U.S. News & World Report has published its inaugural global country rankings, created in partnership with BAV Consulting and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The rankings evaluate how countries are perceived worldwide, using a range of criteria such as economic strength, military capability, quality of life, tourism appeal, historic preservation, sustainability and more. The analysis is based on survey responses from over 16,200 people.
“Globalization has made the world a competitive place for business, influence and the quality of life. Just as we have done with universities, hospitals and other institutions, our Best Countries portal will be a global homepage for stories and data to help citizens, business leaders and governments evaluate performance in a rapidly changing world,” said Mortimer B. Zuckerman, chairman and editor-in-chief of U.S. News.
The top-ranked country overall was Germany. Its high placement reflects strengths in citizenship benefits, entrepreneurial environment, global influence and overall quality of life. Canada ranked second overall and earned the top spot for quality of life, credited for economic stability, a strong job market, safety, political steadiness, relatively equal income distribution, public education and universal healthcare. The United Kingdom placed third, followed by the United States in fourth.
Although the United States finished fourth overall, it led the rankings for global power. Other category leaders included India, recognized as a leading emerging economy, and Brazil, noted for its tourism appeal—showing that countries can top specific measures even if they rank lower on the overall list.