Best Country in World Poll: Switzerland, Japan Score Top Two Spots 

Japan moved up from sixth to second in this year’s U.S. News & World Best Countries global rankings. The annual report ranked 15 European countries in the top 25, along with four from East and Southeast Asia, and two each from the Middle East, North America, and Oceania.

More than 17,000 people across the globe assessed how well 89 nations ranked on categories including power, openness for business and cultural influence. 

Top 10 countries

1 – Switzerland

2 – Japan

3 – The United States

4 –  Canada

5 – Australia

6 – Sweden 

7 – Germany 

8 – The United Kingdom

9 – New Zealand

10 – Denmark 

Japan, the report said, is “One of the world’s most literate and technically advanced nations, an East Asian archipelago country made up of four primary islands and more than 6,800 others. While most of Japan is covered by mountains and heavily wooded areas, the country’s people lead a distinctly urban lifestyle. Long culturally influenced by its neighbors, today the country blends its ancient traditions with aspects of Western life.”

The country can trace its political unification to the late fourth and early fifth centuries B.C. Civilization flourished in the late eighth to the late 12th centuries, followed by even more centuries of military rule. The country was isolated from the early 1600s to the mid-19th century, at which point its ports opened up to the West. Japan had grand territorial ambitions in the 1900s, invading several countries, only to be defeated in World War II.

Japan has a parliamentary government with a constitutional monarchy. The emperor still holds his title as a symbol of national unity, but elected politicians hold actual decision-making power.

Overview of Japan

GDP Per Capita: $50,207

GDP: $4.21 trillion

Population: 124,516,650

Area: 377,915 square kilometers

“The nation with the third-largest economy in the world, Japan has largely bounced back from the manufacturing disruption caused by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster. The country is among the world’s largest producers of motor vehicles, electronic equipment and steel. The service sector makes up the highest percentage of the economy in terms of gross domestic product and employment.”

Japan is known worldwide for its traditional arts, including tea ceremonies, calligraphy and flower arranging, the report continued. “The country has a legacy of distinctive gardens, sculpture and poetry. Japan is home to more than a dozen UNESCO World Heritage sites and is the birthplace of sushi, one of its most famous culinary exports. The country has developed many forms of martial arts. Its most famous traditional sport is sumo wrestling, which can trace its origins to the 8th century.”

However, the report noted that escalating tensions with North Korea over its nuclear missile program have caused some Japanese politicians to call for amending the country’s postwar pacifist Constitution. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s continued nuclear tests and threats in East Asia has led Tokyo to seek assurances from Washington that America is committed to its defense. Domestically, Japan grapples with the economic consequences of having the world’s oldest population and declining birth rates.

Ukraine suffered the largest drop compared to last year: from 68th place to 80th, followed by Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Honduras, Cameroon, Algeria, Lebanon, Serbia and Belarus. 

Highlights of Japan Rankings (scores out of 100; # ranked out of 89)

• Friendly 66.2
• Fun 48.0
• Good for tourism 86.1
• Pleasant climate 20.6
• Scenic 63.7
• Sexy 5.3
• Adaptable 37.1
• Dynamic 76.1
• Modern 100.0
• Progressive 92.7
• Responsive 64.2

Cultural Influence #5

• Culturally significant in terms of entertainment 80.4
• Fashionable 55.5
• Happy 34.7
• Has an influential culture 90.4
• Has strong consumer brands 91.9
• Modern 100.0
• Prestigious 69.0
• Trendy 65.7

Entrepreneurship #3

• Connected to the rest of the world 94.7
• Educated population 100.0
• Entrepreneurial 86.0
• Innovative 100.0
• Provides easy access to capital 51.1
• Skilled labor force 92.9
• Technological expertise 100.0
• Transparent business practices 72.8
• Well-developed digital infrastructure 100.0
• Well-developed infrastructure 98.4
• Well-developed legal framework 63.6

Heritage #11

• Culturally accessible 65.0
• Has a rich history 88.7
• Has great food 64.5
• Many cultural attractions 90.0
• Many geographic attractions 67.2

Movers #8

• Different 29.6
• Distinctive 86.3
• Dynamic 76.1
• Unique 65.6

Open for Business #35

• Cheap manufacturing costs 6.8
• Favorable tax environment 4.9
• Not Bureaucratic 84.8
• Not Corrupt 100.0
• Transparent government practices 33.6

Power #8

• A leader 46.1
• Economically influential 94.8
• Has strong exports 84.5
• Politically influential 43.9
• Strong international alliances 74.1
• Strong military 30.3

Quality of Life #14

• A good job market 92.6
• Affordable 10.8
• Economically stable 94.9
• Family-friendly 50.5
• Income equality 20.9
• Politically stable 80.0
• Safe 73.0
• Well-developed public education system 91.0
• Well-developed public health system 72.7

Social Purpose #24

• Cares about animal rights 10.8
• Cares about human rights 43.8
• Cares about the environment 53.5
• Committed to climate goals 38.3
• Committed to social justice 18.7
• Gender equality 13.1
• Racial equity 14.0
• Religious freedom 23.6
• Respects property rights 54.3
• Trustworthy 63.4
• Well-distributed political power 46.6