Is it difficult to name just one country when somebody asks you your favorite? Multiple factors might go into assigning this top spot. The culture. The food. The people. Or that crazy, unforgettable adventure you had. There are plenty of travel destination lists out there, but we’re interested in the king of said lists: the 50 best countries in the world.
So, how does a country get included in such a prestigious index? U.S. News & World Report gathered data from a survey of 20,000 people across the globe. It presented a list of nine attributes — adventure, citizenship, cultural influence, heritage, entrepreneurship, movers, open for business, power and quality of life — to participants who assessed how closely they associated an attribute with a nation. And — alas! — this list was born.
We used this data to present to you the 50 best countries of 2020. If your favorite country doesn’t rank where you thought it might, just remember that it’s No. 1 in your book. But, honestly, maybe you should check out some of these far superior destinations. OK, OK, let the debate begin...