VANCOUVER – Thanks to its prestige, economic stability and quality of life, Switzerland has emerged the leader on a new list that ranks the countries with the best reputations around the world. In other categories, Canada was deemed to have the best quality of life and the U.K. best for education.
In U.S. News and World Report’s 2019 Best Countries Report, produced with the BAV Group and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, 20,300 respondents from 36 countries in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa were asked to score 80 countries based on 65 attributes.
The attributes were grouped under categories like adventure, citizenship, cultural influence, entrepreneurship, heritage, movers, open for business, power and quality of life.
For the third year in a row, Switzerland took to the top spot, scoring high in areas of business, quality of life and cultural influence. Or in this case, its perceived international neutrality.
“It’s carved out a brand internationally, one of quality and impartiality,” said Dan Hamilton of the John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in a statement.
“It plays a major mediation role, hosts several UN agencies and is influential culturally.”
But authors note that the country isn’t without its challenges, pointing to the growing popularity of right-wing politics and the backlash against immigration.
In other categories, Canada was deemed to have the best quality of life and the U.K. best for education.
Here are the results of the 2019 Best Countries report:
Switzerland
Japan
Canada
Germany
United Kingdom
Sweden
Australia
United States
Norway
France
For Quality of Life
Canada
Sweden
Denmark
To Start a Business
Thailand
India
China
Most Powerful
United States
Russia
China
For Women
Sweden
Denmark
Canada
For Education
United Kingdom
United States
Canada
For Comfortable Retirement
New Zealand
Switzerland
Australia
