top countries Social Progress Index
1. Norway
Score: 92.73 out of 100
Norway secured the top spot in this year’s index because of its remarkable investments in human well-being. The country ensures every citizen has access to clean water and quality sanitation, shelter, nutritious food, and education.
Norway received its lowest marks on property rights for women, discrimination and violence against minorities, and women with no schooling.
2. Denmark
Score: 92.11 out of 100
Denmark has a similar report card to Norway, ranking high on the provision of basic human rights that allow people to flourish, while struggling on early marriage, deaths from infectious diseases, and greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Finland
Score: 91.89 out of 100
Finland also has high scores on nutrition, basic medical care, shelter, and water and sanitation. The country received its lowest scores on religious freedom, biome protection, primary school enrollment, and early marriage.
4. New Zealand
Score: 91.64 out of 100
New Zealand scored high on political rights, corruption, gender parity in secondary attainment, and basic human needs. The country received its lowest scores in the areas of greenhouse gas emissions, early marriage, child and maternal mortality rates, and access to quality health care.
5. Sweden
Score: 91.62 out of 100
Sweden ranked first in access to electricity, prevalence of undernourishment, gender parity in secondary education, and political killings. The country scored poorly on greenhouse gas emissions, access to quality education, and access to online governance.
6. Switzerland
Score: 91.42
Switzerland is the safest country for pedestrians, having received the best score for traffic deaths. The country also received high scores for general health and wellness, access to electricity and clean cooking fuels, and personal rights.
Switzerland received low scores on greenhouse gas emissions and women with no schooling.
7. Canada
Score: 91.40 out of 100
In Canada, citizens have safeguarded political expression, easy access to electricity, and high primary and secondary school enrollment. The country scores abysmally on greenhouse gas emissions and biome protection, and has worse water and sanitation access than its economic peers.
8. Australia
Score: 91.29 out of 100
Australia received strong scores on the prevalence of undernourishment, access to essential health care services, and mobile telephone subscriptions. The country scored terribly on greenhouse gas emissions, and underperformed on access to water and sanitation and access to basic knowledge.
9. Iceland
Score: 91.09 out of 100
Iceland overperformed in access to basic knowledge, water and sanitation, shelter, and personal safety. The country underperformed across the board on political rights metrics.
10. Netherlands
Score: 91.06 out of 100
The Netherlands scored high on access to advanced education and water and sanitation, while underperforming in the areas of shelter, health and wellness, and access to basic knowledge.
