After a year outside the top 10, the Netherlands has regained its position in the top 10 of U.S. News’ 2023 Best Countries report. The Netherlands bounced back to 10th position and ranked highly for racial equity in particular, after the country fell out of the top 10 in 2022. 

U.S. News Best Countries Ranking 2023

For eight years, the U.S. News & World Report has been working with the global marketing and communications services company WPP and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania to produce its list of the best countries in the world. The 2023 report compares 87 countries across 73 attributes, which are divided into 10 sub-rankings, from entrepreneurship and quality of life to power and heritage. 

In 2023, the ranking places the most weight on entrepreneurship. According to U.S. News, this is determined by each country’s most recent gross domestic product per capita measurement. The total list of attributes evaluated for U.S. News’ 2023 Best Country report are:

• Adventure
• Agility
• Cultural Influence
• Entrepreneurship
• Heritage
• Movers
• Open for Business
• Power
• Quality of Life
• Social Purpose

The Netherlands makes a return to the top 10

Though the Netherlands was not part of last year’s Top 10 Best Countries, the country has been a familiar face in the top 10 in the past. While the usual suspects - Sweden, Norway and Canada - scooped up the top spots in the Quality of Life category, the Netherlands has made a name for itself this year in the Racial Equity ranking, coming in third place behind Canada and New Zealand. 

The ranking described the Netherlands as a “tolerant society” that is “known for its tulips... High-income... [and] is one of the world’s leading exporters of agriculture”. The country also ranked highly for quality of life, social purpose, agility and being “open for business”.

U.S. News 2023 Best Countries

This year’s big winner was Switzerland, coming in first place overall, followed by Canada and Sweden just behind. You can see the top 10 of the ranking below, or visit the U.S. News website for more information. 

1. Switzerland
2. Canada
3. Sweden
4. Australia
5. United States
6. Japan
7. Germany
8. New Zealand
9. United Kingdom
10. Netherlands

Image: Shutterstock.com / Ruud Morijn Photographer