Having a strong and flexible public health system can impact the security and well-being of a country. It ranges from addressing infectious diseases and environmental health hazards to tackling chronic illnesses and promoting overall health, forming the basis of a country’s health infrastructure and contributing to enhancing quality of life.
Therefore, a developed public health system is one of the nine elements used to determine the quality of life sub-ranking, which is included in the 2024 Best Countries rankings by U.S. News & World Report. The overall Best Countries ranking is based on a survey of nearly 17,000 respondents living in 36 countries, using 73 different indicators to assess perceptions of 89 countries.
Survey results indicate that European countries dominate the rankings of countries with well-developed public health systems, with eight of the top ten countries being European, while the United States did not make it to the top ten. Canada and Japan, however, were among the top ten countries.
The United States ranks 19th in terms of public health systems, marking a 4-spot increase compared to the 2023 ranking.
Respondents were asked if they associate each country with a “developed public health system,” which is also used to determine rankings for countries best suited for comfortable retirement and for raising children.
Countries with comprehensive public health systems share common features such as universal healthcare and longer life expectancy.
Below are the countries identified by U.S. News & World Report as having the best public health systems in 2024:
Public Health Ranking: 1
Quality of Life Ranking: 2
Overall Best Country Ranking: 6
Similar to other Nordic countries, Sweden practices high-level capitalism with a significant portion of expenditures allocated to public services, well above the global average. Healthcare and university education are free in Sweden, ranking among the countries with the longest life expectancy per capita and almost all waste is recycled.
Public Health Ranking: 2
Quality of Life Ranking: 1
Overall Best Country Ranking: 10
Denmark implements universal healthcare through a progressive tax system, with most citizens receiving free medical services. The corporate tax rate is 24.5%, among the highest globally for income tax rates.
Denmark has various leading industries, including food processing, tourism, steel and machinery production, exporting processed foods, agricultural products, industrial machinery, pharmaceuticals, and furniture.
Public Health Ranking: 3
Quality of Life Ranking: 7
Overall Best Country Ranking: 7
Germany practices a social market economy, maintaining an open market capitalism while providing certain social service guarantees, ranking among the world’s largest economies.
Public Health Ranking: 4
Quality of Life Ranking: 6
Overall Best Country Ranking: 20
Finland’s economy primarily leans towards free market capitalism like its Nordic neighbors, shifting significant expenditures towards social safety nets and public services.
Public Health Ranking: 5
Quality of Life Ranking: 3
Overall Best Country Ranking: 1
According to the World Factbook published by the CIA, Switzerland boasts low unemployment rates and skilled labor, ranking among the countries with the highest GDP per capita. Its strong economy benefits from low corporate tax rates and a highly developed service sector dominated by finance and high-tech manufacturing.
Public Health Ranking: 6
Quality of Life Ranking: 4
Overall Best Country Ranking: 11
Norway is a high-income country with a vibrant private sector and a robust safety net, now a leading oil-exporting nation. Education is largely free in the country.
Public Health Ranking: 7
Quality of Life Ranking: 5
Overall Best Country Ranking: 4
Canada stands out as a high-tech industrial society with a high standard of living. Trade agreements in the 1980s and 1990s have bolstered trade with the United States, making them each other’s largest trading partners, with the service industry being a major economic driver. Canada is a key exporter of energy, food, and minerals, ranking third in proven oil reserves globally and fourth in oil production.
Public Health Ranking: 8
Quality of Life Ranking: 11
Overall Best Country Ranking: 8
Public Health Ranking: 9
Quality of Life Ranking: 9
Overall Best Country Ranking: 13
Public Health Ranking: 10
Quality of Life Ranking: 14
Overall Best Country Ranking: 2
Japan stands as one of the most culturally and technologically advanced countries globally.
Being the world’s third-largest economy, Japan is one of the leading countries in automotive, electronic equipment, and steel production. Domestically, Japan is grappling with the economic ramifications of the world’s highest aging population and declining birth rates.