What’s the best country in the world?

When it comes to serving the interests of its people and contributing to the common good of humanity it turns out no country does it better than Sweden.

Sweden has been voted the best country in the world, according to the ‘Good Country’ 2015 index, which measures how 163 nations contribute to the global good. Considering the size of its economy, Sweden does more ‘good’ and less harm than any other country.

The top 10 best countries included:

1. Sweden
2. Denmark
3. Netherlands
4. United Kingdom
5. Germany
6. Finland
7. Canada
8. France
9. Austria
10. New Zealand

Australia ranked 17th, which was better than the United States (21st spot) and India (70th) but worse than Belgium (14th) and Cyprus (15th). Libya was by far the worst though.

“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 says.

It’s a bi-annual index aimed at finding ways of encouraging countries to collaborate and cooperate a lot more, and compete a bit less.

“A good country is one that successfully contributes to the good of humanity. Of course it must serve the interests of its own people, but never at the expense of other populations or their natural resources: this is the new law of human survival,” index founder, Simon Anholt, says.

Do you have a favourite country? What do you think the best country in the world is?