Canada has dropped to 19th place in the latest global “Best Countries” rankings published by U.S. News & World Report – a major decline from its 2nd place ranking in 2016.
The rankings evaluate countries across a wide range of categories, including:
- quality of life
- economic influence
- cultural impact
- entrepreneurship
- global reputation
- tourism and adventure
Canada received an overall score of 69.5 out of 100 in the latest report.
Canada Once Ranked Among The Top Countries In The World
Less than a decade ago, Canada was consistently viewed as one of the world’s top-performing countries in international rankings.
In 2016, Canada ranked 2nd overall globally.
Now, the country has fallen outside the top 10 and is sitting at 19th place in the newest rankings.
The report suggests Canada still performs strongly in areas tied to:
- tourism
- natural beauty
- culture
- international reputation
However, concerns around affordability, economic pressures, and quality of life have increasingly become major topics of discussion across the country.
Cost Of Living And Housing Affordability Continue To Be Major Issues
The decline comes during a period where many Canadians have reported growing frustration around:
- housing affordability
- rising rent prices
- grocery costs
- healthcare wait times
- economic uncertainty
Canada’s housing market has become one of the least affordable among developed nations, especially in cities like Toronto and Vancouver.
Younger Canadians have also increasingly expressed concerns about:
- homeownership becoming unattainable
- wage growth not keeping up with inflation
- rising household debt
- difficulty saving money
What The Rankings Measure
According to U.S. News & World Report, the Best Countries rankings are based on global perceptions and survey data tied to dozens of attributes.
Factors include:
- quality of life
- political stability
- economic strength
- social purpose
- entrepreneurship
- cultural influence
- adventure and tourism appeal
Because the rankings rely heavily on perception-based data, shifts can reflect both economic conditions and how countries are viewed internationally.
Canada Still Scores Strongly In Some Categories
Despite the decline, Canada continues to rank well globally for:
- natural landscapes
- tourism appeal
- multiculturalism
- safety perception
- education
- cultural reputation
Canada remains one of the most visited and internationally recognized countries in the world.
Still, the sharp drop from 2nd place to 19th is likely to fuel ongoing debates around affordability, economic policy, housing, healthcare, and overall quality of life in Canada.
References
U.S. News & World Report. (2026). Best Countries rankings and global perception survey.
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries
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