Economic indicators only determine so much about what it means to live – and be happy – in an “advanced” country.
Some countries yield a respectable GDP, for example, but struggle to invest their riches into essentials like access to clean water, adequate healthcare, and ecosystem sustainability.
Enter the Social Progress Index, a metric that measures progress through fulfillment of basic human needs. Covering almost the entire world population, it assesses a country’s social progress across metrics like access to basic knowledge, personal rights, tolerance and inclusion, and shelter.
You know, the really important stuff.
Canada placed a very respectable sixth, well ahead of economic powerhouses Germany, which apparently doesn’t honour personal rights very well, and the United States, which really lacked on the personal freedom front.
We lead the world in providing citizens with opportunity, and are third best for access to advanced education and exercising tolerance and inclusion. We also have optimal shelter and regard for safety.
As with most rankings, Scandinavian countries occupied the top spots. Here’s the top 20:
1. Norway
2. Sweden
3. Switzerland
4. Iceland
5. New Zealand
6. Canada
7. Finland
8. Denmark
9. Netherlands
10. Australia
11. United Kingdom
12. Ireland
13. Austria
14. Germany
15. Japan
16. United States
17. Belgium
18. Portugal
19. Slovenia
20. Spain
A more detailed analysis of each country’s score can be found here.
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Cover photo by William Iven