index of the friendliest countries, Singapore ranked 18th out of 87 nations, compared to Malaysia’s 30th position.
In the World Population Review’s Friendliest Countries of 2024 list, Singapore secured the 43rd spot, while Malaysia was notably higher at 14th.
As discussions on social media continue, many are calling for rankings that rely on more transparent and robust methodologies to provide a clearer and more reliable assessment of national characteristics.
