South Africa crowned the world's ultimate homebodies as braai culture beats going out.
Image: AI generated/Gemini
Forget the bright lights of the city and the lure of the nightlife; it turns out South Africans are officially the most house-proud people on the planet.
A major new global study by fitted furniture specialists Sharps has revealed that South Africa sits at the very top of the international leaderboard, scoring a massive 95 out of 100 on the global Homebody Index. While nations like the USA and Canada trailed behind, Mzansi took the gold, proving that for us, there really is no place like home.
The research, which surveyed over 3,000 people across 15 countries, didn't just look at how many hours we spend indoors, but at our deep emotional connection to our living spaces.
The secret to our top-tier ranking lies in our unique blend of hosting culture and a genuine love for "chilling." South Africa recorded the highest Emotional Attachment Score in the world, at 74.3, proving that our houses are much more than just bricks and mortar—they are sanctuaries of stability and self-expression.
The study highlights that our world-famous braai culture plays a massive role in this; why head to a crowded restaurant when you can gather friends and family around an open fire in the comfort of your own backyard? We aren't just staying in because we have to; we're staying in because we want to. In fact, 44% of South Africans admit they frequently decline social invitations in favour of a quiet night at home, the highest rate of any country surveyed.
The data also revealed a cheeky side to our domestic habits, with nearly a third of South Africans admitting they feel a wave of relief when plans to go out are actually cancelled. When we do choose the couch over the club, our primary motivations are simple: 64% of us just want to relax and do "sweet nothing," while 48% say the main goal is simply to be comfortable.
While Americans might spend more literal hours at home on the weekends, South Africans have the strongest heart-to-home connection. As we continue to prioritise our "mys-time" and family gatherings, this study confirms what we’ve known all along: with a fire going and good company, home is the only place to be.