Etiquette is something we are all familiar with; it’s a set of norms, values and customs that have been taught to us from an early age. Almost like an unofficial rulebook of do’s and don'ts that govern our everyday interactions and behaviours within society. Etiquette practices have stretched into the fabric of many aspects of our everyday lives. Whether it’s factored around how we treat and respect our elders, rules involving eating and dining or maybe even how we respect personal timekeeping.
 
However, as with many things in life, interpretations may differ. What may be customary to one could be deemed offensive by another. Breaking or abusing these practices may even be seen as taboo in some cultures. Especially when you factor in that every country will have its own set of social requirements around etiquette.
 
To look into this further, we’ve researched etiquette around the world to see how different countries, territories and continents vary from one another. We wanted to establish just how quirky some of our customs are and what differences we have, what could be a compliment in one place and potentially cause insult in another. We researched etiquette tips by looking at Google search results for ‘etiquette in [country]’ or ‘types of etiquette in [country]’ in 165 countries across the world to reveal cultural nuances that can make day-to-day life abroad easier to navigate.

As the global map demonstrates, etiquette differences vary greatly across the world. However, we found themes that recur often. The first is age and more specifically, how we respect and treat our elders. The second is hand gestures and how some that can potentially offend in one location can convey agreement in another. Food etiquette also appears commonly on the map, while timing also features, varying from relaxed timekeeping to places where tardiness is frowned upon.

Breaking it down continent by continent, many African countries' main etiquette practices revolve around food and dining. Gathering together in the latter part of the day and tucking into a good meal is something we all appreciate; it gives us the chance to debrief, catch up with one another and bond over a hearty communal meal. However, this can turn from sweet to sour if certain customs are not upheld. For example, in Egypt it is considered rude to ask for salt as this may insult the chef by suggesting food is under seasoned. In Mozambique, you should always stay for tea and snacks when visiting someone’s home, as to refuse could be considered rude by the host and that you’re itching for a quick getaway. In Sierra Leone, you should always leave a small amount of food on your plate to indicate that you are full, as to leave it empty would suggest that your host has yet to feed you until you’re fully satisfied.

Asia has some delightful etiquette practices around food and dining. While some may discard food that has fallen onto the floor, in Afghanistan, it is custom to kiss bread after it touches the floor, as a sign of holy reverence. While religious customs are common in some countries, others favour superstitious rules. In China, if you flip a fish that’s on your plate it is thought to bring you bad luck. Likewise, in Qatar in the Middle East, it is customary to shake your coffee 2 to 3 times after you’ve finished it. While many in Western countries may consider slurping poor manners, in Japan this is fairly common, considered as a compliment to the chef and a sign of giving thanks for your meal.
 
Like many other countries on our list, gift-giving in Asia also carries its own set of requirements and expectations to manage. Be mindful when wrapping a gift as your choice of wrapping paper could offend. In Cambodia and Sri Lanka, white wrapping paper signifies mourning, so be sure to avoid this when handing over a gift, as what could start as something with good intentions could be interpreted otherwise. Likewise, the hand you use to give the gift should be considered also. In many Muslim countries, the left hand is used for personal hygiene and is sometimes thought of as unclean when compared to the right hand. Therefore, when in the likes of Iraq, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan or the UAE, always be sure to hand over the gift with the right hand instead.

Over in Europe, a large portion of etiquette practices revolve around what you should and should not do while dining and eating in front of others. Similarly to Egypt, the Portuguese are not fans of those that request additional salt on their meal. This practice carries over to Italy as well but instead of salt, it’s parmesan. Requesting additional cheese on your Pizza is seen as an instant insult. While many of us embrace the idea of eating with our hands at times, in Norway this is a complete no-go and using cutlery at all times is a must. Many people may scoff at those who finish eating their meal by burping loudly, but in Iceland this is seen as a compliment to the chef.
 
Gift giving - or rather what you shouldn’t give - proved to be another popular theme among European countries. Flowers are often given as a gift in various cultures, however in some places, the number of buds and their colour can carry meaning. In Eastern European countries such as Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia, it’s taboo to give an odd number of flowers. In Bulgaria, it would be considered a faux pas to buy someone yellow flowers as this can often be interpreted as a sign of hatred. Similarly, in the Netherlands be cautious with the specific item you choose as a gift as there is a belief that if you give someone a sharp or pointy gift, it can signify bad luck.

In North and Central America, etiquette varies from country to country, and this demonstrates just how different national culture can be. While lateness in some countries is considered rude, in others it’s a part of the daily lifestyle such as Costa Rica and El Salvador, where a relaxed approach to timekeeping is customary. You may think to dress smartly while in a business environment, but in Belize it’s the opposite, where casual attire is the preferred choice of clothing when meeting colleagues or associates. Elsewhere, how you greet and gesture to people in public is something you should be mindful of when in certain places. Panama and Nicaragua aren’t fans of pointing in public, with the latter preferring that you pucker or pout your lips in someone’s direction when referring to them.

When it comes to South America, we can see a variety of different etiquette practices taking place across its many countries. Much like its neighbours in Central America, the theme of public gestures continues with select do’s and don’ts. The puckering of the lips to refer to someone continues with Ecuador adopting this practice. In many countries, a simple thumbs up can be interpreted as a simple but friendly “yes” or “ok”, however in Argentina, this is the opposite. Using the thumbs-up sign or an ok symbol with your hands is considered vulgar rather than helpful. Much like in Europe and Asia, gift-giving also has its own set of rules to be considered. In Paraguay and Peru, they believe it is poor etiquette to give someone a sharp object such as a knife as this symbolises severing a relationship. In Venezuela, it is thought that the perfect way to signal guests to leave a party or gathering is for the host to place a broom behind the front door, which may avoid the awkward conversation about when to leave.

Similar themes occur down under in the warmer climates of the southern hemisphere. Much like other island cultures, punctuality (or a lack of it) is routine and not something that is strictly abided by. In the likes of Papua New Guinea and Tonga, many residents live by the concept of “island time” where life is more relaxed and less rigid, unlike city culture where timings are stricter. The common theme of gestures and signals to other people appears once more on this side of the world with Samoans adopting the custom that the head is the most sacred part of the body and shouldn’t be touched.
 
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Methodology
 
Remitly analysed Google search results that featured various phrases related to the etiquette of 165 countries across the world, such as ‘etiquette in [country]’ or ‘types of etiquette in [country]’. Any countries that didn’t result in enough data to analyse were excluded from the research.
 
Data correct as of April 2023.