2024 Best Countries Report: Canada Falls to 4th Position Behind the U.S.

Canada is the 4th best country in the world according to the 2024 Best Countries Report by U.S. News & World Report.

Credit: sebastiaan stam/ Unsplash

Switzerland has retained its title as the top country in the world for the third consecutive year, according to the 2024 Best Countries rankings released by U.S. News & World Report in collaboration with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

In its ninth edition, the analysis assessed 89 nations across 73 attributes categorized into ten sub-rankings considering factors such as entrepreneurship, quality of life, and adventure.

Canada’s position has fallen to the 4th from 2nd in 2023. The country was also ranked 2nd in 2020. Canada was the best country according to the 2021 report and 3rd best in 2022.

Switzerland, marking its seventh time at the top since 2017, excelled in categories related to business openness, life quality, and entrepreneurial environment. Following Switzerland, Japan advanced to second place, benefitting from gains in business, movers, and adventure categories. The United States moved up to the third spot, its best position yet, with significant improvements in business openness and notable achievements in the movers category, where it ranked 20th.

Australia is in fifth place. Denmark made a significant leap back into the top ten after missing out last year, now placed tenth.

Eric Gertler, Executive Chairman & CEO of U.S. News, said in a news release that the rankings are a reflection of global perceptions and potential for a country’s economic, political, and cultural success, particularly valuable for strategic decision-making across various sectors.

The 2024 Best Countries Report is a ranking and analysis project by U.S. News & World Report U.S. in collaboration with WPP and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

2024 Best Countries Report Rankings:

Best overall country

1. Switzerland
2. Japan
3. United States
4. Canada
5. Australia
6. Sweden
7. Germany
8. United Kingdom
9. New Zealand
10. Denmark

The 10 Lowest-Ranked Countries in the World

80. Azerbaijan
81. Azerbaijan
82. Iran
83. Kazakhstan
84. Honduras
85. Cameroon
86. Algeria
87. Lebanon
88. Serbia
89. Belarus

Most Powerful Country in the World

Canada ranks 13th.

1. United States
2. China
3. Russia
4. United Kingdom
5. Germany
6. South Korea
7. Franc
8. Japan
9. Saudi Arabia
10. Israel

Best Countries For Education

1. United States
2. United Kingdom
3. Germany
4. Canada
5. France
6. Switzerland
7. Japan
8. Australia
9. Sweden
10. Denmark

Best Countries for a Comfortable Retirement

1. Switzerland
2. New Zealand
3. Portugal
4. Australia
5. Spain
6. Canada
7. Denmark
8. Netherlands
9. Sweden
10. Luxembourg

Best Countries For Women

1. Sweden
2. Denmark
3. Norway
4. Finland
5. Netherlands
6. Canada
7. Switzerland
8. New Zealnad
9. Australia
10. Germany

Best Countries for Raising Kids

1. Denmark
2. Sweden
3. Norway
4. Finland
5. Switzerland
6. Canada
7. Netherlands
8. Australia
9. New Zealand
10. Austria

Best Countries to Travel Alone

Canada ranks 12th.

1. Spain
2. Greece
3. Italy
4. New Zeland
5. Portugal
6. Australia
7. Thailand
8. Brazil
9. Netherlands
10. Ireland

Best Countries for Racial Equity

1. Denmark
2. New Zealand
3. Netherlands
4. Finland
5. Canada
6. Norway
7. Iceland
8. Sweden
9. Belgium
10. Ireland

Methodology:

U.S. News & World Report and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania evaluated and ranked countries based on 73 attributes relevant to modern nation success. Nearly 17,000 participants worldwide contributed to the survey from March 22 to May 23. The data, analyzed by Professor David Reibstein, grouped attributes into ten subcategories, including Quality of Life, Cultural Influence, and Power, contributing to the overall ranking. Countries’ scores were scaled, with top performers receiving a value of 100.

• Movers (16.58%): different, distinctive, dynamic, unique.
• Quality of Life (13.21%): a good job market, affordable, economically stable, family-friendly, income equality, politically stable, safe, well-developed public education system, well-developed public health system.
• Entrepreneurship (12.91%): connected to the rest of the world, educated population, entrepreneurial, innovative, provides easy access to capital, skilled labor force, technological expertise, transparent business practices, well-developed infrastructure, well-developed digital infrastructure, well-developed legal framework.
• Agility (12.65%): adaptable, dynamic, modern, progressive, and responsive.
• Social Purpose (12.53%): cares about human rights, cares about the environment, gender equality, religious freedom, respects property rights, trustworthy, well-distributed political power, racial equity, cares about animal rights, committed to climate goals, committed to social justice.
• Open for Business (9.65%): cheap manufacturing costs, favorable tax environment, bureaucratic, corrupt, transparent government practices.
• Cultural Influence (9.30%): culturally significant in terms of entertainment, fashionable, happy, has an influential culture, has strong consumer brands, modern, prestigious, trendy.
• Adventure (5.62%): friendly, fun, good for tourism, pleasant climate, scenic, sexy.
• Power (4.34%): a leader, economically influential, has strong exports, politically influential, strong international alliances, strong military.
• Heritage (3.22%): culturally accessible, has a rich history, has great food, many cultural attractions, many geographic attractions.

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