The Good Country Index measures how much each of the 163 countries on the list contribute to the planet and to the human race through their policies and behaviours.
2015 Top 10 Overall Rank
The Index is a composite statistic of 35 data points which are mostly generated by the United Nations. These data points are combined into a common measure which gives an overall ranking and a ranking in seven categories, Science and Technology, Culture, International Peace and Security, World Order, Planet and Climate, Prosperity and Equality, Health and Well-being.
The concept and the index itself were developed by Simon Anholt. The Index was built by Dr Robert Govers with support from several other organisations.
The three top countries in the list published in 2014 are Ireland, Finland and Switzerland. Nine of the top 10 countries in overall rankings are in Western Europe. The last three countries on the list ranked Iraq, Libya and Vietnam.
The Index attempts to measure the global impacts of national policies and behaviours: what the country contributes to the global commons and what they take away. The Index utilizes 35 data points, five in each of seven categories. These data points are produced by the United Nations and other international agencies and a few by NGOs and other organisations. Countries receive scores on each indicator as a fractional rank (0=top rank, 1=lowest) relative to all countries for which data are available. The category rankings 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. This yields a common measure which gives an overall ranking, a ranking in each of the seven categories, and a balance-sheet for each country that shows at a glance how much it contributes to the world and how much it takes away.
Categories and indicators
Science, Technology & Knowledge
Number of foreign students studying in the country relative to GDP
Exports of periodicals, scientific journals and newspapers relative to GDP
Number of articles published in international journals (2009 latest data) relative to GDP
Number of Nobel prize winners relative to GDP
Number of International Patent Cooperation Treaty applications relative to GDP
Culture
Exports of creative goods (UNCTAD's Creative Economy Report categorisation) relative to GDP
Exports of creative services (UNCTAD's Creative Economy Report categorisation) relative to GDP
UNESCO dues in arrears as percentage of contribution (negative indicator)
Number of countries and territories that citizens can enter without a visa
Freedom of the press (based on mean score for Reporters without Borders and Freedom House index as a negative indicator)
International Peace and Security
Number of peacekeeping troops sent overseas relative to GDP
Dues in arrears to financial contribution to UN peacekeeping missions as percentage of contribution (negative indicator)
Attributed number of casualties of international organised violence relative to GDP (negative indicator)
Exports of weapons and ammunition relative to GDP (negative indicator)
Global Cyber Security Index score (negative indicator)
World Order
Percentage of population that gives to charity as proxy for cosmopolitan attitude
Number of refugees hosted relative to GDP
Number of refugees overseas relative to GDP (negative indicator)
Population growth rate (negative indicator)
Number of treaties signed as proxy for diplomatic action and peaceful conflict resolution
Planet and Climate
National Footprint Accounts Biocapacity reserve (2009)
Exports of hazardous waste relative to GDP (only 2008 and 2011 data available, so 2011 data used as negative indicator)
Organic water pollutant (BOD) emissions relative to GDP (2007 latest data as negative indicator)
CO2 emissions relative to GDP (negative indicator)
Methane + nitrous oxide + other greenhouse gas (HFC, PFC and SF6) emissions relative to GDP (negative indicator)
Prosperity and Equality
Trading across borders (open trading performance compared to best practice; i.e. IFC distance to frontier score)
Number of aid workers and volunteers sent overseas relative to GDP
Fairtrade market size relative to GDP
Foreign Direct Investment outflow relative to GDP
Development cooperation contributions (aid) relative to GDP
Health and Wellbeing
Amount of wheat tonnes equivalent food aid shipments relative to GDP
Exports of pharmaceuticals relative to GDP
Voluntary excess contributions to World Health Organisation relative to GDP
Humanitarian aid contributions relative to GDP
Drug seizures (pure cocaine equivalent kilograms) relative to GDP
The Economist's Daily Chart questions the validity of some of its results, but in the end calls the index "a worthwhile pursuit by imagining how countries might compete when they aim to serve others."
