A major US media company has revealed its list of the best countries in the world, revealing that Switzerland tops the ranking, while 14 other European nations are in the top 25.
The ranking, published by US News & World’s annual Best Countries report, saw 15 European countries in the top 25 spots, East and Southeast Asia taking four spots, and the Middle East taking two spots, with North America and Oceania taking two spots each.
The analysis, conducted with marketing and communications services firm WPP and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, took the opinions of more than 17,000 people around the world to assess each nation’s ranking in categories including power, agility and cultural influence.
At the top of the ranking is Switzerland, which has been at the top of the table almost every year since 2017. The report says this was “reinforced by notable results in three of the most heavily weighted sub-rankings: quality of life, entrepreneurship and social purpose.”
Japan, which rose four places in a single year, came in second place for its high ranking in the entrepreneurship and mobilization categories.
Surprisingly, the United States ranked third, two places higher than in the previous ranking. It ranked first in power and agility, second in entrepreneurship, and third in cultural influence.
At the top of the ranking is Switzerland, which has been at the top of the table almost every year since 2017 (file image)
Japan ranked number two (Archive image)
The United States was in third place (archive image)
Other countries in the top 10 included Canada, Australia, Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Denmark.
Ranking from 11 to 25 were Norway, France, the Netherlands, Singapore, Italy, China, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Spain, Finland, Austria, Iceland, Belgium, Ireland and Qatar.
Global events greatly change the status of nations, particularly in the Middle East.
The war between Israel and Hamas forced Israel to drop 10 places compared to last year.
According to US News & World, more than 80% of the 17,000 respondents agreed, at least to some extent, that “conflicts in the Middle East will lead to a broader global conflict.”
Israel’s response to the horrific attacks on October 7, in which Hamas fighters massacred some 1,200 people and took hundreds more hostage, has been met with fierce criticism.
The war has caused massive destruction and displaced around 90% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million people.
Canada ranked fourth in the world (Archive image)
Australia ranked number five (Archive image)
Sweden was ranked the sixth best country in the world (Archive image)
Aid groups have struggled to provide even basic services across the enclave.
The Gaza Health Ministry says more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the war began. Its tally makes no distinction between combatants and civilians.
As a result, perceptions of Israel’s commitment to human rights, its political stability and its adaptability have all fallen sharply this year.
Clionadh Raleigh, CEO and president of Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, told US News & World: “Israel’s standing on the world stage will be dramatically affected by this conflict, but I hesitate to say it will be entirely negative.
‘The reason is that other rising powers and regional power players are much less critical of how Israel has handled this conflict and (I believe) will seek to resurrect their new, stronger relationship as soon as time permits.’