S'pore ranks 15th in survey, same as last year

WASHINGTON • Singapore's ranking at 15 out of 80 countries in this year's Best Countries survey - a slot unchanged since last year - reflected high scores in resilience, dynamism, stability, per capita purchasing power and entrepreneurship.

Singapore is the smallest country to feature in the top 15. The Republic ranked second in the "movers" category, just behind the United Arab Emirates, whose overall ranking was 22.

Movers included attributes like "different, distinctive, dynamic, unique".

"Nations that differentiate themselves are those that have the resiliency and momentum to overcome the challenges," the survey said.

Singapore was only one of two Asian nations to feature in the top 20 rankings for education, the other being Japan in the 10th place. Singapore was ranked 20th.

  • 10 BEST COUNTRIES

    1. Switzerland (Germany)

    2. Canada (Canada)

    3. United Kingdom (United Kingdom)

    4. Germany (United States)

    5. Japan (Sweden)

    6. Sweden (Australia)

    7. United States (Japan)

    8. Australia (France)

    9. France (Netherlands)

    10. Norway (Denmark)

    *Countries in brackets are 2016's rankings.

    Source: US News & World Report

The Republic was ranked 17th in "quality of life".

"Beyond the essential ideas of broad access to food and housing, to quality education and healthcare, and employment that will sustain us, quality of life may also include intangibles such as job security, political stability, individual freedom and environmental quality," reported the survey.

"What social scientists do agree on is that material wealth is not the most important factor in assessing a life lived well. The results of the quality of life sub-ranking survey reflect that sensibility."

Nirmal Ghosh

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on March 12, 2017, with the headline S'pore ranks 15th in survey, same as last year. Subscribe