US News & World Report has released its annual ranking of the "best countries" for 2024, and Switzerland once again takes the crown, with Japan and the United States following closely behind. However, it's the notable decline of Israel in these rankings that has drawn significant attention. The Jewish state has plummeted from 36th to 46th position amid its relentless war against Hamas in Gaza, marking its lowest ranking in years.
A Dramatic Drop for Israel
In a stark reflection of the toll that the prolonged conflict has taken on the nation’s global perception, Israel fell ten spots in the rankings, the steepest decline among major nations. This drop comes after 11 grueling months of continuous fighting against Hamas, the most prolonged and deadly conflict Israel has faced in decades. This ongoing struggle has evidently impacted how the world views the country, leading to its diminished standing on the international stage.
Top 20 countries with the richest histories:
— World of Statistics (@stats_feed) July 19, 2024
1. Egypt 🇪🇬
2. Greece 🇬🇷
3. Italy 🇮🇹
4. France 🇫🇷
5. Spain 🇪🇸
6. China 🇨🇳
7. UK 🇬🇧
8. Japan 🇯🇵
9. India 🇮🇳
10. Russia 🇷🇺
11. Turkey 🇹🇷
12. Germany 🇩🇪
13. Mexico 🇲🇽
14. Israel 🇮🇱
15. Portugal 🇵🇹
16. Morocco 🇲🇦
17. Ireland 🇮🇪
18. Saudi…
According to US News & World Report, the rankings are derived from global perceptions, with data drawn from polling 16,960 individuals across 36 countries on 73 different attributes of each nation. The survey was conducted from March 22 to May 23, 2024, capturing a snapshot of public opinion during a time of intense conflict for Israel.
Israel’s Declining Image Amid War
Despite the overall drop, Israel maintains its status as a formidable power, ranked 10th in the world for its influence and third in terms of perceived military strength. However, this has done little to offset the broader perception challenges the country faces. Israel's most significant decline was in the "cares about the environment" category, where it fell a staggering 33 places, landing at 87th out of 89 countries. Additional declines were seen in categories such as tourism, cultural attractions, corruption perception, and culinary reputation.
Israel ranks among 10 most powerful countries in annual list; 4th strongest military. US News & World Report finds Israeli military behind only US, China Russia; country is world’s 6th most politically influential and 10th strongest power; but ranks only 37th ‘best’ [TOI] #Israel… pic.twitter.com/tumQmSHvhU
— Eli Dror (@edrormba) October 1, 2023
This steep drop is reflective of the broader public perception challenges that Israel faces amidst its ongoing conflict. While the country’s infrastructure, attractions, and cuisine have remained largely unchanged, it appears that global opinions have been swayed significantly by the conflict’s portrayal in international media and its broader geopolitical ramifications.
A Comparative Look at the Region
Regionally, Israel's ranking places it below several of its Middle Eastern neighbors, including the UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. However, it still ranks ahead of countries like Cyprus, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, and Iran, which sits near the bottom of the list at 82nd. Lebanon, Belarus, and Serbia occupy the lowest positions, underscoring the challenging perceptions faced by nations embroiled in conflict or perceived as politically unstable.
Top 5 countries/ regions with best startup ecosystem overall - US, China, UK, Israel and Nordic region. The 5th country can be Germany, Netherlands or Canada. Not sure on the 5th so added #Nordic countries. #startupecosystem
— Nishant Malhotra (@nishmalh29) September 11, 2024
Historical Context and Ongoing Perceptions
Israel's best performance in the US News & World Report rankings was in 2016 when it held the 25th position. Since then, the country's standing has fluctuated, reaching 30th in 2021, before gradually declining over the subsequent years. The dramatic drop to 46th this year underscores the complex interplay between military conflict, international perceptions, and national reputation.
The survey’s findings suggest that global concerns about Middle East conflicts extending into broader global instability are at an all-time high, with over 80% of respondents expressing fears that these conflicts could escalate into wider wars. This sentiment likely influenced perceptions of Israel, a nation at the center of one of the region's most contentious and prolonged conflicts.
What does it mean that American Jews rank Israel low on their priority list? https://t.co/VIdeBtbSPY
— Elise Saltzberg (@EliseSaltzberg) September 10, 2024
As Israel navigates these challenges, its government and citizens face the difficult task of not only defending their nation against external threats but also combating the shifting global perceptions that have seen the country’s standing on the world stage take a significant hit. The fight against disinformation and efforts to showcase Israel’s cultural and economic strengths will be crucial in the months and years to come as the nation seeks to reclaim its position among the world’s leading countries.
