Switzerland Ranks First Again in Best Countries Index

Switzerland, famous for its watches, cheese, and chocolate, has once again secured the top spot in the 2024 U.S. News & World Report Best Countries ranking. Japan claimed second place, while the United States ranked third, achieving its highest position in history. The top five also includes Canada and Australia.

Top Performers & Lower-Ranked Countries

The Best Countries ranking is developed in collaboration with WPP, a global marketing and communications firm, and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The rankings are based on a global survey of nearly 17,000 people across 36 countries, evaluating 89 nations on 73 attributes, including characteristics such as “dynamic,” “safe,” “a leader,” “committed to human rights,” “economically stable,” and “socially just.”

For the first time, Kuwait and Iceland were included in the index after meeting the ranking’s baseline criteria.

Switzerland: The Consistent Leader

Switzerland has held the No. 1 position almost every year since 2017. In the 2024 study, its ranking was strengthened by high scores in three key subcategories:

Quality of Life (No. 3)
Entrepreneurship (No. 5)
Social Responsibility (No. 7)
Additionally, Switzerland ranked No. 2 for "Business Openness" and No. 8 for "Cultural Influence." It improved four places in the "Agility" category, ranking 19th out of 89 nations compared to 23rd in 2023. The country’s lowest ranking was 29th for Heritage.

Japan: A Strong Climb

Japan rose four places to No. 2, a position it last held in 2021. Like Switzerland, Japan performed well in Entrepreneurship (No. 3) and Agility (No. 8).

Home to Toyota, Sony, and other global giants, Japan ranked first in multiple key attributes, including innovation, modernity, education level, and technological expertise.

United States: A Historic High

The United States climbed two spots, from 5th place in 2023 to 3rd in 2024, marking its highest-ever ranking in the nine-year history of the index.

Between 2019 and 2022, the U.S. steadily rose from 8th to 4th place, followed by a brief decline. In 2024, the U.S. ranked:

1st in Power & Influence
2nd in Entrepreneurship
3rd in Cultural Influence

Trends in the Top 10 & Global Shifts

The top 10 also included Sweden, Germany, the UK, New Zealand, and Denmark. European countries dominated the top 25, securing 15 positions in the 2024 rankings.

Meanwhile, two Middle Eastern nations—UAE and Qatar—also made the list, alongside Japan, Singapore, China, and South Korea from Asia.

Key Takeaways:

Higher-ranked countries tend to see less fluctuation in their rankings year-over-year.
Lower-ranked nations experience larger ranking shifts.
Among the top 25 countries, the biggest drops were:

Finland (-6)
Belgium (-5)
The biggest climbers were:

China (+4)
Japan (+4)
Among the top 50, only four countries experienced a ranking change greater than four places:

Finland (-6)
Belgium (-5)
Israel (-10)
South Africa (+6)

Countries with the Lowest Rankings

According to U.S. News & World Report, the 10 lowest-ranked countries in the world are:

Ukraine
Azerbaijan
Iran
Kazakhstan
Honduras
Cameroon
Algeria
Lebanon
Serbia
Belarus

Middle East Conflict & Its Impact

As part of the survey, respondents were also asked to agree or disagree with certain global statements.

Over 80% of participants agreed or somewhat agreed that the war in the Middle East could escalate into a broader global conflict.

Context:
The survey was conducted in late March, approximately five months after Hamas militants crossed into Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking hundreds hostage. In response, Israel launched strikes on Gaza, drawing global criticism and calls for a ceasefire.

Israel’s ranking fell by 10 places to No. 46 in 2024, marking its worst performance since the ranking began in 2016. The country saw significant declines in:

Adaptability (-17 places)
Political Stability (-16 places)
Commitment to Human Rights (-10 places)

Expert Insight:
"Israel’s position on the global stage will be heavily shaped by this conflict, but it won’t necessarily be entirely negative," said Clionadh Raleigh, CEO and President of Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, an NGO tracking political violence worldwide.

"Some emerging powers and regional players have been far less critical of Israel’s actions, and I believe they will seek to restore relations with Israel as soon as possible."

Among all ranked nations, Israel saw the third-largest decline, behind:

Bahrain (-11 places, now No. 69)
Ukraine (-12 places, now No. 80)
Ukraine & Russia: Major Ranking Drops
Ukraine fell 12 places, from 68th in 2023 to 80th in 2024, marking the largest decline in the index.

Initially Ukraine’s ranking jumped nine places. However, it has since fallen to its lowest position in the history of the ranking.

At the same time, support for Ukraine among global respondents has slightly decreased:

Russia also fell by 12 places to No. 36, its worst-ever ranking. However, its position remained relatively stable in recent years.

Key Global Influences in 2024

✔ U.S. Elections & Global Impact:
Over 85% of survey respondents agreed that U.S. elections influence the world.

✔ Trump’s Impact:

48.5% of respondents believe Donald Trump would have a negative impact on global affairs if re-elected.
34% see his influence as positive.
✔ Optimism About AI:

Over 80% of respondents in China, Thailand, and Vietnam believe AI’s benefits outweigh its risks.
In contrast, Western nations remain more skeptical—only 51% in Canada and 50% in Australia hold a positive view.
✔ Declining Support for Immigration:
In 2024, only 57% of respondents believed their country should be more open to immigrants, compared to 61% in 2022.