From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ranks of countries by the Good Country Index 1.5 (2020)

The Good Country Index measures how much each of the 163 countries on the list contribute to the planet, and to the human race, through their policies and behaviors. [1] [2]

Top 50 overall rank (version 1.5)

2022 rank [3] Country
1   Sweden
2   Denmark
3   Germany
4   Netherlands
5   Finland
6   Canada
7   Belgium
8   Ireland
9   France
10   Austria
11   Norway
12   Luxembourg
13   Spain
14   United Kingdom
15    Switzerland
16   Cyprus
17   Slovenia
18   Australia
19   New Zealand
20   Iceland
21   Bulgaria
22   Estonia
23   Hungary
24   Italy
25   Singapore
26   Lithuania
27   Poland
28   Czech Republic
29   Portugal
30   Croatia
31   Malta
32   Slovakia
33   Chile
34   Japan
35   Latvia
36   Greece
37   South Korea
38   Serbia
39   North Macedonia
40   Moldova
41   Romania
42   Montenegro
43   Armenia
44   South Africa
45   Uruguay
46   Cuba
47   India
48   Malaysia
49   Costa Rica
50   Bosnia and Herzegovina

2018 top 10 overall rank (version 1.3)

2018 rank [4] Country
1   Finland
2   Netherlands
3   Ireland
4   Sweden
5   Germany
6   Denmark
7    Switzerland
8   Norway
9   France
10   Spain

2017 top 163 overall rank (version 1.2)

2017 rank [5] Country Science and Technology Culture International Peace and Security World Order Planet and Climate Prosperity and Equality Health and Well-being
1   Netherlands 8 2 27 3 19 4 9
2   Switzerland 11 4 44 10 2 5 6
3   Denmark 4 6 64 9 14 2 3
4   Finland 7 13 52 8 6 9 12
5   Germany 21 15 37 2 18 14 7
6   Sweden 17 5 67 4 26 3 1
7   Ireland 32 8 50 21 10 1 2
8   United Kingdom 5 11 48 12 11 35 4
9   Austria 6 7 65 1 17 13 28
10   Norway 49 22 51 7 5 8 5
11   France 24 14 53 16 3 17 23
12   Hungary 3 19 17 43 32 23 33
13   Belgium 9 1 109 13 22 7 16
14   Canada 29 25 41 11 39 27 8
15   Singapore 26 29 14 30 21 19 49
16   Italy 41 26 55 14 7 36 24
17   New Zealand 12 35 33 19 27 69 17
18   Spain 40 30 70 15 9 34 22
19   Luxembourg 37 10 100 20 30 56 11
20   Cyprus 31 44 73 17 4 38 59
21   Japan 61 45 18 47 33 47 21
22   Bulgaria 14 39 69 32 40 39 53
23   Australia 20 48 54 6 50 102 13
24   Portugal 39 12 133 28 23 21 39
25   United States 38 67 72 29 35 62 10
26   Greece 27 47 115 31 15 50 29
27   Iceland 15 37 77 42 1 105 41
28   Estonia 36 3 93 72 57 37 27
29   South Korea 44 34 103 33 98 65 19
30   Poland 23 21 107 24 34 46 79
31   Moldova 47 46 9 64 73 22 87
32   Slovenia 10 16 160 18 12 77 57
33   Malta 62 28 124 5 20 42 76
34   Czech Republic 2 9 98 48 60 98 47
35   Chile 74 51 19 26 43 73 91
36   Croatia 33 38 146 58 13 10 83
37   Malaysia 52 41 34 40 149 19 46
38   Turkey 55 75 78 39 51 40 44
39   Costa Rica 76 32 16 22 46 82 110
40   Romania 30 31 58 36 37 81 112
41   Latvia 13 17 104 70 42 80 70
42   Lithuania 18 23 99 56 16 124 64
43   Mauritius 83 27 56 34 78 25 126
44   Morocco 45 85 10 114 79 43 58
45   Albania 28 33 84 45 132 6 106
46   North Macedonia 19 55 135 54 65 74 34
47   South Africa 25 65 2 25 150 114 56
48   Slovakia 42 20 113 52 24 142 52
49   Uruguay 135 59 6 37 8 135 80
50   Barbados 35 18 126 103 54 32 103
51   Philippines 146 58 47 61 56 12 94
52   Jordan 65 91 31 111 137 24 18
53   Israel 34 63 123 84 25 99 51
54   Ukraine 1 62 108 57 128 72 55
55   Thailand 107 54 21 23 138 109 37
56   Tunisia 72 93 3 107 69 70 92
57   Georgia 86 109 79 101 55 11 66
58   United Arab Emirates 84 53 147 53 115 49 14
59   India 67 57 32 89 97 49 35
60   Qatar 145 114 36 94 62 61 25
61   Bosnia and Herzegovina 16 69 149 35 135 45 95
62   Lebanon 68 66 153 76 89 31 63
63   Kenya 59 83 63 44 63 130 114
64   Fiji 50 81 76 161 109 44 36
65   Russia 53 101 82 97 67 116 43
66   Guatemala 119 83 23 71 113 78 77
67   Sri Lanka 117 141 26 78 72 52 78
68   Oman 123 126 11 119 86 75 26
69   Serbia 105 78 80 74 83 15 138
70   Panama 99 117 110 27 99 68 54
71   Montenegro 48 61 128 41 91 71 134
72   Nicaragua 110 100 96 87 140 20 30
73   Egypt 60 123 4 120 70 134 73
74   Mexico 95 64 85 99 90 108 48
75   Armenia 56 103 136 104 108 48 31
76   China 70 111 40 109 96 113 48
77   Uganda 82 107 90 63 71 87 90
78   Belarus 46 95 132 92 75 84 67
79   Samoa 64 60 1 130 45 145 146
80   Brazil 109 119 61 50 53 162 40
81   Ecuador 139 106 24 80 94 110 50
82   Argentina 75 119 39 49 112 100 122
83   Timor-Leste 73 133 49 102 120 29 105
84   Dominican Republic 122 125 129 51 31 76 81
85   Kuwait 127 110 140 81 66 83 20
86   Burkina Faso 92 124 46 66 148 30 125
87   Colombia 78 118 15 121 88 119 98
88   Namibia 66 42 89 106 103 136 96
89   Azerbaijan 129 139 42 132 29 86 89
90   Kyrgyzstan 80 76 121 66 159 60 86
91   Grenada 22 50 62 152 77 155 133
92   Brunei 125 79 8 163 49 158 68
93   Senegal 69 87 43 100 139 59 160
94   Seychelles 89 49 150 60 100 101 120
95   Peru 102 90 97 95 80 96 113
96   Dominica 51 73 137 116 81 104 111
97   Mongolia 131 96 28 141 118 33 130
98   Cameroon 101 144 13 90 105 150 74
99   Bolivia 161 98 45 46 136 106 85
100   Indonesia 160 88 7 62 144 133 84
101   Zambia 154 149 57 55 64 121 82
102   Rwanda 118 161 29 144 36 54 141
103   Togo 111 117 38 133 161 16 148
104   Ghana 63 104 66 93 121 107 139
105   Tanzania 156 121 12 85 76 143 101
106   Saudi Arabia 81 136 141 117 122 85 15
107   Bangladesh 130 130 87 59 130 132 32
108   Kazakhstan 116 131 20 110 123 131 72
109   El Salvador 121 99 134 147 102 58 42
110   Trinidad and Tobago 93 71 116 136 111 28 152
111   Marshall Islands 43 40 162 149 129 41 144
112   Eswatini 104 112 156 125 47 55 117
113   Jamaica 77 86 74 86 101 146 147
114   Zimbabwe 98 112 70 151 145 26 107
115   Algeria 113 138 22 79 48 160 159
116   Antigua and Barbuda 91 74 103 131 68 139 124
117   Cape Verde 103 84 138 108 28 115 154
118   Botswana 133 72 112 75 110 90 145
119   Malawi 94 142 60 69 146 111 116
120   Madagascar 106 97 25 126 153 103 136
121   Bahamas 114 52 94 148 59 127 155
122   Honduras 136 120 88 122 158 64 62
123   Pakistan 88 150 92 129 134 123 38
124   Paraguay 155 140 30 82 127 154 69
125   Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 97 43 142 124 38 144 162
126   Nigeria 142 146 5 137 61 122 150
127   Lesotho 148 108 102 118 124 67 100
128   Vietnam 128 102 59 158 141 88 99
129   Saint Lucia 54 24 139 157 126 125 151
130   Burundi 71 160 125 150 107 92 74
131   Iran 90 157 83 68 117 148 118
132   Guinea 96 132 122 123 156 94 60
133   Liberia 79 153 154 38 160 128 71
134   Laos 100 145 105 159 41 112 123
135   Guyana 158 68 75 154 116 118 97
136   Niger 120 128 101 88 157 51 143
137   Bahrain 115 105 159 77 82 157 93
138   Tonga 85 70 161 162 84 79 149
139   Haiti 132 92 144 140 119 53 115
140   Republic of the Congo 144 137 68 124 74 120 137
141   Guinea-Bissau 57 151 163 73 152 91 121
142   Suriname 134 80 114 105 95 151 132
143   Benin 87 143 117 127 162 66 109
144   Sierra Leone 152 129 151 83 114 129 161
145   Cambodia 153 89 86 138 151 138 65
146   Mozambique 147 127 106 65 133 93 153
147   Gabon 151 158 81 96 58 152 128
148   Ivory Coast 126 116 120 156 92 95 129
149   Democratic Republic of the Congo 138 162 91 155 106 63 127
150   Belize 112 36 143 113 147 141 158
151   Central African Republic 58 159 148 146 142 89 108
152   Venezuela 149 154 118 91 85 156 104
153   Papua New Guinea 137 94 130 98 93 161 157
154   Equatorial Guinea 157 147 111 160 52 163 102
155   Syria 140 152 131 142 104 147 88
156   Angola 163 148 119 153 44 117 163
157   Mali 143 124 155 139 143 57 142
158   Mauritania 141 56 95 143 163 158 161
159   Chad 124 135 127 145 131 126 140
160   Yemen 108 155 157 128 125 137 119
161   Iraq 162 156 158 115 87 153 135
162   Libya 150 163 145 112 154 97 156
163   Afghanistan 159 115 152 135 155 140 131

2016 top 10 overall rank (version 1.1)

2016 rank Country
1   Sweden
2   Denmark
3   Netherlands
4   United Kingdom
5    Switzerland
6   Germany
7   Finland
8   France
9   Austria
10   Canada

2014 top 10 overall rank (version 1.0)

2014 rank Country
1   Ireland
2   Finland
3    Switzerland
4   Netherlands
5   New Zealand
6   Sweden
7   United Kingdom
8   Norway
9   Denmark
10   Belgium

Description

The Good Country Index is a composite statistic of 35 data points mostly generated by the United Nations. These data points are combined into a common measure which gives an overall ranking, and a ranking in seven categories:

  • Science and Technology
  • Culture
  • International Peace and Security
  • World Order
  • Planet and Climate
  • Prosperity and Equality
  • Health and Well-being

The concept, and the index itself, were developed by Simon Anholt. The Index was built by Dr. Robert Govers with support from several other organisations. [6]

The top three countries in the 2014 list were Ireland, Finland and Switzerland. [7] Nine of the top 10 countries in overall rankings are in Western Europe, while Canada tops overall rankings in North America. [8] The last three countries on the list are Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan.

Methodology

Testing and method

The Index attempts to measure the global impacts of national policies and behaviors: what the country contributes to the global commons, and what they take away. The Index utilizes 35 data points, five for each of seven categories. These data points are produced by the United Nations and by other international agencies, with a few by NGOs and other organisations.

Countries receive scores on each indicator as a fractional rank (0=top rank, 1=lowest) relative to all countries for which data are available. The category rankings are based on mean fractional ranks of the five indicators per category (subject to maximum two missing values per category). The overall rank is based on the average of the category ranks. This yields a common measure which gives an overall ranking, a ranking in each of the seven categories, and a balance-sheet for each country that shows at a glance how much it contributes to the world and how much it takes away. [9]

Categories and indicators

Science, Technology & Knowledge

Culture

  • Exports of creative goods ( UNCTAD's Creative Economy Report categorisation) relative to GDP
  • Exports of creative services (UNCTAD's Creative Economy Report categorisation) relative to GDP
  • UNESCO dues in arrears as percentage of contribution (negative indicator)
  • Number of countries and territories that citizens can enter without a visa
  • Freedom of the press (based on mean score for Reporters without Borders and Freedom House index as a negative indicator)

International Peace and Security

  • Number of peacekeeping troops sent overseas relative to GDP
  • Dues in arrears to financial contribution to UN peacekeeping missions as percentage of contribution (negative indicator)
  • Attributed number of casualties of international organised violence relative to GDP (negative indicator)
  • Exports of weapons and ammunition relative to GDP (negative indicator)
  • Global Cyber Security Index score (negative indicator)

World Order

  • Percentage of population that gives to charity as proxy for cosmopolitan attitude
  • Number of refugees hosted relative to GDP
  • Number of refugees overseas relative to GDP (negative indicator)
  • Population growth rate (negative indicator)
  • Number of treaties signed as proxy for diplomatic action and peaceful conflict resolution

Planet and Climate

  • National Footprint Accounts Biocapacity reserve (2009)
  • Exports of hazardous waste relative to GDP (only 2008 and 2011 data available, so 2011 data used as negative indicator)
  • Organic water pollutant (BOD) emissions relative to GDP (2007 latest data as negative indicator)
  • CO2 emissions relative to GDP (negative indicator)
  • Methane + nitrous oxide + other greenhouse gas (HFC, PFC and SF6) emissions relative to GDP (negative indicator)

Prosperity and Equality

  • Trading across borders (open trading performance compared to best practice; i.e. IFC distance to frontier score)
  • Number of aid workers and volunteers sent overseas relative to GDP
  • Fairtrade market size relative to GDP
  • Foreign Direct Investment outflow relative to GDP
  • Development cooperation contributions (aid) relative to GDP

Health and Wellbeing

  • Amount of wheat tonnes equivalent food aid shipments relative to GDP
  • Exports of pharmaceuticals relative to GDP
  • Voluntary excess contributions to World Health Organisation relative to GDP
  • Humanitarian aid contributions relative to GDP
  • International Health Regulations Compliance

Criticism

The Economist's Daily Chart questions the validity of some of its results. It notes that scaling countries on a GDP basis skews it in favor of poorer countries, and that the interpretation of certain parameters is flawed, but also calls the index "a worthwhile pursuit by imagining how countries might compete when they aim to serve others." [10]

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ Anholt, Simon; Govers, Robert. "About the Index". The Good Country Index. Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  2. ^ "Results - the Good Country Index". Archived from the original on 2019-02-17. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
  3. ^ "The Good Country Index - Results". Goodcountryindex.org. 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  4. ^ "The Good Country Index - Results". Goodcountryindex.org. 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  5. ^ "The Good Country Index - Results". Goodcountryindex.org. 2019. Archived from the original on 17 February 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  6. ^ Anholt, Simon; Govers, Robert. "Acknowledgements". The Good Country Index. Archived from the original on 2016-03-10. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  7. ^ Anholt, Simon; Govers, Robert. "Overall Rankings". The Good Country Index. Archived from the original on 17 February 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2018. (version 1.0)
  8. ^ Gander, Kashmira (24 June 2014). "Ireland is officially the 'best country in the world', says study". The Independent. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  9. ^ Anholt, Simon; Govers, Robert. "FAQ". The Good Country Index. Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  10. ^ L.P., R.L.W. AND K.N.C. (24 June 2014). "The goodness of nations". The Economist. Retrieved 4 January 2016.

External links