The Good Country Index measures how much each of the 163 countries on the list contribute to the planet, and to the human race, through their policies and behaviors.
Top 50 overall rank [version 1.5][edit]
2022 rank Country 1
Sweden2
Denmark3
Germany4
Netherlands5
Finland6
Canada7
Belgium8
Ireland9
France10
Austria11
Norway12
Luxembourg13
Spain14
United Kingdom15
Switzerland16
Cyprus17
Slovenia18
Australia19
New Zealand20
Iceland21
Bulgaria22
Estonia23
Hungary24
Italy25
Singapore26
Lithuania27
Poland28
Czech Republic29
Portugal30
Croatia31
Malta32
Slovakia33
Chile34
Japan35
Latvia36
Greece37
South Korea38
Serbia39
North Macedonia40
Moldova41
Romania42
Montenegro43
Armenia44
South Africa45
Uruguay46
Cuba47
India48
Malaysia49
Costa Rica50
Bosnia and Herzegovina
2018 top 10 overall rank [version 1.3][edit]
2018 rank Country 1
Finland2
Netherlands3
Ireland4
Sweden5
Germany6
Denmark7
Switzerland8
Norway9
France10
Spain
2017 top 163 overall rank [version 1.2][edit]
2017 rank Country Science and Technology Culture International Peace and Security World Order Planet and Climate Prosperity and Equality Health and Well-being 1
Netherlands 8 2 27 3 19 4 9 2
Switzerland 11 4 44 10 2 5 6 3
Denmark 4 6 64 9 14 2 3 4
Finland 7 13 52 8 6 9 12 5
Germany 21 15 37 2 18 14 7 6
Sweden 17 5 67 4 26 3 1 7
Ireland 32 8 50 21 10 1 2 8
United Kingdom 5 11 48 12 11 35 4 9
Austria 6 7 65 1 17 13 28 10
Norway 49 22 51 7 5 8 5 11
France 24 14 53 16 3 17 23 12
Hungary 3 19 17 43 32 23 33 13
Belgium 9 1 109 13 22 7 16 14
Canada 29 25 41 11 39 27 8 15
Singapore 26 29 14 30 21 19 49 16
Italy 41 26 55 14 7 36 24 17
New Zealand 12 35 33 19 27 69 17 18
Spain 40 30 70 15 9 34 22 19
Luxembourg 37 10 100 20 30 56 11 20
Cyprus 31 44 73 17 4 38 59 21
Japan 61 45 18 47 33 47 21 22
Bulgaria 14 39 69 32 40 39 53 23
Australia 20 48 54 6 50 102 13 24
Portugal 39 12 133 28 23 21 39 25
United States 38 67 72 29 35 62 10 26
Greece 27 47 115 31 15 50 29 27
Iceland 15 37 77 42 1 105 41 28
Estonia 36 3 93 72 57 37 27 29
South Korea 44 34 103 33 98 65 19 30
Poland 23 21 107 24 34 46 79 31
Moldova 47 46 9 64 73 22 87 32
Slovenia 10 16 160 18 12 77 57 33
Malta 62 28 124 5 20 42 76 34
Czech Republic 2 9 98 48 60 98 47 35
Chile 74 51 19 26 43 73 91 36
Croatia 33 38 146 58 13 10 83 37
Malaysia 52 41 34 40 149 19 46 38
Turkey 55 75 78 39 51 40 44 39
Costa Rica 76 32 16 22 46 82 110 40
Romania 30 31 58 36 37 81 112 41
Latvia 13 17 104 70 42 80 70 42
Lithuania 18 23 99 56 16 124 64 43
Mauritius 83 27 56 34 78 25 126 44
Morocco 45 85 10 114 79 43 58 45
Albania 28 33 84 45 132 6 106 46
North Macedonia 19 55 135 54 65 74 34 47
South Africa 25 65 2 25 150 114 56 48
Slovakia 42 20 113 52 24 142 52 49
Uruguay 135 59 6 37 8 135 80 50
Barbados 35 18 126 103 54 32 103 51
Philippines 146 58 47 61 56 12 94 52
Jordan 65 91 31 111 137 24 18 53
Israel 34 63 123 84 25 99 51 54
Ukraine 1 62 108 57 128 72 55 55
Thailand 107 54 21 23 138 109 37 56
Tunisia 72 93 3 107 69 70 92 57
Georgia 86 109 79 101 55 11 66 58
United Arab Emirates 84 53 147 53 115 49 14 59
India 67 57 32 89 97 49 35 60
Qatar 145 114 36 94 62 61 25 61
Bosnia and Herzegovina 16 69 149 35 135 45 95 62
Lebanon 68 66 153 76 89 31 63 63
Kenya 59 83 63 44 63 130 114 64
Fiji 50 81 76 161 109 44 36 65
Russia 53 101 82 97 67 116 43 66
Guatemala 119 83 23 71 113 78 77 67
Sri Lanka 117 141 26 78 72 52 78 68
Oman 123 126 11 119 86 75 26 69
Serbia 105 78 80 74 83 15 138 70
Panama 99 117 110 27 99 68 54 71
Montenegro 48 61 128 41 91 71 134 72
Nicaragua 110 100 96 87 140 20 30 73
Egypt 60 123 4 120 70 134 73 74
Mexico 95 64 85 99 90 108 48 75
Armenia 56 103 136 104 108 48 31 76
China 70 111 40 109 96 113 48 77
Uganda 82 107 90 63 71 87 90 78
Belarus 46 95 132 92 75 84 67 79
Samoa 64 60 1 130 45 145 146 80
Brazil 109 119 61 50 53 162 40 81
Ecuador 139 106 24 80 94 110 50 82
Argentina 75 119 39 49 112 100 122 83
Timor-Leste 73 133 49 102 120 29 105 84
Dominican Republic 122 125 129 51 31 76 81 85
Kuwait 127 110 140 81 66 83 20 86
Burkina Faso 92 124 46 66 148 30 125 87
Colombia 78 118 15 121 88 119 98 88
Namibia 66 42 89 106 103 136 96 89
Azerbaijan 129 139 42 132 29 86 89 90
Kyrgyzstan 80 76 121 66 159 60 86 91
Grenada 22 50 62 152 77 155 133 92
Brunei 125 79 8 163 49 158 68 93
Senegal 69 87 43 100 139 59 160 94
Seychelles 89 49 150 60 100 101 120 95
Peru 102 90 97 95 80 96 113 96
Dominica 51 73 137 116 81 104 111 97
Mongolia 131 96 28 141 118 33 130 98
Cameroon 101 144 13 90 105 150 74 99
Bolivia 161 98 45 46 136 106 85 100
Indonesia 160 88 7 62 144 133 84 101
Zambia 154 149 57 55 64 121 82 102
Rwanda 118 161 29 144 36 54 141 103
Togo 111 117 38 133 161 16 148 104
Ghana 63 104 66 93 121 107 139 105
Tanzania 156 121 12 85 76 143 101 106
Saudi Arabia 81 136 141 117 122 85 15 107
Bangladesh 130 130 87 59 130 132 32 108
Kazakhstan 116 131 20 110 123 131 72 109
El Salvador 121 99 134 147 102 58 42 110
Trinidad and Tobago 93 71 116 136 111 28 152 111
Marshall Islands 43 40 162 149 129 41 144 112
Eswatini 104 112 156 125 47 55 117 113
Jamaica 77 86 74 86 101 146 147 114
Zimbabwe 98 112 70 151 145 26 107 115
Algeria 113 138 22 79 48 160 159 116
Antigua and Barbuda 91 74 103 131 68 139 124 117
Cape Verde 103 84 138 108 28 115 154 118
Botswana 133 72 112 75 110 90 145 119
Malawi 94 142 60 69 146 111 116 120
Madagascar 106 97 25 126 153 103 136 121
Bahamas 114 52 94 148 59 127 155 122
Honduras 136 120 88 122 158 64 62 123
Pakistan 88 150 92 129 134 123 38 124
Paraguay 155 140 30 82 127 154 69 125
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 97 43 142 124 38 144 162 126
Nigeria 142 146 5 137 61 122 150 127
Lesotho 148 108 102 118 124 67 100 128
Vietnam 128 102 59 158 141 88 99 129
Saint Lucia 54 24 139 157 126 125 151 130
Burundi 71 160 125 150 107 92 74 131
Iran 90 157 83 68 117 148 118 132
Guinea 96 132 122 123 156 94 60 133
Liberia 79 153 154 38 160 128 71 134
Laos 100 145 105 159 41 112 123 135
Guyana 158 68 75 154 116 118 97 136
Niger 120 128 101 88 157 51 143 137
Bahrain 115 105 159 77 82 157 93 138
Tonga 85 70 161 162 84 79 149 139
Haiti 132 92 144 140 119 53 115 140
Republic of the Congo 144 137 68 124 74 120 137 141
Guinea-Bissau 57 151 163 73 152 91 121 142
Suriname 134 80 114 105 95 151 132 143
Benin 87 143 117 127 162 66 109 144
Sierra Leone 152 129 151 83 114 129 161 145
Cambodia 153 89 86 138 151 138 65 146
Mozambique 147 127 106 65 133 93 153 147
Gabon 151 158 81 96 58 152 128 148
Ivory Coast 126 116 120 156 92 95 129 149
Democratic Republic of the Congo 138 162 91 155 106 63 127 150
Belize 112 36 143 113 147 141 158 151
Central African Republic 58 159 148 146 142 89 108 152
Venezuela 149 154 118 91 85 156 104 153
Papua New Guinea 137 94 130 98 93 161 157 154
Equatorial Guinea 157 147 111 160 52 163 102 155
Syria 140 152 131 142 104 147 88 156
Angola 163 148 119 153 44 117 163 157
Mali 143 124 155 139 143 57 142 158
Mauritania 141 56 95 143 163 158 161 159
Chad 124 135 127 145 131 126 140 160
Yemen 108 155 157 128 125 137 119 161
Iraq 162 156 158 115 87 153 135 162
Libya 150 163 145 112 154 97 156 163
Afghanistan 159 115 152 135 155 140 131
2016 top 10 overall rank [version 1.1][edit]
2016 rank Country 1
Sweden2
Denmark3
Netherlands4
United Kingdom5
Switzerland6
Germany7
Finland8
France9
Austria10
Canada
2014 top 10 overall rank [version 1.0][edit]
2014 rank Country 1
Ireland2
Finland3
Switzerland4
Netherlands5
New Zealand6
Sweden7
United Kingdom8
Norway9
Denmark10
Belgium
Description[edit]
The Good Country Index is a composite statistic of 35 data points mostly generated by the United Nations. These data points are combined into a common measure which gives an overall ranking, and a ranking in seven categories:
- Science and Technology
- Culture
- International Peace and Security
- World Order
- Planet and Climate
- Prosperity and Equality
- Health and Well-being
The concept, and the index itself, were developed by Simon Anholt. The Index was built by Dr. Robert Govers with support from several other organisations.
The top three countries in the 2014 list were Ireland, Finland and Switzerland. Nine of the top 10 countries in overall rankings are in Western Europe, while Canada tops overall rankings in North America. The last three countries on the list are Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan.
Methodology[edit]
Testing and method[edit]
The Index attempts to measure the global impacts of national policies and behaviors: what the country contributes to the global commons, and what they take away. The Index utilizes 35 data points, five for each of seven categories. These data points are produced by the United Nations and by other international agencies, with a few by NGOs and other organisations.
Countries receive scores on each indicator as a fractional rank [0=top rank, 1=lowest] relative to all countries for which data are available. The category rankings are based on mean fractional ranks of the five indicators per category [subject to maximum two missing values per category]. The overall rank is based on the average of the category ranks. This yields a common measure which gives an overall ranking, a ranking in each of the seven categories, and a balance-sheet for each country that shows at a glance how much it contributes to the world and how much it takes away.
Categories and indicators[edit]
Science, Technology & Knowledge
- Number of foreign students studying in the country relative to GDP
- Exports of periodicals, scientific journals and newspapers relative to GDP
- Number of articles published in international journals [2009 latest data] relative to GDP
- Number of Nobel prize winners relative to GDP
- Number of International Patent Cooperation Treaty applications relative to GDP
Culture
- Exports of creative goods [UNCTAD's Creative Economy Report categorisation] relative to GDP
- Exports of creative services [UNCTAD's Creative Economy Report categorisation] relative to GDP
- UNESCO dues in arrears as percentage of contribution [negative indicator]
- Number of countries and territories that citizens can enter without a visa
- Freedom of the press [based on mean score for Reporters without Borders and Freedom House index as a negative indicator]
International Peace and Security
- Number of peacekeeping troops sent overseas relative to GDP
- Dues in arrears to financial contribution to UN peacekeeping missions as percentage of contribution [negative indicator]
- Attributed number of casualties of international organised violence relative to GDP [negative indicator]
- Exports of weapons and ammunition relative to GDP [negative indicator]
- Global Cyber Security Index score [negative indicator]
World Order
- Percentage of population that gives to charity as proxy for cosmopolitan attitude
- Number of refugees hosted relative to GDP
- Number of refugees overseas relative to GDP [negative indicator]
- Population growth rate [negative indicator]
- Number of treaties signed as proxy for diplomatic action and peaceful conflict resolution
Planet and Climate
- National Footprint Accounts Biocapacity reserve [2009]
- Exports of hazardous waste relative to GDP [only 2008 and 2011 data available, so 2011 data used as negative indicator]
- Organic water pollutant [BOD] emissions relative to GDP [2007 latest data as negative indicator]
- CO2 emissions relative to GDP [negative indicator]
- Methane + nitrous oxide + other greenhouse gas [HFC, PFC and SF6] emissions relative to GDP [negative indicator]
Prosperity and Equality
- Trading across borders [open trading performance compared to best practice; i.e. IFC distance to frontier score]
- Number of aid workers and volunteers sent overseas relative to GDP
- Fairtrade market size relative to GDP
- Foreign Direct Investment outflow relative to GDP
- Development cooperation contributions [aid] relative to GDP
Health and Wellbeing
- Amount of wheat tonnes equivalent food aid shipments relative to GDP
- Exports of pharmaceuticals relative to GDP
- Voluntary excess contributions to World Health Organisation relative to GDP
- Humanitarian aid contributions relative to GDP
- International Health Regulations Compliance
Criticism[edit]
The Economist's Daily Chart questions the validity of some of its results. It notes that scaling countries on a GDP basis skews it in favor of poorer countries, and that the interpretation of certain parameters is flawed, but also calls the index "a worthwhile pursuit by imagining how countries might compete when they aim to serve others."
Which country has the best quality of life in 2024?
The top three overall, Norway, Australia and the Netherlands offer high living standards, strong economies, an excellent work-life balance, robust social security systems and inclusive, diverse work environments. All are in the top three happiest countries globally, but each also scored high in other areas.
What is the top 100 richest country in the world?
World's Richest Countries, by GDP per Capita.
Which country is best for future living?
Here is a list of the 24 best countries to live and work in 2024:.
South Korea. Quality of Life for Expats: 21. ... .
Japan. Quality of Life for Expats: 18. ... .
Singapore. Quality of Life for Expats: 12. ... .
Italy. Quality of Life for Expats: 24. ... .
Taiwan. Quality of Life for Expats: 11. ... .
Ireland. ... .
Czech Republic. ... .
Belgium..
What countries have the highest quality of life?
The majority of countries with the highest quality of life are based out of Europe and Asia including Singapore, Switzerland, Denmark, Luxembourg, Ireland, Taiwan, and Qatar, among others.