Oh, Canada!
In the latest 2023 Best Countries ranking unveiled by US News, Canada has secured the impressive second spot on the global stage, marking a noteworthy ascent from its third-place ranking in 2022.
Switzerland, for the second consecutive year, clinched the coveted top position, solidifying its reputation as a premier global destination.
Canada’s rise to prominence is emblematic of its enduring appeal on the world stage, surpassing Germany to secure its new runner-up status.
The rankings, meticulously crafted by US News, involved an intricate analysis of 10 distinct sub-categories, where the top 20 countries in each category were ranked.
Subsequently, an overall ranking of 87 countries was determined based on these assessments. This comprehensive approach ensures a nuanced evaluation of a nation’s standing in the global arena.
The 10 sub-categories explored in the survey encompassed:
- Entrepreneurship
- Quality of Life
- Social Purpose
- Cultural Influence
- Open for Business
- Adventure
- Power
- Heritage
- Agility
- Movers
Canada’s performance in these sub-categories reveals its multifaceted strengths, with the country making it to the top five in four of them.
In Entrepreneurship, Canada achieved a commendable 5th place, trailing behind the United States, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
For Quality of Life, Canada secured the 3rd spot, outshone only by Sweden and Norway.
In the Social Purpose category, Canada landed at a respectable 4th position, trailing Sweden, Norway, and Finland. An exceptional 2nd place was secured by Canada in Agility, showcasing its adaptability and responsiveness to change.
The rankings go a step further by assessing the countries on various attributes and qualities, producing a list of the “Best For” countries in these respects. Canada notably earned its place in the top seven for nine different attributes among the 15 assessed by US News:
- 2nd best country to start a career
- 4th best country for education
- 7th best country for studying abroad
- 7th best country for raising kids
- 2nd best country for racial equality
- 6th best country for women
- 6th best country for comfortable retirement
- 6th most transparent country
- 2nd best country to headquarter a corporation
This recognition underscores Canada’s versatility and its ability to cater to diverse needs and aspirations, making it an ideal destination for various pursuits.
The meticulous methodology behind these rankings involved a survey of over 17,000 individuals from 36 countries, including business leaders, college-educated individuals, and nationally representative citizens from each country.
Respondents were tasked with associating countries with various attributes within the 10 sub-rankings, which encompassed aspects like power, cultural influence, heritage, and social purpose.
It’s worth noting that this report was a collaborative effort between US News and World Report, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and the global marketing and communications services company, WPP, ensuring a comprehensive and insightful evaluation of countries’ global standing.
The survey took place between March 17th and June 12th of this year.
See the full breakdown of Canada’s rankings here.
The 25 best countries in the world:
- Switzerland
- Canada
- Sweden
- Australia
- United States
- Japan
- Germany
- New Zealand
- United Kingdom
- Netherlands
- Norway
- France
- Denmark
- Finland
- Italy
- Singapore
- Spain
- Belgium
- United Arab Emirates
- China
- South Korea
- Austria
- Ireland
- Luxembourg
- Portugal
