A top American media firm has unveiled its list of the best countries in the world, revealing that Switzerland is the at the top of the rankings, with 14 other European nations making it into the top 25.

The rankings, released by U.S. News & World’s report in its annual Best Countries rankings, saw 15 European countries in the top 25 spots, east and southeast Asia taking four spots, and the Middle East taking two spots, with North America and Oceania taking two spots apiece. 

The analysis, conducted with marketing and communications services company WPP and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, took the views of more than 17,000 people across the globe to assess how well each nation ranked on categories including power, agility, and cultural influence. 

At the top of the ranking was Switzerland, which has been at the top of the table nearly every year since 2017. The report said it was ‘bolstered by notable performances in three of the heaviest-weighted subrankings: quality of life , entrepreneurship and social purpose.’ 

Japan, which climbed up four spots in a single year, was in the Number Two spot for its high rankings in the entrepreneurship and movers categories. 

Surprisingly, the US was ranked third best, up two spots from its previous ranking. It came in at Number One for power and agility, Number Two of entrepreneurship and Number Three for cultural influence. 

Japan was placed at Number Two (File image) 

The US was at Number Three (File image) 

Other countries in the top 10 included Canada, Australia, Sweden, Germany, the UK, New Zealand, Denmark. 

In Numbers 11 to 25 were Norway, France, the Netherlands, Singapore, Italy, China, the UAE, South Korea, Spain, Finland, Austria, Iceland Belgium, Ireland and Qatar. 

Global events massively shifts the status of nations, particularly in the Middle East. 

The war between Israel and Hamas forced Israel down 10 places from last year. 

According to U.S. News & World, more than 80% of the 17,000 respondents agreed to at least some extent that ‘conflicts in the Middle East will lead to a broader global conflict.’

Israel’s response to the horrific October 7 attacks, which saw Hamas fighters slaughter around 1,200 people and taking hundreds more hostage, has been met with fierce criticism. 

The war has caused vast destruction and displaced around 90% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million. 

Canada was placed at Number Four on the rankings (File image) 

Australia came in at Number Five (File image) 

Sweden was considered the sixth best country in the world (File image)

Aid groups have struggled to provide even basic services across the enclave. 

Gaza’s Health Ministry says over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the war began. It does not differentiate between fighters and civilians in its count.

As a result, perceptions of Israel’s commitment to human rights, its political stability and its adaptability, went down massively this year. 

Clionadh Raleigh, CEO and president of Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, told U.S. News & World: ‘Israel’s standing on the world stage will be drastically affected by this conflict, but I hesitate to say it will be entirely negative.

‘The reason being is that other rising powers and regional power-brokers are far less critical about how Israel has gone about this conflict and (I think) will seek to resuscitate their new, stronger relationship as soon as time allows.’