Tipping practices vary widely around the world, and while in some countries a small gratuity is appreciated, in others, it’s practically mandatory, and increasingly burdensome.
In many nations, especially those with booming tourism or service-driven economies, tipping has evolved from a gesture of appreciation to an unspoken requirement.
For diners, this often means navigating high expectations and unclear norms, leading to frustration and pressure.
Based on recent data from TripAdvisor and Hawaiian Islands, the following 23 countries have some of the highest restaurant tipping expectations globally, making them some of the most demanding places when it comes to leaving extra cash after a meal.
1: United States
The United States is listed as having the highest expected tip percentage for restaurant staff, set at 20%. The source notes that the tipping culture in the U.S. has significantly evolved.
What began as a “feel-good gesture” in 1974 has, by 2024, transformed into a situation where “many Americans feel pressured to leave higher tips than ever before”.
This increased pressure is partly attributed to service costs that have become “pricier due to inflation”.
2: Canada
In Canada, the expected tip for restaurant staff falls within a range of 15% to 20%. This range positions Canada among the countries with notably high anticipated tipping percentages for restaurant service, according to the analysis.
3: Norway
Norway has an expected restaurant tip percentage ranging from 10% to 20%. While the lower end is 10%, the potential and expectation for tipping up to 20% places Norway firmly within the group of countries where higher restaurant tips are anticipated, based on the data analyzed by Hawaiian Islands.
4: Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic expects restaurant tips to be between 10% and 20%. This range indicates that diners in the Dominican Republic are generally anticipated to provide a tip within this bracket for the service they receive in restaurants.
5: Serbia
In Serbia, the expected tip for restaurant staff is noted as being between 10% and 20%. This significant range highlights a strong expectation for tipping in Serbian restaurants, contributing to its inclusion among the countries with the highest tipping cultures identified by the analysis.
6: Armenia
Armenia is another country with an expected restaurant tip percentage ranging from 10% to 20%. This wide range indicates that tipping within this bracket is considered a standard and relatively high expectation within Armenia’s restaurant industry, according to the TripAdvisor data analysis.
7: Jamaica
Jamaica presents a slightly different expected range for restaurant tips, between 10% and 18%. While the upper limit is 18%, which is somewhat lower than the maximum expected in the previous countries on this list, it still represents a considerable expectation for tipping compared to many global norms.
8: Mexico
For Mexico, the expected tip for restaurant staff is specified as a clear 15%. This provides a consistent benchmark for what is generally anticipated when dining out in Mexico, based on the data analyzed by Hawaiian Islands.
9: Belize
Belize shares the same expected restaurant tip percentage as Mexico, at 15%. This single percentage indicates a clear and commonly understood norm for tipping in Belizean restaurants, according to the analyzed data from TripAdvisor.
10: Cuba
Cuba falls into a slightly lower expected range for restaurant tips, between 10% and 15%. While the maximum expected tip is 15%, the presence of a 10% minimum still signifies a definite expectation for tipping, placing Cuba among the countries with relatively high anticipated tips on this list.
11: Honduras
Honduras also expects restaurant tips to fall within the range of 10% to 15%. This range suggests that leaving a tip within this percentage is a customary practice when dining out in Honduras, contributing to its inclusion in this list of countries with higher tipping expectations.
12: Antigua and Barbuda
In Antigua and Barbuda, the expected restaurant tip percentage is between 10% and 15%. This indicates that a tip within this range is generally anticipated for restaurant service in these islands, according to the analysis.
13: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines similarly expects restaurant tips ranging from 10% to 15%. This places the nation among those where higher restaurant tips are considered customary based on the TripAdvisor data analysis conducted in 2023.
14: Argentina
Argentina has an expected restaurant tip percentage between 10% and 15%. This range suggests that leaving a tip within this bracket is a common and expected practice when dining in Argentina.
15: Guyana
Guyana expects restaurant tips to range from 10% to 15%. This positions Guyana among the countries where there are notable expectations for tipping in the restaurant sector, according to the analysis.
16: Cameroon
Cameroon also expects restaurant tips between 10% and 15%. This range signifies that a tip within these percentages is a significant expectation within Cameroon’s dining culture, contributing to its ranking on this list.
17: Poland
In Poland, the expected restaurant tip percentage is between 10% and 15%. This places Poland among the countries with relatively high tipping expectations compared to global averages, according to the source’s analysis of 2023 data.
18: North Macedonia
North Macedonia expects restaurant tips ranging from 10% to 15%. This positions the country among those where leaving a tip within this range is anticipated when dining out, based on the analyzed TripAdvisor data.
19: Mauritius
Mauritius expects restaurant tips to fall within the range of 10% to 15%. This indicates that a tip within this percentage is generally expected for restaurant service on the island nation.
20: Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has an expected restaurant tip percentage between 10% and 15%. This range suggests that tipping within this bracket is a common practice in Saudi Arabian restaurants, contributing to its presence on this list of countries with higher tipping expectations.
21: Bahrain
Bahrain also expects restaurant tips between 10% and 15%. This places Bahrain among the countries where higher tipping percentages are generally anticipated for restaurant service.
22: Qatar
Qatar expects restaurant tips to range from 10% to 15%. This indicates that leaving a tip within this percentage is a standard expectation when dining in Qatar.
23: United Arab Emirates
Finally, the United Arab Emirates expects restaurant tips between 10% and 15%. This range positions the UAE among the countries with notable expectations for tipping in the restaurant industry, based on the data analyzed from TripAdvisor in 2023.
Alicia Richards