Good Country Index: Sweden Best in the World, While India Ranks 70

In 2014, Ireland topped the Good Country Index .

Sweden has been voted the best when it comes to serving the interest of its people. Image used for representation. (Photo: iStockphoto)

In a survey conducted, Sweden has been voted as the best country in the world when it comes to serving the interests of its people and contributing to the common good of humanity, while India features fairly low at the 70th position on a list of 163 nations.

According to the ‘Good Country’ 2015 index which seeks to measure how countries contribute to the global good, Sweden, relative to the size of its economy, does more “good” and less harm than any other country. The report ranked a total of 163 countries taking 35 different UN and World Bank indices into account, including global contributions to science, culture, peace and security, climate change and health and equality.

• The top 10 best countries included Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, UK, Germany, Finland, Canada, France, Austria and New Zealand.
  
• Libya was ranked as the least “good” country.
  
• India’s best rank is in International Peace and Security
  
• India fared the worst in the Prosperity and Equality category.
  

“The Good Country Index is pretty simple: to measure what each country on earth contributes to the common good of humanity, and what it takes away, relative to its size,” the report said.

Using a wide range of data from the UN and other international organisations, we’ve given each country a balance-sheet to show at a glance whether it’s a net creditor to mankind, a burden on the planet, or something in between.

Excerpt from the Good Country Index report.

In 2014, Ireland had topped the first Good Country Index, outranking 130 other countries.

(With inputs from PTI)