The latest Graciousness Index declined to 53, eight points down from 61 last year. The findings of the annual study, commissioned by the Singapore Kindness Movement, were released on Tuesday.

The study polled 1,201 respondents in January and February this year, and asked them about their experience and perception of graciousness in the past year.

On average, 52 per cent of respondents said they experienced graciousness - defined as receiving, doing or witnessing gracious acts - in the past six months, down from 74 per cent last year.

Dr William Wan, general secretary of the Singapore Kindness Movement, said: "The last year can generally be perceived as challenging, and the angst could have led us to accrue a deficit of kindness."