Among the many indicators used to assess quality of life and social capital across nations, the “returning a stranger’s lost wallet” index occupies a special place, as it directly measures trustworthiness, honesty, and social trust as reflected in people’s everyday behavior. According to data published in the World Happiness Report 2025, Iran has secured second place worldwide on this indicator—outranking many developed countries with advanced welfare systems.
In this ranking, Norway holds first place, followed by Iran, which stands ahead of countries such as Algeria, the Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, Austria, New Zealand, and Germany. At first glance, this result may seem unexpected to some, but a closer look at Iran’s cultural and historical fabric makes it understandable, even self-evident.
Iranian–Islamic culture has long emphasized concepts such as trust (amanat), the rights of others (haqq al-nas), and moral responsibility. Religious teachings, classical Persian literature, and even everyday proverbs all regard trustworthiness not merely as a simple personal virtue, but as a social obligation. In such a cultural context, returning lost property is a behavior demanded by the collective conscience.
The significance of this ranking is further underscored by the fact that the indicator in question is based not on claims or subjective survey responses, but on field experiments and the actual behavior of citizens. From this perspective, Iran’s second-place ranking points to a hidden yet powerful reservoir of social capital flowing through the layers of society—capital that can underpin public trust, social cooperation, and even sustainable development.
At the same time, this achievement carries a clear message for policymakers and the media: the true image of Iranian society goes far beyond stereotypical and one-dimensional narratives. Strengthening this moral and social capital requires recognizing it, valuing it, and translating it into a behavioral model across other spheres of governance and collective life.
NOURNEWS