Source Data

Here you can find the complete list of the data we used to compile the current edition of the Good Country Index.

General Explanation

Countries receive scores on each indicator as a fractional rank relative to all countries for which data is available (after most data is corrected for GDP, i.e. the economic size of the country). The actual simple ranks per category are based on the mean fractional ranks on the 5 indicators per category (subject to maximum 2 missing values per category). The overall rank is based on the average of the category ranks. In case of equal overall ranks, the country with the lowest low score on any of the 7 categories gets pushed down.

GOOD COUNTRY INDEX 1.6

Overall Rank

The overall rank is based on the average of the category ranks. 30 (out of 35) indicators are based on 2022 data, 2 on 2021 data, and we use 2020 data for Environmental Agreements Compliance, Renewable Energy Share, and Open Trading. The actual overall rank is based on 174 countries included in the index and the mean rank score for the 7 category ranks.

Contributions to Science & Technology

1. Number of foreign students studying in the country (according to UNESCO) relative to the size of the economy.

2. Exports of periodicals, scientific journals and newspapers (according to ITC) relative to the size of the economy.

3. Number of articles published in international journals (according to SCImago) relative to the size of the economy.

4. Accumulated Nobel prizes assigned to countries based on laureates' country of birth as well as country (countries) of institutional affiliation at the time of the award, relative to the size of the economy.

5. Number of International Patent Cooperation Treaty applications (according to WIPO) relative to the size of the economy.

Contributions to Culture

6. Number of international events hosted (according to Union of International Associations) relative to the size of the economy.

7. Exports of cultural goods and services (accoding to UNCTAD) relative to the size of the economy.

8. UNESCO dues in arrears as percentage of contribution (negative indicator).

9. Freedom of movement: number of countries and territories that citizens can enter without a visa (according to Henley & Partners).

10. Press freedom: Freedom of the press (according to Reporters without Borders World Freedom Index as a negative indicator).

Contributions to International Peace and Security

11. Number of peacekeeping troops sent overseas for UN missions, relative to the size of the economy.

12. Dues in arrears to financial contribution to UN peacekeeping missions as percentage of contribution (negative indicator).

13. Attributed number of casualties of international organised violence (number of casualties per conflict divided by the number of countries involved according to UCDP/PRIO) relative to the size of the economy (negative indicator).

14. Exports of weapons and ammunition (according to ITC) relative to the size of the economy (negative indicator), plus Congressional Research Service Russian Arms Sales and Defense Industry Report October 14, 2021.

15. Global Cybersecurity Index score (according to NCSI).

Contributions to World Order

16. Percentage of population that gives to charity (according to Charities Aid Foundation).

17. Number of refugees hosted (according to UNHCR) relative to the size of the economy.

18. Number of refugees overseas (according to UNHCR) relative to the size of the population (negative indicator).

19. Population birth rate (according to World Bank as negative indicator).

20. Number of UN treaties signed (up to 2020) as proxy for diplomatic action and peaceful conflict resolution.

Contributions to Planet and Climate

21. National Footprint Accounts, Ecological footprint (according to Global Footprint Network) relative to the size of the economy (negative indicator).

22. Percentage compliance to multilateral environmental agreements on hazardous waste, and other chemicals that meet countries' commitments and obligations in transmitting information as required by each relevant agreement.

    23. Hazardous pesticides exports (according to UNEP Environmental Data Explorer) relative to the size of the economy (negative indicator).

    24. Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption.

    25. Consumption of ozone-depleting substances - HCFCs (according to UNEP) relative to the size of the economy (negative indicator).

    Contributions to Prosperity and Equality

    26. Trading across borders (open trading performance compared to best practice; i.e. IFC distance to frontier).

    27. Number of aid workers and volunteers sent overseas (according to UNV) relative to the size of the economy.

    28. Basel AML Index, measuring the risk of money laundering and terrorist financing.

    29. FDI outflow (according to UNCTAD) relative to the size of the economy.

    30. Development cooperation contributions (aid according to OECD) relative to the size of the economy.

    Contributions to Health and Wellbeing

    31. Food aid funding (according to WFP) relative to the size of the economy.

    32. Exports of pharmaceuticals (according to ITC) relative to the size of the economy.

    33. Voluntary excess contributions to World Health Organisation relative to the size of the economy.

    34. Humanitarian aid contributions (according to UNOCHA) relative to the size of the economy.

    35. International Health Regulations Compliance (according to WHO).