Portugal has emerged as Europe’s most ambitious country, ranking fifth globally in an international survey examining personal motivation, aspirations and attitudes towards success. The study, commissioned by hotel chain Premier Inn, surveyed 5,354 people across 28 countries, with Portugal achieving an average ambition score of 19.7 out of 25. Notably, 75% of Portuguese respondents considered achieving outstanding results in life very important.
South Africa led the global rankings with 22.8 points, followed by Brazil (21), Mexico (20.4) and Canada (20). Portugal completed the top five, ahead of European counterparts Hungary (19.5) and Poland (19.4). Austria, Ireland, Spain and Greece followed with scores of approximately 19.2, while the Netherlands recorded 19.1 and Norway 19. The United Kingdom ranked 24th with 18.3 points, France placed 26th with 17.9, and Japan finished last with 17.3.
Premier Inn suggested that Portugal’s strong showing could be associated with desenrascanço, a distinctly Portuguese cultural characteristic reflecting resourcefulness, adaptability and the ability to find practical solutions to difficult situations. However, the research did not establish a direct connection between this cultural trait and the country's ambition score.
International survey places Portugal fifth worldwide, ahead of the United States and all other European nations.
Interestingly, the findings revealed a considerable difference between international perceptions of ambition and individuals’ own assessments. When asked which country they considered the most ambitious, 35% of participants named the United States, followed by China (15%) and Japan (9%). Yet the United States ranked only 16th in the self-assessment survey, scoring 18.9 points, considerably below Portugal.
The research employed the Ambition Scale, a psychological assessment developed by Andreas Hirschi and Daniel Spurk and published in the Journal of Vocational Behavior in 2021. Participants evaluated five statements relating to personal ambition, achievement and challenging goals, with each response contributing towards a maximum score of 25. Responses were collected through the research platform Prolific and averaged by nationality.
Although the findings reflect self-reported ambition rather than measurable professional or economic achievements, they highlight the strong determination expressed by Portuguese respondents to pursue personal and career goals. Portugal’s leading European position also illustrates how perceptions of national ambition can differ significantly from the aspirations expressed by individuals themselves.
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