← News Data story · Hofstede cultural dimensions

The shape of
national culture.

Geert Hofstede mapped how societies differ along a handful of dimensions. Two of the most telling: power distance — how readily people accept hierarchy — and individualism — “I” versus “we”. They tend to move together: flat, individualist societies on one side; hierarchical, collectivist ones on the other.

Power distance vs individualism

65 countries · right = more hierarchical, up = more individualist.

6 23 40 57 74 91 11345881104 Power distance → Individualism → BrazilChinaFranceGermanyGuatemalaIndiaJapanMalaysiaRussiaSwedenUnited States
Europe & Central AsiaAmericasEast Asia & PacificSouth AsiaMiddle East & North AfricaSub-Saharan Africa

The extremes

Most individualist

United States — personal goals and autonomy come first.

Most collectivist

Guatemala — the group and loyalty come first.

Most hierarchical

Malaysia — large power gaps are accepted as normal.

Flattest

Austria — power is expected to be shared and questioned.

↔ Explore all 7 cultural dimensions interactively

Pick any two of the five Hofstede dimensions or the two Inglehart-Welzel axes on the interactive map. Source: Hofstede cultural dimensions. Compare with the Inglehart-Welzel map →