Best Country in the World for 2021? U.S. News Says it's Canada. Gee, Thanks....

Best Country in the World for 2021? U.S. News Says it’s Canada. Gee, Thanks….

April 13, 2021 Jim Byers

A study from U.S. News and World Report ranks Canada as the best country on earth for 2021.

This marks the first time Canada has won the top spot in the U.S. News ranking, which is in its sixth year. Canada had previously been on the podium but ranked third or second.

US News said their report and rankings were “based on how global perceptions define countries in terms of a number of qualitative characteristics; impressions that have the potential to drive trade, trqavel and investment and directly affect national economies. They ranked 78 countries in all.

(I’m pretty sure this ranking came before our most recent spate of COVID lockdowns, but, hey, it’s all about timing.)

Editors said they look at 76 attributes and put them into 10 subrankings, including adventure, heritage, open for business and quality of life. Seventy eight countries were ranked in total.

Canada came first for quality of life and for social purpose, “meaning that it is seen as a stable and safe society in which individuals can develop and prosper, and is open, fair and equitable.”

Not bad.

Here’s their top 20 and, just because I’m mean, their bottom three.