Scales
Fourteen lines, one per scale. Each tick is a country or region placed where a published framework puts it. Read them as positions relative to each other, not as traits of the people who live there.
Erin Meyer's Culture Map
Eight scales from Erin Meyer's The Culture Map (2014), built from her interviews and teaching with international managers. She publishes charts, not numbers, so each country is read off her chart onto a coarse seven-step grid. The positions are relative: a country is direct or indirect compared with the others on the line.
Limits: the scales are not a validated survey instrument, the source population is mostly managers in multinational companies, and neighbouring steps are not meaningfully different. How to read these scales
Communicating
Communicating: US −3, DE −2, NORD −2 (DK −2, SE −1, FI −1), NL −2, UK −1, BR 0, PL 0, IN +1, FR +1, KR +2, CN +2, JP +3.
No source: Israel, Ukraine
NORD is drawn as a span over its members: DK −2, SE −1, FI −1.
Source: Erin Meyer, The Culture Map (2014) and her country mapping charts. Positions are approximate, read off her charts onto a seven-step grid. About this scale
Positions as text
| Country or region | Step (−3 to +3) |
|---|---|
| United States US | −3 |
| Germany DE | −2 |
| The Nordics NORD | −2 (DK −2, SE −1, FI −1) |
| Netherlands NL | −2 |
| United Kingdom UK | −1 |
| Brazil BR | 0 |
| Poland PL | 0 |
| India IN | +1 |
| France FR | +1 |
| South Korea KR | +2 |
| China CN | +2 |
| Japan JP | +3 |
Evaluating
Evaluating: NL −3, IL −3, DE −2, FR −1, NORD −1 (DK −1, FI −1), PL −1, US 0, UK 0, CN +1, IN +1, BR +1, KR +2, JP +3.
No source: Ukraine
NORD is drawn as a span over its members: DK −1, FI −1.
Source: Erin Meyer, The Culture Map (2014) and her country mapping charts. Positions are approximate, read off her charts onto a seven-step grid. About this scale
Positions as text
| Country or region | Step (−3 to +3) |
|---|---|
| Netherlands NL | −3 |
| Israel IL | −3 |
| Germany DE | −2 |
| France FR | −1 |
| The Nordics NORD | −1 (DK −1, FI −1) |
| Poland PL | −1 |
| United States US | 0 |
| United Kingdom UK | 0 |
| China CN | +1 |
| India IN | +1 |
| Brazil BR | +1 |
| South Korea KR | +2 |
| Japan JP | +3 |
Persuading
Persuading: FR −3, DE −1, PL −1, BR 0, NORD +1 (DK +1, NO +1), NL +1, UK +2, US +3.
No source: Japan, South Korea, China, India, Israel, Ukraine
NORD is drawn as a span over its members: DK +1, NO +1.
Source: Erin Meyer, The Culture Map (2014) and her country mapping charts. Positions are approximate, read off her charts onto a seven-step grid. About this scale
Positions as text
| Country or region | Step (−3 to +3) |
|---|---|
| France FR | −3 |
| Germany DE | −1 |
| Poland PL | −1 |
| Brazil BR | 0 |
| The Nordics NORD | +1 (DK +1, NO +1) |
| Netherlands NL | +1 |
| United Kingdom UK | +2 |
| United States US | +3 |
Leading
Leading: NORD −3 (DK −3, SE −3, FI −2), NL −3, IL −2, US −1, UK −1, DE 0, FR +1, BR +1, PL +1, KR +2, CN +2, JP +3.
No source: India, Ukraine
NORD is drawn as a span over its members: DK −3, SE −3, FI −2.
Source: Erin Meyer, The Culture Map (2014) and her country mapping charts. Positions are approximate, read off her charts onto a seven-step grid. About this scale
Positions as text
| Country or region | Step (−3 to +3) |
|---|---|
| The Nordics NORD | −3 (DK −3, SE −3, FI −2) |
| Netherlands NL | −3 |
| Israel IL | −2 |
| United States US | −1 |
| United Kingdom UK | −1 |
| Germany DE | 0 |
| France FR | +1 |
| Brazil BR | +1 |
| Poland PL | +1 |
| South Korea KR | +2 |
| China CN | +2 |
| Japan JP | +3 |
Deciding
Deciding: JP −3, NORD −2 (DK −2, SE −2), NL −2, DE −1, UK 0, IN +1, US +1, FR +1, BR +1, CN +2.
No source: South Korea, Israel, Poland, Ukraine
NORD is drawn as a span over its members: DK −2, SE −2.
Source: Erin Meyer, The Culture Map (2014) and her country mapping charts. Positions are approximate, read off her charts onto a seven-step grid. About this scale
Positions as text
| Country or region | Step (−3 to +3) |
|---|---|
| Japan JP | −3 |
| The Nordics NORD | −2 (DK −2, SE −2) |
| Netherlands NL | −2 |
| Germany DE | −1 |
| United Kingdom UK | 0 |
| India IN | +1 |
| United States US | +1 |
| France FR | +1 |
| Brazil BR | +1 |
| China CN | +2 |
Trusting
Trusting: US −3, UK −2, DE −2, NORD −2 (DK −2), NL −2, PL −1, FR 0, JP +1, IL† +1, KR† +2, CN +2, IN +2, BR +2.
No source: Ukraine
NORD is drawn as a span over its members: DK −2.
† Placed from reviews and summaries of Meyer's work, not from her own chart.
Source: Erin Meyer, The Culture Map (2014) and her country mapping charts. Positions are approximate, read off her charts onto a seven-step grid. About this scale
Positions as text
| Country or region | Step (−3 to +3) |
|---|---|
| United States US | −3 |
| United Kingdom UK | −2 |
| Germany DE | −2 |
| The Nordics NORD | −2 (DK −2) |
| Netherlands NL | −2 |
| Poland PL | −1 |
| France FR | 0 |
| Japan JP | +1 |
| Israel IL † | +1 |
| South Korea KR † | +2 |
| China CN | +2 |
| India IN | +2 |
| Brazil BR | +2 |
Disagreeing
Disagreeing: IL −3, DE −2, FR −2, NL −2, NORD −1 (DK −1, SE +1), PL −1, US 0, UK 0, IN +1, BR +1, KR +2, CN +2, JP +3.
No source: Ukraine
NORD is drawn as a span over its members: DK −1, SE +1.
Source: Erin Meyer, The Culture Map (2014) and her country mapping charts. Positions are approximate, read off her charts onto a seven-step grid. About this scale
Positions as text
| Country or region | Step (−3 to +3) |
|---|---|
| Israel IL | −3 |
| Germany DE | −2 |
| France FR | −2 |
| Netherlands NL | −2 |
| The Nordics NORD | −1 (DK −1, SE +1) |
| Poland PL | −1 |
| United States US | 0 |
| United Kingdom UK | 0 |
| India IN | +1 |
| Brazil BR | +1 |
| South Korea KR | +2 |
| China CN | +2 |
| Japan JP | +3 |
Scheduling
Scheduling: DE −3, JP −2, NORD −2 (DK −2, SE −2, NO −2), NL −2, US −1, UK −1, FR 0, PL 0, IL† +1, IN +2, BR +2.
No source: South Korea, China, Ukraine
NORD is drawn as a span over its members: DK −2, SE −2, NO −2.
† Placed from reviews and summaries of Meyer's work, not from her own chart.
Source: Erin Meyer, The Culture Map (2014) and her country mapping charts. Positions are approximate, read off her charts onto a seven-step grid. About this scale
Positions as text
| Country or region | Step (−3 to +3) |
|---|---|
| Germany DE | −3 |
| Japan JP | −2 |
| The Nordics NORD | −2 (DK −2, SE −2, NO −2) |
| Netherlands NL | −2 |
| United States US | −1 |
| United Kingdom UK | −1 |
| France FR | 0 |
| Poland PL | 0 |
| Israel IL † | +1 |
| India IN | +2 |
| Brazil BR | +2 |
Hofstede's six dimensions
Six dimensions from Geert Hofstede's research, which began with an IBM employee survey in 1967 to 1973 and was extended by later replications. The scores are The Culture Factor's current values, revised around 2023, on a 0 to 100 line.
Limits: these are national averages. About 80% of variation in values lies between people inside a country, and applying a country score to an individual is the ecological fallacy. How to read these scales
Power distance
Power distance: IL 13, NORD 28 (DK 18, SE 31, NO 31, FI 33), UK 35, DE 35, NL 38, US 40, JP 54, KR 60, FR 68, PL 68, BR 69, IN 77, CN 80, UA 92.
NORD is drawn as a span over its members: DK 18, SE 31, NO 31, FI 33.
Country averages. About 80% of variation in values is between people inside a country (Taras et al. 2016).
Source: The Culture Factor country comparison tool, current values (revised around 2023), retrieved 2026. About this scale
Positions as text
| Country or region | Score |
|---|---|
| Israel IL | 13 |
| The Nordics NORD | 28 (mean of DK 18, SE 31, NO 31, FI 33) |
| United Kingdom UK | 35 |
| Germany DE | 35 |
| Netherlands NL | 38 |
| United States US | 40 |
| Japan JP | 54 |
| South Korea KR | 60 |
| France FR | 68 |
| Poland PL | 68 |
| Brazil BR | 69 |
| India IN | 77 |
| China CN | 80 |
| Ukraine UA | 92 |
Individualism
Individualism: IN 24, BR 36, CN 43, PL 47, UA 55, IL 56, KR 58, US 60, JP 62, FR 74, UK 76, DE 79, NORD 83 (FI 75, NO 81, SE 87, DK 89), NL 100.
NORD is drawn as a span over its members: FI 75, NO 81, SE 87, DK 89.
Country averages. About 80% of variation in values is between people inside a country (Taras et al. 2016).
Source: The Culture Factor country comparison tool, current values (revised around 2023), retrieved 2026. About this scale
Positions as text
| Country or region | Score |
|---|---|
| India IN | 24 |
| Brazil BR | 36 |
| China CN | 43 |
| Poland PL | 47 |
| Ukraine UA | 55 |
| Israel IL | 56 |
| South Korea KR | 58 |
| United States US | 60 |
| Japan JP | 62 |
| France FR | 74 |
| United Kingdom UK | 76 |
| Germany DE | 79 |
| The Nordics NORD | 83 (mean of FI 75, NO 81, SE 87, DK 89) |
| Netherlands NL | 100 |
Motivation towards achievement and success
Motivation towards achievement and success: NORD 14 (SE 5, NO 8, DK 16, FI 26), NL 14, UA 27, KR 39, FR 43, IL 47, BR 49, IN 56, US 62, PL 64, CN 66, UK 66, DE 66, JP 95.
NORD is drawn as a span over its members: SE 5, NO 8, DK 16, FI 26.
Country averages. About 80% of variation in values is between people inside a country (Taras et al. 2016).
Source: The Culture Factor country comparison tool, current values (revised around 2023), retrieved 2026. About this scale
Positions as text
| Country or region | Score |
|---|---|
| The Nordics NORD | 14 (mean of SE 5, NO 8, DK 16, FI 26) |
| Netherlands NL | 14 |
| Ukraine UA | 27 |
| South Korea KR | 39 |
| France FR | 43 |
| Israel IL | 47 |
| Brazil BR | 49 |
| India IN | 56 |
| United States US | 62 |
| Poland PL | 64 |
| China CN | 66 |
| United Kingdom UK | 66 |
| Germany DE | 66 |
| Japan JP | 95 |
Uncertainty avoidance
Uncertainty avoidance: CN 30, UK 35, IN 40, NORD 40 (DK 23, SE 29, NO 50, FI 59), US 46, NL 53, DE 65, BR 76, IL 81, KR 85, FR 86, JP 92, PL 93, UA 95.
NORD is drawn as a span over its members: DK 23, SE 29, NO 50, FI 59.
Country averages. About 80% of variation in values is between people inside a country (Taras et al. 2016).
Source: The Culture Factor country comparison tool, current values (revised around 2023), retrieved 2026. About this scale
Positions as text
| Country or region | Score |
|---|---|
| China CN | 30 |
| United Kingdom UK | 35 |
| India IN | 40 |
| The Nordics NORD | 40 (mean of DK 23, SE 29, NO 50, FI 59) |
| United States US | 46 |
| Netherlands NL | 53 |
| Germany DE | 65 |
| Brazil BR | 76 |
| Israel IL | 81 |
| South Korea KR | 85 |
| France FR | 86 |
| Japan JP | 92 |
| Poland PL | 93 |
| Ukraine UA | 95 |
Long-term orientation
Long-term orientation: BR 28, IL 47, PL 49, US 50, IN 51, UA 51, DE 57, NORD 57 (SE 52, NO 55, DK 59, FI 63), UK 60, FR 60, NL 67, CN 77, KR 86, JP 100.
NORD is drawn as a span over its members: SE 52, NO 55, DK 59, FI 63.
Country averages. About 80% of variation in values is between people inside a country (Taras et al. 2016).
Source: The Culture Factor country comparison tool, current values (revised around 2023), retrieved 2026. About this scale
Positions as text
| Country or region | Score |
|---|---|
| Brazil BR | 28 |
| Israel IL | 47 |
| Poland PL | 49 |
| United States US | 50 |
| India IN | 51 |
| Ukraine UA | 51 |
| Germany DE | 57 |
| The Nordics NORD | 57 (mean of SE 52, NO 55, DK 59, FI 63) |
| United Kingdom UK | 60 |
| France FR | 60 |
| Netherlands NL | 67 |
| China CN | 77 |
| South Korea KR | 86 |
| Japan JP | 100 |
Indulgence
Indulgence: UA 14, CN 24, IN 26, KR 29, PL 29, DE 40, JP 42, FR 48, BR 59, NORD 65 (NO 55, FI 57, DK 70, SE 78), US 68, NL 68, UK 69.
No source: Israel
NORD is drawn as a span over its members: NO 55, FI 57, DK 70, SE 78.
Country averages. About 80% of variation in values is between people inside a country (Taras et al. 2016).
Source: The Culture Factor country comparison tool, current values (revised around 2023), retrieved 2026. About this scale
Positions as text
| Country or region | Score |
|---|---|
| Ukraine UA | 14 |
| China CN | 24 |
| India IN | 26 |
| South Korea KR | 29 |
| Poland PL | 29 |
| Germany DE | 40 |
| Japan JP | 42 |
| France FR | 48 |
| Brazil BR | 59 |
| The Nordics NORD | 65 (mean of NO 55, FI 57, DK 70, SE 78) |
| United States US | 68 |
| Netherlands NL | 68 |
| United Kingdom UK | 69 |