For the third year in a row, Switzerland was ranked the best country in the world.
The 2024 rankings, released Tuesday, were determined by U.S. News & World Report, which partnered with the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Switzerland took the top spot from 2017 to 2020, but in recent years was superceded by Canada. The Commonwealth nation fell to fourth in 2024.
The rankings, which examined 89 countries, considered factors such as quality of life, entrepreneurship, and power. Each country received scores on 10 categories, including business-friendliness and agility, which U.S. News describes as being “most adaptable to change.” The weighted sum determined the overall score.
“The Best Countries report speaks to the value of having a strong global image as nations compete for foreign trade, tourists and socioeconomic influence,” David Reibstein, professor of marketing at the Wharton School, said in a statement. “The Best Countries ranking is more than a beauty contest. Global leaders need to realize that how their countries are viewed affects their economies through tourism, foreign direct investment and foreign trade, all critical components of their GDP.”
Below, read on for the best countries in the world, according to U.S. News, and the categories in which each one excels.
Population data for each country is from the US Census Bureau and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) information was sourced from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).