The world’s funniest countries revealed — and Brits won’t be happy

Laughter might be a universal language, but let’s be honest, some people are just funnier than others.

And, whether it’s deadpan delivery, playful banter or self-deprecating sarcasm, each country has its own comedic signature. 

If your ideal holiday includes more than just lounging on the beach or ticking off tourist attractions, and you want a place where the locals make you laugh, you might want to listen up. 

A new global ranking has named the world’s funniest countries. But Brits shouldn’t get too cocky. We might be a nation of dry humour and relentless sarcasm, but the UK hasn’t even made the top 10.

In a survey by Remitly, over 6,000 people across 30 countries were asked to complete something called the Humour Styles Questionnaire.

It’s a psychological tool created in 2003 by researcher Rod Martin, designed to examine not just if someone is funny, but how they express their humour.

The winner? Perhaps surprisingly, it was Czechia (formerly the Czech Republic).

Scoring 72.33 out of a possible 112 on the questionnaire, the Czechs came out top thanks to their strength in self-defeating humour.

They also scored high for aggressive humour, which Remitly describes as ‘a potent mix of self-deprecation, razor-sharp irony, and expertly wielded sarcasm.

The Czech humour isn’t loud or performative; it’s dry and operates on well-placed jabs and deadpan delivery. 

According to Remitly: ‘Czechs have refined humour into a survival tool, using wit as psychological armour that has evolved into a defining national characteristic.’

In second place was Portugal, scoring 71.42. Remitly says Portuguese humour leans more into affiliative and aggressive styles, leaving them with a sense of humour that blends warmth and wit. 

‘Known for quick-thinking jokes, they often use humour to charm, tease, and disarm,’ it explains.

Ireland took third place with 71.18 – a result that probably won’t shock anyone who’s ever been around someone from Ireland. According to Remitly, Ireland scored high for affiliative and self-enhancing humour. 

‘This may align with the Irish’s reputation for friendliness and excellent storytelling. It’s a great combination of humour styles, leading to citizens of Ireland being sharp, charming and relatable.’

Belgium followed close behind (71.12), with Chile and Greece tied for fifth at 71.08.

As for the UK? Eighteenth. Behind Canada and just ahead of South Africa. A ranking that may leave British comedy fans clutching their box sets of Peep Show and The Office in disbelief.

Hey, at least we weren’t in last place. Sorry, Norway, we hate to break it to you.

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