U.S. News Ranks Canada as the 4th Best Country in The World
Sanjana Kulkarni Published: September 28, 2024
In the latest US News country rankings for 2024, Canada ranked fourth, achieving an overall score of 94.1. The country's high position is attributed to its remarkable performance in quality of life, entrepreneurship, social purpose, and adaptability. Switzerland took the top spot with a score of 100. Here are the top ten countries from this year’s rankings:
Over the past four years, Canada has consistently ranked among the top five countries by U.S. News. Last year, it placed second overall. However, its ranking slipped this year due to declines in scores for "open for business," "heritage," and "entrepreneurship." Despite this, significant gains in scores for "movers," "social purpose," and "adventure" helped Canada remain in the top five overall.
How are countries ranked in the U.S. News rankings?
Every country is ranked according to 73 criteria determined by a compilation of "engaged citizens"' survey answers. These characteristics are then divided into ten themes.
- Entrepreneurship: Considers connectedness to the world, availability of educated and skilled labour force, access to entrepreneurial opportunities, innovation, access to capital, technological expertise, transparent business practices, and legal frameworks.
- Quality of life: Includes affordability, job market, economic stability, family-friendliness, income equality, political stability, safety, education system performance, and health system performance rankings.
- Movers: Considers a country's perceived diversity, dynamism, and uniqueness by survey respondents.
- Development for business: This factor considers the transparency of government procedures, the affordability of manufacturing costs, the level of bureaucracy and corruption in a nation, and its suitability for established companies looking to develop branches or offices there.
- Agility: This factor considers the perceived flexibility, dynamism, modernity, progressiveness, and responsiveness of a nation as perceived by poll participants
- Social purpose: This factor encompasses the degree to which a nation values social justice, property rights, gender equality, animal rights, the environment, and religious freedom. It also considers the existence of reliable institutions, equitable racial representation in politics, and well-distributed political power.
- Cultural influence: How a nation's entertainment and culture are perceived globally, along with the perception of its consumer brands.
- Adventure: How welcoming, enjoyable, and tourist-friendly a nation is perceived to be.
- Power: How much a country is considered a leader economically and politically, with a strong military and international connections.
- Heritage: How culturally approachable the country is, with a rich history, cuisine, and natural attractions.
How did Canada perform?
Following the themes indicated in the preceding section, the table below presents Canada's composite scores. Furthermore, Canada ranks highly in a number of other U.S. News rankings. The country ranked:
- 2nd overall among the finest nations to headquarter a firm (the only country in the top 10 outside of Europe and Asia)
- 4th overall among countries with the best education systems
- 5th overall among countries with the greatest racial equity*
- 5th overall among countries with the most perceived transparency (the only country outside of Europe to make the list)
- 6th overall among countries where people could have a comfortable retirement*
- 6th overall among the greatest places to raise a child*