International rankings of Canada

Canada is recognized in international rankings for a variety of reasons, ranging from its high standard of living to its strong economy, political stability and positive international reputation. Canada ranks high internationally on its social, legal, healthcare and education systems with its universities ranked among the best in the world. Since the late 20th century the country has consistently ranked high in other various indices measuring factors such as human rights, quality of life, safety, happiness, prosperity and sustainability. This has led to Canada being recognized as one of the best countries in the world. Despite these facts, Canada has seen a slight decline in several global performance rankings during the mid 2020s, due to varied domestic economic concerns, and ranks among the lowest of the most advanced economies for income growth, housing affordability, technology affordability, aviation affordability and healthcare accessibility.

International rankings

Note: Below each survey uses a limited number of countries/region's for its assessments, see "Measurement(s)" for number variables.

Organization Survey Rank (highest) Measurement(s)/Notes Year Ipsos Global leadership influence 1Most positive leadership on the world stage across 30 countries. (likely to have a positive impact on world affairs over next decade) 2025 Reputation Lab (RepCore) Best international reputation 1 International reputation of the world’s 60 largest economies. 2025 OECD Tertiary education 1 Based on those 25- to 64-year-olds having completed tertiary education of G7 countries. For two decades Canada has led OECD countries in percentage of adults with post-secondary education. 2024 Asher & Lyric LGBTQ+ Danger Index 1 Measures the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, 2-spirit and intersex (LGBTQ2I) people in 203 countries. Note: Canada ranked second in the Gay Travel Index chart in 2023, and sixth in the Equaldex Equality Index in 2023. 2023RemitlyMost popular countries for moving abroad1Survey across 26 countries to find out which destinations people most want to relocate to, and why?2025 Anholt -Ipsos Nation branding 3 Measures national competence, governance, immigration and investment, people; exports, tourism and culture in the 50 most developed countries2025 International Comparisons (OECD) Social justice 3 Arithmetic average of individual indicators of a "Just society" of the 40 most developed countries: 2022UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)World Investment Report 5Foreign direct investment inflow top 20 advanced economies2026 Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy Social Development and Quality of Life 6 Measure country's institutional quality, political stability, and social justice 2025 Fund for Peace Fragile States Index- List 6 Measures risk and vulnerability of individuals of 179 countries. Canada was #3 in 20062025 United Nations Good Country Index 7 Measure how much each country contributes to the planet and to the human race, relative to its size (measured in GDP) of 125 countries 2026 Remote Technology Global Life-Work Balance Index 7 Measures quality of work-life balance of 60 countries with the highest standard of living. - Full report2026 The Economist Global Food Security Index 7Measures food affordability, availability, quality, safety, sustainability and adaptation of 109 countries 2022 Brand Finance Global Soft Power Index 8 Ranks 193 countries ability to influence or persuade others countries 2026 Charities Aid Foundation World Giving Index 8 Ranks over 140 countries according to how charitable they are (foreign aid). See Canadian international assistance2022 The Economist Democracy Index9Measures pluralism, civil liberties and political culture of 167 countries. Canada was ranked # 5 in 2020. 2025 State of World Liberty Project State of World Liberty Index 10Degree of economic and personal freedoms of 183 countries 2025 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD Better Life Index 11Measures wellbeing, environmental quality, quality of public services and security of the 36 most developed countries. Canada was # 4 in 2020 2025 Travel Safe - Abroad Safest countries Index 12 Measures public safety based on the number of incidents including mugging, drugs, violent crimes, bribery, property crimes, stolen vehicles, religion, and racial tolerance of 163 countries 2022 TheGlobalEconomy.com Public services index 13 Measures quality of public services of 177 countries 2024 World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Index 13 Measures level of prosperity of citizens of 144 economies 2024 World Intellectual Property Organization Global Innovation Index 14 Measures success in innovation of 133 countries. Canada was ranked 9th in 2009-2010 2024 Legatum Prosperity Index 15Measures wealth, economic growth, education, health, personal well-being, and quality of life of 167 countries 2021Institute for Economics and Peace Global Peace Index 16 Measures overall peacefulness of 162 countries. Canada was ranked # 3 in 20112026 United Nations Development Programme Human Development Index 16 Based on life expectancy, education, and per capita income of 187 countries. Note: Norway has been ranked the highest sixteen times, Canada eight times, Japan and Iceland twice and Switzerland once. See Human Development Index#Past top countries. See also List of Canadian provinces and territories by Human Development Index 2025 International Institute for Management Development Most competitive economies 16 Economic indicators such as gross domestic product (GDP), unemployment and healthcare / education of the 67 most developed countries. Canada was ranked # 13 in 2019. 2025 World Population Foundation Best Countries To Live 16Measures equality among genders, literacy, average life expectancy, and financial stability of 146 countries 2022 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index 16 Based on public sector corruption of 175 countries & territories. Canada was #11 in 2021. 2026 Georgetown University Women, Peace and Security Index 17 Measures women’s well-being—inclusion (economic, social, political); justice (formal laws and informal discrimination); and security (at the family, community, and societal levels) 2026 World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report 19 Measures gender equality of 142 countries 2020 U.S. News & World Report Best Countries 19 Measures overall quality of life in the most developed countries. In 2024, Canada ranked fourth in the world in U.S. News & World Report's. Canada has been ranked in the top five countries by U.S. News for the past four years. Canada ranked first in 2021, and 2nd place a few years in a row.2026 World Bank Ease of doing business index 23 Regulatory environment of 189 countries 2021Social Progress Imperative Social Progress Index 23Measures well-being of a society of 132 countries. Canada was ranked 6th in 2000. 2021 UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network World Happiness Report 25 Based on (quality of) life factors of 156 countries. Canada was # 15 in 2024 2026NumbeoQuality of Life Index26 Measures eight indices: purchasing power (including rent), safety, health care, cost of living, property price to income ratio, traffic commute time, pollution and climate.2026 Yale and Columbia Universities Environmental Performance Index 29 Environmental performance of 178 countries. Canada was ranked # 20 in 2020 2026

Freedom assessments

Freedom indices produced by several non-governmental organizations publishes assessments of political rights and civil liberties for countries around the world.

Freedom in the World index is an annual report by US-based think-tank Freedom House, which rates political rights and civil liberties of 195 "countries" (the 193 UN member states, as well as Kosovo and Taiwan), and 13 "territories". In 2025 Canada was ranked "Free" (the highest possible rating), with a Global Freedom Score of 97 out of 100. According to the Democracy Index, an annual index published by the U.K.-based Economist Intelligence Unit, that measures pluralism, civil liberties, and the state of democracy, in 2026 Canada was ranked 9th out of 167 countries and received a score of 9.08 out of 10.00. This is an increase from 13th position in 2023. According to the annual Worldwide Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders, in 2026 Canada ranked 20th. Canada previously ranked 14th out of 180 countries in 2024, up one spot from 15th in 2023 and from 19th in 2022. According to the annual Corruption Perceptions Index, published by Transparency International, Canada was ranked 16th out of 180 countries from the least corrupt in 2025, a decrease from the 12th position in 2023.

V-Dem democratic indices

V-Dem Democracy Indices of 179 countries by the V-Dem Institute consists of various democratic matrix, that are measured from 0.00 (indicating the lowest degree of democracy) to 1.00 (indicating the highest degree of democracy). Although Canadian scores have experienced a decline over the past decade (2016 - 2026), it remains ranked amongst the world's strongest democracies.

Lowest rankings of advanced economies

Below each survey uses a limited number of advanced economies or developed countries for its assessment, see "Notes" for country number variables.

Organization Survey Rank(lowest) Notes Measurement(s) Year OECDWorst nominal house prices 1 Most unaffordable housing of the 38 most advanced economies Comparing average home prices to average incomes. See also Lists of countries by GDP per capita2026RewheelMost expensive wireless costs 1 4G and 5G prices of the 50 most developed countries Measures wireless costs2023OECD Lowest amount of acute care beds 1 Comparing the healthcare systems of the 9 most advanced economies Measures acute care beds per capita2026International Energy AgencyLowest fuel-inefficient vehicles 1 Ranked against the 53 most developed countries Measures the fuel economy of private cars from 2005 to 20172019C.D. Howe InstituteWorst World Development Indicators1 Canada ranked last in the G7 and 32nd out of 35 OECD countries Real wealth comparison of international peers. "A measure of the income available to Canadians"2026Commonwealth Fund Worst publicly funded healthcare system🖉 2 Comparing the healthcare systems of the 11 most advanced economies, Canada ranked 10th - second -to-last. Measures access to care, care process, administrative efficiency, equity, and health care outcomes2021 Federal Reserve Economic Data,Aviation Price Index6"Data from domestic and internationa flights of 75 most frequented countries in the world"Most expensive countries for airline travel2025Fraser Institute Misery Index6 Most “Miserable” Country Among 35 most advanced economiesMeasures inflation rate coupled with unemployment rate.2022

Maps of indices

International rankings of Canada

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