For the sixth edition of its , U.S. News & World Report is singling out a new top-performer.
Canada takes the No. 1 ranking this year from Switzerland, which fell to No. 4, while the United States climbed one position to No. 6 overall.
The rankings — which are a collaboration among U.S. News, BAV Group and the University of Pennsylvania鈥檚 Wharton School 鈥� are intended to improve understanding of how nations are perceived globally. They comprise 10 subrankings on such things as 鈥渙pen for business,鈥� 鈥渜uality of life鈥� and 鈥渃ultural influence,鈥� as well as over a dozen 鈥渂est for鈥� rankings.
Over 17,000 people from 36 nations were surveyed online to rank 78 countries that met certain bench marks for gross domestic product, foreign direct investment and international tourism, among other criteria.
(The survey was taken after the 2020 presidential election.)
鈥淣ations are impacted on many critical fronts by how they are perceived globally 鈥� from foreign relations to international business to tourism. These perceptions are ever-evolving in a rapidly changing world,鈥� said U.S. News鈥檚 editor and chief content officer, Kim Castro, in a statement.
鈥淭he 2021 Best Countries analysis combines data and storytelling to explore how countries compare on a host of global issues.鈥�
Changes in this year鈥檚 rankings are due in part to a change in the metrics, which U.S. News reshaped amid two of the biggest stories of 2020 鈥� the COVID-19 pandemic and global reaction to the police killing of George Floyd.
So for this year鈥檚 edition, U.S. News had two new subrankings: 鈥渁gility鈥� (i.e. how adaptable and responsive a country is) and 鈥渟ocial purpose鈥� (which concerns racial equity, animal rights, climate goals and a commitment to social justice).
The top 10 overall standouts, per U.S. News 鈥�
- Canada
- Japan
- Germany
- Switzerland
- Australia
- United States
- New Zealand
- United Kingdom
- Sweden
- Netherlands
This year鈥檚 No. 6 topped the subrankings for 鈥減ower鈥� and 鈥渁gility,鈥� the latter of which was weighted the most heavily. The U.S. also did well in 鈥渆ntrepreneurship鈥� and 鈥渃ultural influence鈥� (No. 3 for both).
Other positive takeaways for the Red, White and Blue could be found in U.S. News鈥� 鈥渂est for鈥� lists: The United States topped the lists of 鈥渕ost influential countries鈥� and 鈥渂est countries for education.鈥� It also ranked fourth on the list of 鈥渂est countries to start a business鈥� and third of 鈥渕ost forward-looking countries.鈥�
But there was room for improvement on the lists of 鈥渂est countries to invest in鈥� (ranked No. 17), 鈥渂est countries for women鈥� (No. 18) and 鈥渂est countries to start a career in鈥� (No. 19). And among subrankings, the U.S. was 20th in 鈥渜uality of life,鈥� 19th in 鈥渟ocial purpose鈥� and 16th in 鈥渉eritage.鈥�
As for the best-ranked country, Canada topped the 鈥渜uality of life鈥� and 鈥渟ocial purpose鈥� subrankings. It was also ranked No. 3 in the 鈥渙pen for business鈥� subranking and sixth in 鈥渆ntrepreneurship.鈥� And on the survey鈥檚 鈥渂est for鈥� lists, Canada was ranked No. 2 among 鈥渂est countries for racial equality鈥� and 鈥渂est countries to headquarter a corporation.鈥� It also was recognized as fourth among 鈥渂est countries for women.鈥�
Other insights gained from the survey:
- Most of those surveyed view women leaders in a positive light, and 68% say that countries led by women tend to be better managed.
- Two-thirds of those surveyed say that despite the pandemic鈥檚 challenges, people have become more caring during it.
- Three-fourths of those surveyed believe that conspiracy theories 鈥渁re a threat to society,鈥� yet about 38% believe that governments made up the pandemic 鈥渢o control their citizens.鈥�
You can check out the full rankings in detail on .
