Key facts
- Switzerland ranked No. 1 overall in US News & World Report's annual ranking of the best countries.
- The country scored highly in governance, health, culture, and economic development.
- Switzerland ranked No. 1 in economic development and governance.
- Switzerland ranked No. 2 in culture and tourism.
- The report evaluated 100 countries across various categories.
Switzerland has been recognized as the best country in the world according to the latest annual ranking by US News & World Report. The study evaluated 100 countries across various categories, including economics, environment, health, and infrastructure. Switzerland secured the top spot due to its high scores in nearly all major categories, particularly excelling in governance, health, culture, and economic development. The report highlighted Switzerland's strong economy, characterized by low corporate tax rates, a robust financial services sector, and high-tech manufacturing, leading to significant exports of creative goods and high-tech products. Its stable government, with perfect scores in political violence, regime turnover, and inflation volatility, also contributed to its top ranking in governance. In terms of health, Switzerland boasts a high life expectancy and universal healthcare coverage, though it spends significantly per capita on healthcare and has a lower number of hospital beds per capita compared to the EU average. Culturally, the country is noted for its Nobel laureates, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and historical landmarks, attracting a record number of tourists. While strong in many areas, Switzerland received lower scores for its natural environment, civic health, and infrastructure, particularly concerning protected land areas and renewable electricity metrics excluding hydroelectric power.