International Social Survey Programme - National Pride Survey

National Pride Survey

A survey of 34 countries was conducted and the results were released on June 27, 2006. The survey asked respondents to rate how proud they were of their country in ten areas:

1. political influence
2. social security
3. the way their democracy works
4. economic success
5. science and technology
6. sports
7. arts and literature
8. military, history
9. fair treatment of all groups in society.

The United States ranked first in terms of overall national pride with Venezuela coming in a close second. Ireland, South Africa, and Australia came in third, fourth, and fifth respectively. The researchers commented that patriotism is a New World concept and that former colonies and newer nations tend to rank higher on the list.

Western European, East Asian, and former socialist countries tend to rank between the middle and bottom of the list. Countries formerly part of the Soviet Union are still struggling to find their own new national identity while cultural differences in East Asia could provide a possible explanation for their low ranking in the list. Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea ranked 18th, 29th, and 31st possibly due to the common belief that it is both bad luck and poor manners to be boastful.

Venezuela has been ranking high on the list due to President Hugo Chávez challenging the United States, particularly the Bush administration and generating a new sense of national pride and an emphasis on what it means to be Venezuelan.