Switzerland, Canada and Japan maintain their dominance in the overall 2020 Best Countries Report, a ranking and analysis project by U.S. News & World Report, BAV Group and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. This year, the project evaluated the perceptions of 73 nations across a range of categories, from economic influence and military might to education and quality of life, to determine which countries wield the most influence on a global scale.
Canada is seen as the world’s most trustworthy country, according to the report, a position it has held since the annual global survey first released in 2016. Canada has registered a perfect 100-point score for trustworthiness each year since 2016. The trustworthiness attribute does not carry a specific description and is left to survey respondents to interpret.
Canada is also the world’s best country for quality of life.
“The Best Countries analysis taps into U.S. News’ decades-long expertise in supplementing data with in-depth journalism,” said Kim Castro, editor and chief content officer at U.S. News. “By collaborating with leaders in data and academia, we’re able to help thought leaders, business decision makers, policy makers and citizens understand how perceptions impact their country’s standing in the world.”
Key themes
Switzerland stays on top overall. Canada moves up to No. 2, and Japan is No. 3. Rounding out the top 5 are Germany and Australia. The U.K. comes in at No. 6, and the U.S. rose one spot to No. 7.
Respondents paint a bleak picture when asked about nations’ trustworthiness. While the U.S. is perceived as the most powerful country in the world, data shows it is not perceived as very trustworthy. Canada is perceived as the most trustworthy country, and has been since the first Best Countries report in 2016. During that same time, perceptions of the U.S. as being trustworthy have steadily dropped to a record-low of 16.3 on a 100-point scale. The U.K. also fell in this attribute, while Greece, South Korea and Spain improved.
There is a global consensus about the effect of climate change. Most respondents (87%) agree that climate change is real. Of the 36 countries surveyed, people in Russia agreed about climate change the least (71%), and Indonesia agreed the most (97%) along with African nations including Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa. But only 60% of respondents agree their country is effectively addressing its effects.
Global anxiety about technology persists. Nearly three out of four people (74%) think large technology companies like Facebook, Google and Amazon should be limited, and about the same number agree that technology is displacing jobs. The UK, Canada and Australia agree most with limiting large technology corporations. In Japan, which is perceived as a technology powerhouse, just 31.5% agree that technology is displacing jobs and 55% agree that big tech should be limited.
Gender equality is viewed favorably, but there is a gap between perception and reality. Ninety percent of respondents agree that women should be entitled to the same rights as men. However, when asked whether women actually do have the same economic opportunities as men in their countries, only 64% of respondents agreed. A little more than two out of three people (69%) said they view traditional gender roles as important to a functioning society, and that perception is similar between men (73%) and women (66%).
“This year’s Best Countries rankings continue to show us human rights, diversity, sustainability and free trade are all top of mind for many worldwide, connecting us together. These fundamental topics are vital to a nation’s brand strength and reflect how the quality of life can have a dramatic influence on global perception,” said Michael Sussman, CEO, BAV Group.
2020 Best Countries rankings
(See the full rankings here)
Overall
Switzerland
Canada
Japan
Germany
Australia
United Kingdom
United States
Sweden
Netherlands
Norway
Most Powerful
United States
Russia
China
To Start a Business
Thailand
Malaysia
China
For Quality of Life
Canada
Denmark
Sweden
For Women
Denmark
Sweden
Netherlands
For Education
United States
United Kingdom
Canada
For Green Living
Sweden
Switzerland
Finland
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