The Kingdom of Sweden, flanked by Norway to the west and the Baltic Sea to the east, expands across much of the Scandinavian Peninsula and is one of the largest countries in the European Union by land mass. The latest U.S. News survey ranks Sweden as 3rd best country in the world.
For eight years, U.S. News has been publishing its Best Countries ranking each autumn. The ranking is put together based on a proprietary survey of over 17.000 people in 36 international countries. The performance of 87 different countries is evaluated under categories like entrepreneurship, quality of life, power and heritage.
Capital city Stockholm was founded in the 13th century, and border disputes through the Middle Ages established the modern-day nation.
Despite its militaristic roots, Sweden has remained neutral in times of war for centuries. Instead, commitment to human rights, public service and sustainability have helped to make it a respected leader in international affairs.
U.S. News Ranks Sweden as 3rd Best Country in the World, article continues below image.
Sweden operates under a model similar to those of other Nordic nations: heavily capitalistic with a large percent of spending going toward public service. Once well above the global average, tax rates have decreased, and an advanced infrastructure and transportation network assist with equal wealth distribution. Health care, as well as a college education, are free, and its people boast one of the longest life expectancies in the world. Almost all of Sweden’s trash is recycled.
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Related: Crows ‘paid’ to Pick Up Cigarette Litter in Sweden
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Swedes are some of the world’s most generous people, donating about 1 percent of gross national product to humanitarian aid programs each year. The society has continued to diversify, due in part to refugees who have been welcomed into Swedish borders.
U.S. News Ranks Sweden as 3rd Best Country in the World, article continues below illustration.
As a parliamentary democracy, representatives elected to parliament, called the Riksdag, lead the nation with a monarch as a ceremonious head of state. Sweden joined the European Union in 1995 but declined to convert to the eurozone currency after a public vote in 2003.
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Related: Why Sweden is Such an Amazing Country
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However, Sweden’s export-dependent economy is tightly integrated with the European Union. Both took a tumble with the recent decline of the euro, but Sweden is seeing steady recovery and seeking to expand trade markets for its timber, hydropower and iron ore.
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U.S. News Ranks Sweden as 3rd Best Country in the World, article continues below image.
Sweden is an Enhanced Opportunities Partner of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It is also a member of the United Nations, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the World Trade Organization, among others.
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The top 10 best countries in the world, according to the 2023 U.S. News ranking, are as follows:
- Switzerland
- Canada
- Sweden
- Australia
- United States
- Japan
- Germany
- New Zealand
- United Kingdom
- Netherlands
For the full ranking, visit the U.S. News website.
Feature image (on top): Sweden’s Riksdag in Stockholm. Photo: Wikipedia