Which Country Is Most Narcissistic? Global Study Finds Surprises — Germany Tops List, U.S. Does Not

Accusations of rampant narcissism are common today, and some worry the word is losing its meaning. But a large cross-cultural study suggests narcissistic traits—characterized by low empathy, inflated self-regard, attention-seeking, and competitiveness—are widespread and follow consistent demographic patterns around the world.

Large-Scale, Cross-Cultural Analysis

A team of researchers analyzed responses from more than 45,000 participants across 53 countries to measure grandiose narcissism, the form marked by self-promotion, status-seeking, and interpersonal dominance. Their results were published in the journal Self and Identity and challenged several common assumptions about where narcissism is most prevalent.

Key Findings

Contrary to expectations, the United States did not rank as the most narcissistic country. The study placed Germany highest, followed by Iraq, China, Nepal, and South Korea. Countries with the lowest average scores included Serbia, Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Denmark.

Although average levels varied by nation, the demographic predictors of higher narcissism were strikingly consistent worldwide: being younger, male, and perceiving oneself as higher social status predicted greater narcissistic traits in nearly every country studied. As co-author William Chopik of Michigan State University noted, "We found differences across cultures, including that people from higher GDP countries were more narcissistic, but the age-related pattern—young people scoring higher than older adults—was similar across countries."

Wealth, Culture, And Narcissism

The researchers explored how national characteristics—specifically GDP per capita and where countries fall on the collectivist–individualist spectrum—related to narcissism. Two surprising patterns emerged:

• Higher GDP per capita tended to correlate with higher narcissism scores, suggesting that greater emphasis on status and prestige in wealthier societies may encourage self-focused behaviors.
• Narcissism was not restricted to individualistic, high-income countries. Some collectivist societies—most notably China and Nepal—showed relatively high levels of status-seeking and admiration-craving behaviors, which may help individuals navigate complex social hierarchies.

Developmental And Gender Patterns

The study highlights that narcissistic traits can play adaptive roles in youth, supporting autonomy, identity formation, ambition, and self-confidence. Over the life course, many people shift toward more prosocial goals, producing a general decline in grandiose narcissism with age. The researchers also observed higher average narcissism among men, which they attribute in part to gendered socialization that rewards assertiveness and dominance.

Conclusions

Overall, the authors conclude that narcissism reflects universal human drives—such as status-seeking and self-enhancement—more than culture-specific historical forces. While average levels vary between countries, the types of people who tend to score higher on measures of grandiose narcissism are remarkably similar worldwide.

"Our findings suggest that narcissism is shaped by broad, cross-cultural human tendencies rather than only by local cultural or historical circumstances," the authors write.

Read more: The study was originally reported in Nautilus and published in Self and Identity.