Country profile

Belgium: Costs, Safety, Relocation and Quality of Life

Belgium is especially relevant in the Nomadino comparison when comparing social freedom, participation and openness as well as healthcare and medical protection. The current data points to a strong overall picture; its strongest main categories are Society & Participation and Health, while LGBTQ+ Friendliness, Education & Knowledge and Season & Travel Comfort stand out at topic level. Before making a decision, check everyday costs, housing and recurring expenses as well as taxes, capital access and financial conditions more closely, because the largest deductions come from Food & Basic Goods, Housing & Utilities and Taxes & Finance.

Overall rating 73.01 points
Global rank Rank 24 globally
Continental rank Rank 20 in Europe

View main country ranking

Decision areas

The following entry points link directly to detailed articles that are especially relevant for relocation, longer stays, daily life and travel planning.

Key questions about Belgium

Why is Belgium especially relevant in this comparison?

The profile is shaped mainly by social freedom, participation and openness as well as healthcare and medical protection; its strongest main categories are Society & Participation and Health.

Which topics stand out positively for Belgium?

LGBTQ+ Friendliness, Education & Knowledge and Season & Travel Comfort show the strongest topic-level results.

What should be checked before making a decision?

everyday costs, housing and recurring expenses as well as taxes, capital access and financial conditions deserve closer attention; the largest deductions come from Food & Basic Goods, Housing & Utilities and Taxes & Finance.

How important is freedom, participation and the social environment for Belgium?

The detailed articles below help check whether the rating fits residence, work, costs, healthcare, safety or travel.

Strengths and weaknesses

This section only shows categories, topic areas and indicators where Belgium ranks in the top three or bottom three globally or continentally and shares the same score with no more than two other countries. Global ranks take priority over continental ranks.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Comparisons and related countries

Belgium is especially useful to compare with Portugal, Spain and Germany, because those countries sit closer to its overall rating profile. United States and Denmark work as contrast comparisons when social freedom, participation and openness as well as healthcare and medical protection need to be weighed against different priorities; everyday costs, housing and recurring expenses as well as taxes, capital access and financial conditions still deserve closer attention.

All ratings and indicators for Belgium

58 topic areas and 342 indicators are linked directly in the static HTML. Categories and topic areas are collapsed to keep the country profile easy to scan.

๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ Safety & Risk ShowHide

Safety & Crime

6 indicators

72
/ 100
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Homicide Rate
Rank 56 globally 94
Petty Crime Index
Rank 82 globally 63
Women's Safety
Rank 62 globally 69
Organized Crime
Rank 81 globally 58
Kidnapping Risk
Rank 80 globally 84
BAC Limit (โ€ฐ)
Rank 123 globally 38
89
/ 100
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Active Conflicts & War Risk
Rank 104 globally 92
Political Violence
Rank 68 globally 84
Geopolitical Risk
Rank 42 globally 92
Terrorism Risk
Rank 175 globally 88

Natural Hazards

8 indicators

69
/ 100
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Flood Risk
Rank 200 globally 31
Storm Risk
Rank 118 globally 73
Earthquake Risk
Rank 67 globally 82
Drought Risk
Rank 97 globally 67
Wildfire Risk
Rank 47 globally 78
Landslide Risk
Rank 39 globally 74
Tsunami Risk
Rank 57 globally 87
Volcano Risk
Rank 1 globally 100

Privacy & Surveillance

6 indicators

84
/ 100
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State Surveillance
Rank 22 globally 82
Internet Censorship
Rank 26 globally 86
Internet Freedom
Rank 28 globally 81
Data Protection Laws
Rank 8 globally 93
VPN Access
Rank 21 globally 89
Cybercrime Risk
Rank 47 globally 71
74
/ 100
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Rule of Law
Rank 31 globally 77
Property Rights Security
Rank 27 globally 78
Corruption Perception
Rank 37 globally 72
Police Effectiveness
Rank 31 globally 76
Expropriation Risk
Rank 28 globally 79
Extradition Risk
Rank 202 globally 32

Long-Term Stability

4 indicators

74
/ 100
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Political Stability
Rank 71 globally 72
Economic Resilience
Rank 47 globally 70
Government Efficiency
Rank 34 globally 78
Climate Vulnerability
Rank 11 globally 80
โค๏ธ Health ShowHide

Healthcare & Access

12 indicators

79
/ 100
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Healthcare Quality
Rank 18 globally 80
Universal Healthcare Coverage
Rank 22 globally 84
Emergency Care
Rank 15 globally 82
Medicine Access
Rank 16 globally 83
Hospital Infections & Patient Safety
Rank 22 globally 82
Health Insurance for Foreigners
Rank 30 globally 77
Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure
Rank 100 globally 73
Doctor Density
Rank 45 globally 75
Hospital Beds
Rank 29 globally 69
Healthcare Coverage (%)
Rank 1 globally 100
Specialist Visit Cost
Rank 211 globally 24
English-Speaking Doctors
Rank 23 globally 80

Environmental Health

6 indicators

87
/ 100
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Fine Particulate Matter Exposure (PM2.5)
Rank 63 globally 86
Noise Pollution
Rank 117 globally 54
UV Radiation
Rank 16 globally 80
Tap Water Safety
Rank 1 globally 100
Sanitation
Rank 34 globally 96
Waste Management
Rank 11 globally 89
80
/ 100
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Life Expectancy
Rank 30 globally 92
Infectious Diseases
Rank 19 globally 89
Obesity Rate
Rank 90 globally 74
Infant Mortality (per 1,000)
Rank 30 globally 74
Mental Health
Rank 35 globally 73
Suicide Rate
Rank 195 globally 40
Maternal Mortality
Rank 1 globally 100
Vaccination Rate
Rank 65 globally 94
Alcohol & Tobacco Consumption
Rank 203 globally 42
Drug and Substance-Use Burden
Rank 119 globally 77
๐Ÿ’ธ Finance & Taxes ShowHide

Taxes & Finance

10 indicators

35
/ 100
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Effective Income Tax Rate (%)
Rank 223 globally 43
Top Income Tax Rate
Rank 224 globally 13
Social Security Burden
Rank 220 globally 36
VAT / GST Rate
Rank 204 globally 34
Capital Gains Tax
Rank 208 globally 37
Dividend Tax Rate
Rank 209 globally 37
Inheritance / Estate Tax
Rank 229 globally 5
Territorial Tax System
Rank 97 globally 25
Tax Filing Effort (hours/year)
Rank 64 globally 77
Double Taxation Agreements
Rank 8 globally 91
75
/ 100
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Capital Flow Freedom
Rank 93 globally 66
Capital Market Depth
Rank 59 globally 71
Business Credit Access
Rank 23 globally 79
Investor Protection
Rank 23 globally 78
Foreign Investment Openness
Rank 10 globally 83
Currency Convertibility & Transferability
Rank 146 globally 67
Venture Capital & Startup Financing
Rank 29 globally 77
Alternative Financing Access
Rank 21 globally 82

Banking & Fintech

8 indicators

70
/ 100
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Expat Banking Ease
Rank 20 globally 72
Banking Stability
Rank 111 globally 76
SWIFT / Wire Access
Rank 22 globally 90
Fintech Development
Rank 31 globally 95
ATM Availability
Rank 90 globally 79
Banking Secrecy Index
Rank 215 globally 30
Automatic Tax Information Exchange
Rank 176 globally 5
Cash Transaction Limit
Rank 203 globally 41

Bitcoin & Crypto

6 indicators

60
/ 100
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Crypto Adoption
Rank 52 globally 46
Crypto Regulation
Rank 23 globally 78
Legal Status
Rank 18 globally 84
Bitcoin Merchant Acceptance
Rank 29 globally 40
Crypto Tax Rate
Rank 119 globally 63
Bitcoin Cash Access
Rank 26 globally 35

Real Estate & Property

4 indicators

55
/ 100
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Foreigner Ownership Rights
Rank 2 globally 90
Transaction Costs
Rank 225 globally 29
Affordability
Rank 154 globally 52
Gross Rental Yield
Rank 199 globally 32
58
/ 100
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Corporate Tax Rate
Rank 107 globally 38
Cost to Start a Business
Rank 101 globally 68
Labor Market Flexibility
Rank 100 globally 58
Days to Register a Company
Rank 29 globally 73

Macroeconomics

9 indicators

71
/ 100
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GDP per Capita (PPP, USD)
Rank 22 globally 86
Inflation Rate (CPI, %)
Rank 114 globally 87
Public Debt (% of GDP)
Rank 206 globally 26
GDP Growth Rate (%)
Rank 181 globally 66
Economic Freedom Index
Rank 29 globally 72
Tax Burden (% of GDP)
Rank 24 globally 98
Central Bank Independence
Rank 15 globally 86
Foreign Exchange Reserves (months of imports)
Rank 212 globally 16
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)
Rank 95 globally 77
79
/ 100
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Avg. Monthly Net Salary ($/month)
Rank 30 globally 83
Purchasing Power Index
Rank 32 globally 76
Unemployment Rate (%)
Rank 125 globally 73
Wage Growth Rate (%)
Rank 186 globally 61
Salary-to-Rent Ratio
Rank 25 globally 90
Minimum Wage (USD/month)
Rank 19 globally 87
๐Ÿ  Costs ShowHide

Housing & Utilities

5 indicators

31
/ 100
ShowHide
City Rent per Square Meter
Rank 192 globally 24
Rural Rent per Square Meter
Rank 184 globally 41
Electricity Cost
Rank 222 globally 15
Heating & Gas Cost
Rank 213 globally 37
Water & Sewage Cost
Rank 214 globally 60

Food & Basic Goods

7 indicators

25
/ 100
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Milk Price per Liter
Rank 115 globally 49
Bread Price per 500 Grams
Rank 202 globally 15
Egg Price for 12 Eggs
Rank 203 globally 20
Chicken Fillet Price per Kilogram
Rank 215 globally 19
Beef Round Price per Kilogram
Rank 211 globally 21
Vegetable Basket Price per Kilogram
Rank 203 globally 19
Water Price per Liter in Supermarket
Rank 174 globally 41

Dining & Going Out

9 indicators

48
/ 100
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Price of an Inexpensive Restaurant Meal
Rank 207 globally 27
Burger Menu Price
Rank 210 globally 31
Cappuccino (Cafรฉ)
Rank 170 globally 48
Local Beer (Restaurant)
Rank 149 globally 62
Local Beer Price in a Market
Rank 135 globally 80
Imported Beer Price in a Market
Rank 122 globally 84
Cocktail (Bar)
Rank 165 globally 49
Mid-Range Wine Bottle Price
Rank 97 globally 71
Soft Drink Price in a Market
Rank 179 globally 42

Mobility Costs

7 indicators

47
/ 100
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Transit Cost
Rank 216 globally 31
Fuel Price ($/L)
Rank 210 globally 30
Car Rental ($/day)
Rank 191 globally 67
Car Insurance ($/yr)
Rank 208 globally 57
Car Purchase Index
Rank 21 globally 68
Driving License Cost ($)
Rank 212 globally 45
City Parking ($/hr)
Rank 212 globally 55
62
/ 100
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Internet Cost
Rank 98 globally 65
Mobile Plan Cost
Rank 171 globally 52
Prepaid SIM & Data Package Cost
Rank 160 globally 65
eSIM & Travel Data Cost
Rank 130 globally 83
Coworking Day Pass Cost
Rank 155 globally 51

Personal Services

4 indicators

45
/ 100
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Haircut Cost
Rank 205 globally 39
Fitness Club Monthly Fee
Rank 195 globally 49
Laundry & Dry Cleaning Cost
Rank 187 globally 52
Local Services Cost
Rank 200 globally 38
๐Ÿ—๏ธ Infrastructure ShowHide
89
/ 100
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Logistics Performance
Rank 6 globally 91
Rail Network Density
Rank 3 globally 98
Airport Connectivity
Rank 8 globally 90
Port Connectivity
Rank 13 globally 65
69
/ 100
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Road Quality
Rank 45 globally 73
Traffic Congestion
Rank 226 globally 23
Road Density
Rank 10 globally 82
Traffic Deaths
Rank 26 globally 90
EV Charging Infrastructure
Rank 9 globally 89

Electricity & Energy

6 indicators

82
/ 100
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Power Outages
Rank 19 globally 98
Electrification Rate
Rank 1 globally 100
Energy Self-Sufficiency
Rank 31 globally 80
Renewable Energy Share
Rank 101 globally 40
CO2 Intensity
Rank 22 globally 83
Nuclear Exposure
Rank 213 globally 71
86
/ 100
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Broadband Speed
Rank 27 globally 86
Fixed Broadband Subscriptions
Rank 1 globally 100
Mobile Speed
Rank 47 globally 77
5G Coverage
Rank 21 globally 75

Public Transport

4 indicators

78
/ 100
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Transit Coverage
Rank 14 globally 85
Transit Punctuality
Rank 25 globally 78
Cycling Infrastructure
Rank 8 globally 72
Walkability Score
Rank 18 globally 75
๐ŸŒฟ Lifestyle ShowHide

Work-Life Balance

5 indicators

68
/ 100
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Annual Working Hours
Rank 12 globally 88
Paid Vacation Days
Rank 81 globally 67
Happiness Index (UN)
Rank 31 globally 69
Burnout Risk
Rank 15 globally 75
Public Holidays
Rank 193 globally 40

Climate & Weather

6 indicators

58
/ 100
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Temperature Comfort
Rank 199 globally 34
Sunshine Hours
Rank 215 globally 53
Humidity Comfort
Rank 155 globally 56
Rainy Days
Rank 151 globally 58
Extreme Heat Days
Rank 16 globally 99
Seasonal Variation
Rank 135 globally 69

Outdoor & Lifestyle

5 indicators

38
/ 100
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Beach Quality
Rank 158 globally 41
Mountain Access
Rank 182 globally 15
Protected Land Area (%)
Rank 117 globally 55
Biodiversity Index
Rank 177 globally 47
Forest Cover
Rank 139 globally 30

Leisure & Recreation

4 indicators

82
/ 100
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Sports & Fitness Facilities
Rank 14 globally 87
Urban Green Space Access
Rank 85 globally 66
Leisure Infrastructure
Rank 10 globally 90
Recovery Time
Rank 24 globally 88

Arts & Entertainment

6 indicators

80
/ 100
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Museums per 100,000 People
Rank 7 globally 97
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Rank 22 globally 58
Music & Nightlife
Rank 13 globally 75
Cinema Density
Rank 9 globally 86
Cultural Freedom
Rank 22 globally 85
Football and Stadium Culture
Rank 17 globally 83
70
/ 100
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Cuisine Diversity
Rank 26 globally 63
Restaurant Density
Rank 23 globally 77
Street Food Scene
Rank 25 globally 62
Local Market Quality
Rank 21 globally 73
Cafรฉ Culture
Rank 22 globally 71
Local Freshness
Rank 18 globally 81
Local Authenticity
Rank 24 globally 60

Family-Friendly

7 indicators

75
/ 100
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Childcare Cost ($/month)
Rank 209 globally 47
Paid Parental Leave (weeks)
Rank 1 globally 100
Child Benefit ($/month)
Rank 20 globally 68
Child Poverty Rate (%)
Rank 49 globally 86
Child Safety Score
Rank 27 globally 84
Childcare Coverage (%)
Rank 19 globally 50
Playground Density
Rank 15 globally 87

Pet-Friendly

7 indicators

67
/ 100
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Pet Entry Rules
Rank 1 globally 90
Veterinary Quality
Rank 8 globally 90
Vet Cost Affordability
Rank 194 globally 30
Pet Food Prices
Rank 197 globally 35
Animal Welfare Laws
Rank 11 globally 82
Pet-Friendly Housing
Rank 6 globally 65
Outdoor Pet Access
Rank 18 globally 80
โœˆ๏ธ Relocation & Residency ShowHide
81
/ 100
ShowHide
Residence Permit Ease
Rank 26 globally 85
E-Government
Rank 24 globally 90
Visa Processing Time
Rank 139 globally 48
Local Registration Requirements
Rank 33 globally 81
Foreign Document & Qualification Recognition
Rank 22 globally 89
Household Goods & Customs
Rank 7 globally 92
International Licence Compatibility
Rank 19 globally 94
83
/ 100
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Visa-Free Tourist Stay Days
Rank 38 globally 75
Visa Application Ease
Rank 39 globally 80
Border Openness
Rank 16 globally 96
Travel & Entry Comfort
Rank 14 globally 91
Visa Income & Asset Requirements
Rank 185 globally 71
73
/ 100
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Digital Nomad Visa
Rank 67 globally 47
Remote Work Legality
Rank 48 globally 71
Freelance Legal Framework
Rank 48 globally 82
Remote Job Market
Rank 29 globally 84
Coworking Density
Rank 27 globally 78
Nomad Community
Rank 23 globally 75
Avg. Remote Salary (USD)
Rank 27 globally 87
86
/ 100
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Work Rights for Foreigners
Rank 22 globally 90
Work Permit Access for Foreigners
Rank 26 globally 85
Local Self-Employment and Freelancing Rights
Rank 49 globally 75
Employment Restrictions for Foreigners
Rank 23 globally 88
Professional Qualification Recognition
Rank 22 globally 89
Business Ownership by Foreigners
Rank 23 globally 89
83
/ 100
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Time to Permanent Residency or Citizenship
Rank 10 globally 80
Family Reunification
Rank 24 globally 91
Naturalization Requirements
Rank 25 globally 81
Residence Status Stability
Rank 26 globally 87
Residence Status for Spouses and Children
Rank 20 globally 91
Passport Power (Henley Index)
Rank 5 globally 96
Dual Citizenship Allowed
Rank 1 globally 100
Citizenship by Investment
Rank 13 globally 0

Language & Integration

7 indicators

70
/ 100
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English Proficiency (EF EPI)
Rank 90 globally 60
Local Language Barrier
Rank 66 globally 67
Integration Ease
Rank 55 globally 75
Cultural Etiquette Gap
Rank 19 globally 91
Expat Community Size
Rank 47 globally 55
Cultural Distance to West
Rank 19 globally 90
International Schools
Rank 34 globally 61
82
/ 100
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Expat Welcome Culture
Rank 55 globally 74
Foreigner Discrimination
Rank 16 globally 89
Xenophobia Levels
Rank 25 globally 84
Racial Safety for Foreigners
Rank 23 globally 83
79
/ 100
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Rental Access for Foreigners
Rank 35 globally 80
Tax Residency Clarity for Expats
Rank 23 globally 73
Local Contracts and Utilities Access
Rank 29 globally 81
Local Identity and Address Proof
Rank 30 globally 80
Everyday Accounts and Payments for Foreigners
Rank 27 globally 82
๐Ÿ–๏ธ Travel & Vacation ShowHide
90
/ 100
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Hotel Quality
Rank 11 globally 93
Vacation Rental Quality
Rank 25 globally 89
Accommodation Availability
Rank 12 globally 89
Booking & Transparency
Rank 29 globally 88

Tourism Infrastructure

4 indicators

91
/ 100
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Airport-to-Destination Transfer
Rank 10 globally 93
Digital Travel Services
Rank 19 globally 90
Traveler Payment Infrastructure
Rank 25 globally 91
Tourist Information Quality
Rank 23 globally 88
79
/ 100
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Major Attractions Density
Rank 22 globally 81
Guided Tours & Bookable Experiences
Rank 20 globally 90
Tourist Outdoor Activities
Rank 132 globally 60
Nightlife & Entertainment for Visitors
Rank 16 globally 86
66
/ 100
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Tourist Beach Quality
Rank 114 globally 65
Swimming & Water Sports
Rank 52 globally 77
National Parks & Nature Access
Rank 141 globally 57

Vacation Costs

5 indicators

63
/ 100
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Hotel Cost
Rank 175 globally 64
Vacation Rental Cost
Rank 171 globally 66
Attraction Entry Cost
Rank 193 globally 52
Tour & Activity Cost
Rank 185 globally 62
Tourist Taxes & Fees
Rank 124 globally 76
91
/ 100
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High-Season Overcrowding
Rank 4 globally 97
Off-Season Usability
Rank 18 globally 88
Seasonal Capacity Shortage
Rank 11 globally 93
Seasonal Price Surcharges
Rank 123 globally 83
๐ŸŒ Society & Participation ShowHide

Society & Freedom

4 indicators

84
/ 100
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Press Freedom
Rank 20 globally 79
Democracy Index
Rank 31 globally 82
Personal Freedom
Rank 26 globally 84
Freedom of Political Expression
Rank 18 globally 91

Education & Knowledge

5 indicators

91
/ 100
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Adult Literacy Rate
Rank 4 globally 99
PISA Score
Rank 12 globally 78
Tertiary Enrollment Rate
Rank 25 globally 78
Education Expenditure
Rank 1 globally 100
School Life Expectancy
Rank 1 globally 100
88
/ 100
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Pension Replacement Rate (%)
Rank 14 globally 92
Unemployment Benefit Duration (months)
Rank 1 globally 100
Social Spending (% of GDP)
Rank 2 globally 97
Gini Index
Rank 6 globally 94
Poverty Rate (%)
Rank 28 globally 78
Housing Support Score
Rank 6 globally 85
Social Mobility Score
Rank 9 globally 79
Social Cohesion
Rank 20 globally 83
84
/ 100
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Gender Equality
Rank 25 globally 79
Womenโ€™s Rights & Equality
Rank 23 globally 82
Anti-Discrimination Protection
Rank 15 globally 90
Minority Rights Protection
Rank 13 globally 91
Everyday Discrimination Risk
Rank 21 globally 87

LGBTQ+ Friendliness

5 indicators

94
/ 100
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Same-Sex Legal Status
Rank 7 globally 99
LGBTQ+ Anti-Discrimination
Rank 9 globally 94
LGBTQ+ Social Acceptance
Rank 13 globally 90
LGBTQ+ Rights
Rank 8 globally 96
Pride Culture
Rank 17 globally 86
91
/ 100
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Disability Support Score
Rank 8 globally 94
Public Accessibility
Rank 11 globally 88
Digital Accessibility
Rank 18 globally 85
Inclusion in Education and Work
Rank 10 globally 93

Religion & Worldviews

4 indicators

77
/ 100
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Religious Freedom Index
Rank 16 globally 90
Secularization Score
Rank 19 globally 69
Religious Diversity Index
Rank 31 globally 52
Religious Influence in Public Life
Rank 17 globally 81

Demography

10 indicators

58
/ 100
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Median Age
Rank 186 globally 33
Fertility Rate
Rank 141 globally 55
Population Growth
Rank 154 globally 30
Net Migration Rate
Rank 31 globally 67
Urbanization Rate
Rank 15 globally 98
Foreign Population Share
Rank 66 globally 65
Population Density
Rank 194 globally 43
Gender Ratio (F/100 M)
Rank 90 globally 53
Youth Gender Ratio (15-29)
Rank 158 globally 87
Single-Person Households
Rank 22 globally 72