(26 June 2014) – Ranking countries according to their overall contribution to humanity is the rather unusual goal of the “Good Country Index” developed by two independent British policy advisers.
The index ranks 125 nations according to their overall contribution to humanity using 35 separate indicators from the United Nations, the World Bank, other international institutions and NGOs spread across seven categories: science and technology, culture, international peace and security, world order, the planet and climate, prosperity and equality as well as the health and well-being of humanity.
Ireland, “goodest country in the world”, is in a very good position in four of the seven categories: prosperity and equality, world order, culture and health and well-being. “We may struggle economically, politically and militarily while our sporting achievements of late are best described as modest and our Eurovision performances have been abysmal but we’re still as good as it gets”, writes The Irish Times.
Ireland is followed by Finland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark and Belgium. Among EU member states, France, Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, Spain, Cyprus and Italy are also in the top 20.