Switzerland is named ‘best country in the world’: US, UK and Australia all make the top ten in annual rankings based on global survey
A new survey shows that Switzerland has been named the best country in the world for the third year in a row.
The ranking, published annually by US News & World in its Best Countries rankings, includes 15 European countries in the top 25, with East and Southeast Asia occupying four spots, the Middle East taking two spots, and North America and Oceania each taking two spots.
The analysis included the opinions of more than 17,000 people around the world to determine how well each country scored in categories such as power, openness to business and cultural influence.
Topping the ranking was Switzerland, which has topped the list almost every year since 2017. According to the report, the country was “bolstered by notable performances in three of the most heavily weighted sub-rankings: quality of life, entrepreneurship and social purpose.”
Japan, which rose four places in one year, was ranked second due to its high rankings in the entrepreneurship and growth categories.
The U.S. came in third, up two spots from its previous ranking, coming in at number one for strength and agility, number two for entrepreneurship, and number three for cultural influence.
Topping the rankings was Switzerland, which has topped the rankings almost every year since 2017
Japan was ranked number two
The US was ranked third
Other countries in the top 10 are Canada, Australia, Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Denmark.
Ranking 11 through 25 were Norway, France, the Netherlands, Singapore, Italy, China, the UAE, South Korea, Spain, Finland, Austria, Iceland, Belgium, Ireland and Qatar.
On the other side of the table were countries from Africa, the Middle East, South America and Eastern Europe.
Ukraine, which has been dealing with a brutal relationship with Russia for 30 months, is among the lowest-ranked countries in the world, ranking 80th.
The city saw the biggest drop in the rankings, dropping from 68th to 80th place in just one year.
Russia rose one spot in the rankings, moving from 37th to 36th place.
Ukraine was followed by Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Honduras, Cameroon, Algeria, Lebanon, Serbia and Belarus.
Recent global events have dramatically changed the position of countries, particularly in the Middle East.
According to US News & World, Israel has dropped 10 spots from last year due to the war between Israel and Hamas.
Canada was ranked fourth
Australia came in at number five
Sweden was considered the sixth best country in the world
According to the survey’s organizers, more than 80 percent of the 17,000 respondents agreed to some extent that “conflicts in the Middle East will lead to a larger global conflict.”
Israel’s response to the horrific October 7 attacks, in which Hamas fighters slaughtered some 1,200 people and took hundreds more hostage, has been met with fierce criticism.
As a result, perceptions of Israel’s commitment to human rights, political stability and adaptability plummeted this year.
Clionadh Raleigh, CEO and president of Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, told US News & World: “Israel’s position on the world stage will be dramatically affected by this conflict, but I wouldn’t say it will be entirely negative.
“The reason for this is that other emerging powers and regional power brokers are much less critical of Israel’s handling of this conflict and (I think) will try to revive their new, stronger relationship as soon as time permits.”