Country profile

Nicaragua: Costs, Safety, Relocation and Quality of Life

Nicaragua is best read in the Nomadino comparison through the lens of everyday costs, housing and recurring expenses as well as healthcare and medical protection. The current data points to a mixed overall picture; its strongest main categories are Costs and Health, while Dining & Going Out, Personal Services and Food & Basic Goods stand out at topic level. Before making a decision, check infrastructure, mobility and digital usability as well as social freedom, participation and openness more closely, because the largest deductions come from Basic Infrastructure & Logistics, Bitcoin & Crypto and Society & Freedom.

Overall rating 54.18 points
Global rank Rank 157 globally
Continental rank Rank 39 in North America

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 Nicaragua

Why is Nicaragua especially relevant in this comparison?

The profile is shaped mainly by everyday costs, housing and recurring expenses as well as healthcare and medical protection; its strongest main categories are Costs and Health.

Which topics stand out positively for Nicaragua?

Dining & Going Out, Personal Services and Food & Basic Goods show the strongest topic-level results.

What should be checked before making a decision?

infrastructure, mobility and digital usability as well as social freedom, participation and openness deserve closer attention; the largest deductions come from Basic Infrastructure & Logistics, Bitcoin & Crypto and Society & Freedom.

How important is lower-cost living and longer stays for Nicaragua?

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 Nicaragua 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

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

Static comparisons

All ratings and indicators for Nicaragua

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

55
/ 100
ShowHide
Homicide Rate
Rank 189 globally 72
Petty Crime Index
Rank 149 globally 47
Women's Safety
Rank 148 globally 51
Organized Crime
Rank 185 globally 39
Kidnapping Risk
Rank 144 globally 71
BAC Limit (โ€ฐ)
Rank 123 globally 38
77
/ 100
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Active Conflicts & War Risk
Rank 134 globally 86
Political Violence
Rank 180 globally 58
Geopolitical Risk
Rank 175 globally 74
Terrorism Risk
Rank 1 globally 100

Natural Hazards

8 indicators

43
/ 100
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Flood Risk
Rank 119 globally 46
Storm Risk
Rank 149 globally 65
Earthquake Risk
Rank 204 globally 24
Drought Risk
Rank 82 globally 71
Wildfire Risk
Rank 181 globally 28
Landslide Risk
Rank 199 globally 32
Tsunami Risk
Rank 206 globally 23
Volcano Risk
Rank 218 globally 25

Privacy & Surveillance

6 indicators

32
/ 100
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State Surveillance
Rank 205 globally 22
Internet Censorship
Rank 185 globally 38
Internet Freedom
Rank 204 globally 27
Data Protection Laws
Rank 169 globally 33
VPN Access
Rank 175 globally 51
Cybercrime Risk
Rank 184 globally 48
27
/ 100
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Rule of Law
Rank 204 globally 27
Property Rights Security
Rank 196 globally 31
Corruption Perception
Rank 225 globally 13
Police Effectiveness
Rank 192 globally 36
Expropriation Risk
Rank 199 globally 25
Extradition Risk
Rank 168 globally 36

Long-Term Stability

4 indicators

48
/ 100
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Political Stability
Rank 189 globally 42
Economic Resilience
Rank 103 globally 61
Government Efficiency
Rank 196 globally 35
Climate Vulnerability
Rank 137 globally 52
โค๏ธ Health ShowHide

Healthcare & Access

12 indicators

52
/ 100
ShowHide
Healthcare Quality
Rank 137 globally 55
Universal Healthcare Coverage
Rank 154 globally 59
Emergency Care
Rank 165 globally 45
Medicine Access
Rank 164 globally 54
Hospital Infections & Patient Safety
Rank 167 globally 46
Health Insurance for Foreigners
Rank 136 globally 62
Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure
Rank 164 globally 53
Doctor Density
Rank 163 globally 24
Hospital Beds
Rank 185 globally 19
Healthcare Coverage (%)
Rank 141 globally 85
Specialist Visit Cost
Rank 64 globally 69
English-Speaking Doctors
Rank 167 globally 37

Environmental Health

6 indicators

57
/ 100
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Fine Particulate Matter Exposure (PM2.5)
Rank 107 globally 74
Noise Pollution
Rank 103 globally 55
UV Radiation
Rank 169 globally 14
Tap Water Safety
Rank 124 globally 78
Sanitation
Rank 130 globally 62
Waste Management
Rank 179 globally 16
65
/ 100
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Life Expectancy
Rank 111 globally 72
Infectious Diseases
Rank 172 globally 53
Obesity Rate
Rank 186 globally 57
Infant Mortality (per 1,000)
Rank 107 globally 49
Mental Health
Rank 158 globally 57
Suicide Rate
Rank 43 globally 77
Maternal Mortality
Rank 136 globally 54
Vaccination Rate
Rank 116 globally 89
Alcohol & Tobacco Consumption
Rank 64 globally 76
Drug and Substance-Use Burden
Rank 20 globally 90
๐Ÿ’ธ Finance & Taxes ShowHide

Taxes & Finance

10 indicators

70
/ 100
ShowHide
Effective Income Tax Rate (%)
Rank 70 globally 89
Top Income Tax Rate
Rank 98 globally 56
Social Security Burden
Rank 143 globally 67
VAT / GST Rate
Rank 99 globally 53
Capital Gains Tax
Rank 143 globally 68
Dividend Tax Rate
Rank 137 globally 68
Inheritance / Estate Tax
Rank 188 globally 82
Territorial Tax System
Rank 20 globally 98
Tax Filing Effort (hours/year)
Rank 118 globally 64
Double Taxation Agreements
Rank 152 globally 12
53
/ 100
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Capital Flow Freedom
Rank 121 globally 63
Capital Market Depth
Rank 130 globally 60
Business Credit Access
Rank 158 globally 51
Investor Protection
Rank 188 globally 33
Foreign Investment Openness
Rank 124 globally 53
Currency Convertibility & Transferability
Rank 91 globally 72
Venture Capital & Startup Financing
Rank 181 globally 39
Alternative Financing Access
Rank 166 globally 42

Banking & Fintech

8 indicators

60
/ 100
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Expat Banking Ease
Rank 158 globally 29
Banking Stability
Rank 9 globally 85
SWIFT / Wire Access
Rank 143 globally 77
Fintech Development
Rank 176 globally 33
ATM Availability
Rank 158 globally 60
Banking Secrecy Index
Rank 27 globally 55
Automatic Tax Information Exchange
Rank 79 globally 72
Cash Transaction Limit
Rank 1 globally 100

Bitcoin & Crypto

6 indicators

25
/ 100
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Crypto Adoption
Rank 140 globally 25
Crypto Regulation
Rank 154 globally 31
Legal Status
Rank 159 globally 32
Bitcoin Merchant Acceptance
Rank 155 globally 11
Crypto Tax Rate
Rank 182 globally 40
Bitcoin Cash Access
Rank 150 globally 8

Real Estate & Property

4 indicators

86
/ 100
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Foreigner Ownership Rights
Rank 24 globally 85
Transaction Costs
Rank 25 globally 88
Affordability
Rank 17 globally 85
Gross Rental Yield
Rank 10 globally 89
37
/ 100
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Corporate Tax Rate
Rank 176 globally 25
Cost to Start a Business
Rank 203 globally 30
Labor Market Flexibility
Rank 193 globally 47
Days to Register a Company
Rank 133 globally 50

Macroeconomics

9 indicators

66
/ 100
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GDP per Capita (PPP, USD)
Rank 164 globally 44
Inflation Rate (CPI, %)
Rank 167 globally 75
Public Debt (% of GDP)
Rank 90 globally 66
GDP Growth Rate (%)
Rank 88 globally 85
Economic Freedom Index
Rank 189 globally 47
Tax Burden (% of GDP)
Rank 68 globally 94
Central Bank Independence
Rank 187 globally 52
Foreign Exchange Reserves (months of imports)
Rank 62 globally 70
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)
Rank 55 globally 86
41
/ 100
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Avg. Monthly Net Salary ($/month)
Rank 162 globally 21
Purchasing Power Index
Rank 162 globally 20
Unemployment Rate (%)
Rank 99 globally 78
Wage Growth Rate (%)
Rank 58 globally 78
Salary-to-Rent Ratio
Rank 128 globally 60
Minimum Wage (USD/month)
Rank 141 globally 29
๐Ÿ  Costs ShowHide

Housing & Utilities

5 indicators

74
/ 100
ShowHide
City Rent per Square Meter
Rank 47 globally 63
Rural Rent per Square Meter
Rank 66 globally 70
Electricity Cost
Rank 107 globally 69
Heating & Gas Cost
Rank 27 globally 99
Water & Sewage Cost
Rank 51 globally 98

Food & Basic Goods

7 indicators

88
/ 100
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Milk Price per Liter
Rank 31 globally 82
Bread Price per 500 Grams
Rank 52 globally 84
Egg Price for 12 Eggs
Rank 26 globally 92
Chicken Fillet Price per Kilogram
Rank 27 globally 90
Beef Round Price per Kilogram
Rank 17 globally 89
Vegetable Basket Price per Kilogram
Rank 37 globally 92
Water Price per Liter in Supermarket
Rank 43 globally 87

Dining & Going Out

9 indicators

95
/ 100
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Price of an Inexpensive Restaurant Meal
Rank 37 globally 88
Burger Menu Price
Rank 37 globally 99
Cappuccino (Cafรฉ)
Rank 26 globally 95
Local Beer (Restaurant)
Rank 1 globally 100
Local Beer Price in a Market
Rank 29 globally 97
Imported Beer Price in a Market
Rank 14 globally 96
Cocktail (Bar)
Rank 1 globally 100
Mid-Range Wine Bottle Price
Rank 13 globally 92
Soft Drink Price in a Market
Rank 29 globally 97

Mobility Costs

7 indicators

81
/ 100
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Transit Cost
Rank 22 globally 97
Fuel Price ($/L)
Rank 39 globally 77
Car Rental ($/day)
Rank 37 globally 92
Car Insurance ($/yr)
Rank 57 globally 96
Car Purchase Index
Rank 153 globally 1
Driving License Cost ($)
Rank 69 globally 96
City Parking ($/hr)
Rank 58 globally 95
74
/ 100
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Internet Cost
Rank 90 globally 67
Mobile Plan Cost
Rank 90 globally 73
Prepaid SIM & Data Package Cost
Rank 114 globally 80
eSIM & Travel Data Cost
Rank 96 globally 89
Coworking Day Pass Cost
Rank 43 globally 75

Personal Services

4 indicators

93
/ 100
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Haircut Cost
Rank 44 globally 90
Fitness Club Monthly Fee
Rank 35 globally 97
Laundry & Dry Cleaning Cost
Rank 27 globally 94
Local Services Cost
Rank 44 globally 91
๐Ÿ—๏ธ Infrastructure ShowHide
18
/ 100
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Logistics Performance
Rank 148 globally 18
Rail Network Density
Rank 134 globally 1
Airport Connectivity
Rank 125 globally 36
Port Connectivity
Rank 116 globally 18
45
/ 100
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Road Quality
Rank 155 globally 36
Traffic Congestion
Rank 110 globally 52
Road Density
Rank 145 globally 52
Traffic Deaths
Rank 113 globally 72
EV Charging Infrastructure
Rank 175 globally 3

Electricity & Energy

6 indicators

70
/ 100
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Power Outages
Rank 148 globally 72
Electrification Rate
Rank 1 globally 100
Energy Self-Sufficiency
Rank 119 globally 40
Renewable Energy Share
Rank 56 globally 60
CO2 Intensity
Rank 95 globally 47
Nuclear Exposure
Rank 1 globally 100
27
/ 100
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Broadband Speed
Rank 161 globally 35
Fixed Broadband Subscriptions
Rank 155 globally 14
Mobile Speed
Rank 155 globally 42
5G Coverage
Rank 140 globally 5

Public Transport

4 indicators

37
/ 100
ShowHide
Transit Coverage
Rank 126 globally 40
Transit Punctuality
Rank 157 globally 48
Cycling Infrastructure
Rank 111 globally 12
Walkability Score
Rank 133 globally 48
๐ŸŒฟ Lifestyle ShowHide

Work-Life Balance

5 indicators

49
/ 100
ShowHide
Annual Working Hours
Rank 206 globally 32
Paid Vacation Days
Rank 129 globally 50
Happiness Index (UN)
Rank 48 globally 65
Burnout Risk
Rank 156 globally 42
Public Holidays
Rank 42 globally 56

Climate & Weather

6 indicators

78
/ 100
ShowHide
Temperature Comfort
Rank 23 globally 77
Sunshine Hours
Rank 63 globally 88
Humidity Comfort
Rank 130 globally 61
Rainy Days
Rank 130 globally 63
Extreme Heat Days
Rank 108 globally 91
Seasonal Variation
Rank 62 globally 92

Outdoor & Lifestyle

5 indicators

65
/ 100
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Beach Quality
Rank 99 globally 63
Mountain Access
Rank 63 globally 56
Protected Land Area (%)
Rank 86 globally 71
Biodiversity Index
Rank 25 globally 84
Forest Cover
Rank 126 globally 34

Leisure & Recreation

4 indicators

45
/ 100
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Sports & Fitness Facilities
Rank 145 globally 31
Urban Green Space Access
Rank 115 globally 60
Leisure Infrastructure
Rank 147 globally 31
Recovery Time
Rank 183 globally 57

Arts & Entertainment

6 indicators

29
/ 100
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Museums per 100,000 People
Rank 114 globally 29
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Rank 136 globally 10
Music & Nightlife
Rank 130 globally 35
Cinema Density
Rank 138 globally 12
Cultural Freedom
Rank 168 globally 35
Football and Stadium Culture
Rank 99 globally 66
37
/ 100
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Cuisine Diversity
Rank 135 globally 33
Restaurant Density
Rank 138 globally 38
Street Food Scene
Rank 125 globally 36
Local Market Quality
Rank 131 globally 43
Cafรฉ Culture
Rank 140 globally 31
Local Freshness
Rank 127 globally 47
Local Authenticity
Rank 133 globally 32

Family-Friendly

7 indicators

44
/ 100
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Childcare Cost ($/month)
Rank 85 globally 95
Paid Parental Leave (weeks)
Rank 162 globally 23
Child Benefit ($/month)
Rank 120 globally 21
Child Poverty Rate (%)
Rank 152 globally 64
Child Safety Score
Rank 150 globally 52
Childcare Coverage (%)
Rank 140 globally 12
Playground Density
Rank 140 globally 38

Pet-Friendly

7 indicators

55
/ 100
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Pet Entry Rules
Rank 89 globally 55
Veterinary Quality
Rank 134 globally 45
Vet Cost Affordability
Rank 33 globally 72
Pet Food Prices
Rank 36 globally 68
Animal Welfare Laws
Rank 109 globally 40
Pet-Friendly Housing
Rank 90 globally 52
Outdoor Pet Access
Rank 118 globally 50
โœˆ๏ธ Relocation & Residency ShowHide
52
/ 100
ShowHide
Residence Permit Ease
Rank 168 globally 56
E-Government
Rank 155 globally 57
Visa Processing Time
Rank 57 globally 62
Local Registration Requirements
Rank 169 globally 48
Foreign Document & Qualification Recognition
Rank 175 globally 43
Household Goods & Customs
Rank 168 globally 30
International Licence Compatibility
Rank 150 globally 51
66
/ 100
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Visa-Free Tourist Stay Days
Rank 38 globally 75
Visa Application Ease
Rank 153 globally 54
Border Openness
Rank 125 globally 61
Travel & Entry Comfort
Rank 141 globally 49
Visa Income & Asset Requirements
Rank 6 globally 97
43
/ 100
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Digital Nomad Visa
Rank 131 globally 38
Remote Work Legality
Rank 95 globally 58
Freelance Legal Framework
Rank 166 globally 51
Remote Job Market
Rank 178 globally 43
Coworking Density
Rank 147 globally 33
Nomad Community
Rank 148 globally 30
Avg. Remote Salary (USD)
Rank 165 globally 35
49
/ 100
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Work Rights for Foreigners
Rank 164 globally 48
Work Permit Access for Foreigners
Rank 170 globally 51
Local Self-Employment and Freelancing Rights
Rank 157 globally 51
Employment Restrictions for Foreigners
Rank 167 globally 46
Professional Qualification Recognition
Rank 174 globally 41
Business Ownership by Foreigners
Rank 130 globally 60
48
/ 100
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Time to Permanent Residency or Citizenship
Rank 124 globally 42
Family Reunification
Rank 167 globally 48
Naturalization Requirements
Rank 159 globally 49
Residence Status Stability
Rank 176 globally 45
Residence Status for Spouses and Children
Rank 174 globally 45
Passport Power (Henley Index)
Rank 111 globally 60
Dual Citizenship Allowed
Rank 57 globally 90
Citizenship by Investment
Rank 13 globally 0

Language & Integration

7 indicators

40
/ 100
ShowHide
English Proficiency (EF EPI)
Rank 177 globally 30
Local Language Barrier
Rank 175 globally 39
Integration Ease
Rank 182 globally 52
Cultural Etiquette Gap
Rank 178 globally 48
Expat Community Size
Rank 164 globally 27
Cultural Distance to West
Rank 171 globally 48
International Schools
Rank 165 globally 36
41
/ 100
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Expat Welcome Culture
Rank 144 globally 48
Foreigner Discrimination
Rank 152 globally 33
Xenophobia Levels
Rank 138 globally 44
Racial Safety for Foreigners
Rank 148 globally 38
43
/ 100
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Rental Access for Foreigners
Rank 171 globally 42
Tax Residency Clarity for Expats
Rank 163 globally 39
Local Contracts and Utilities Access
Rank 162 globally 44
Local Identity and Address Proof
Rank 160 globally 42
Everyday Accounts and Payments for Foreigners
Rank 166 globally 49
๐Ÿ–๏ธ Travel & Vacation ShowHide
44
/ 100
ShowHide
Hotel Quality
Rank 148 globally 46
Vacation Rental Quality
Rank 168 globally 41
Accommodation Availability
Rank 132 globally 45
Booking & Transparency
Rank 169 globally 43

Tourism Infrastructure

4 indicators

47
/ 100
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Airport-to-Destination Transfer
Rank 139 globally 41
Digital Travel Services
Rank 168 globally 44
Traveler Payment Infrastructure
Rank 161 globally 54
Tourist Information Quality
Rank 179 globally 47
49
/ 100
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Major Attractions Density
Rank 163 globally 35
Guided Tours & Bookable Experiences
Rank 158 globally 49
Tourist Outdoor Activities
Rank 81 globally 69
Nightlife & Entertainment for Visitors
Rank 154 globally 42
64
/ 100
ShowHide
Tourist Beach Quality
Rank 110 globally 66
Swimming & Water Sports
Rank 135 globally 58
National Parks & Nature Access
Rank 89 globally 69

Vacation Costs

5 indicators

83
/ 100
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Hotel Cost
Rank 116 globally 79
Vacation Rental Cost
Rank 117 globally 80
Attraction Entry Cost
Rank 31 globally 93
Tour & Activity Cost
Rank 47 globally 92
Tourist Taxes & Fees
Rank 167 globally 70
71
/ 100
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High-Season Overcrowding
Rank 159 globally 81
Off-Season Usability
Rank 158 globally 62
Seasonal Capacity Shortage
Rank 149 globally 59
Seasonal Price Surcharges
Rank 142 globally 80
๐ŸŒ Society & Participation ShowHide

Society & Freedom

4 indicators

27
/ 100
ShowHide
Press Freedom
Rank 198 globally 26
Democracy Index
Rank 225 globally 16
Personal Freedom
Rank 165 globally 52
Freedom of Political Expression
Rank 214 globally 10

Education & Knowledge

5 indicators

54
/ 100
ShowHide
Adult Literacy Rate
Rank 174 globally 82
PISA Score
Rank 153 globally 26
Tertiary Enrollment Rate
Rank 147 globally 28
Education Expenditure
Rank 89 globally 75
School Life Expectancy
Rank 167 globally 60
28
/ 100
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Pension Replacement Rate (%)
Rank 148 globally 8
Unemployment Benefit Duration (months)
Rank 95 globally 25
Social Spending (% of GDP)
Rank 156 globally 23
Gini Index
Rank 172 globally 40
Poverty Rate (%)
Rank 144 globally 25
Housing Support Score
Rank 152 globally 29
Social Mobility Score
Rank 162 globally 34
Social Cohesion
Rank 175 globally 41
42
/ 100
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Gender Equality
Rank 146 globally 51
Womenโ€™s Rights & Equality
Rank 172 globally 41
Anti-Discrimination Protection
Rank 176 globally 32
Minority Rights Protection
Rank 151 globally 37
Everyday Discrimination Risk
Rank 149 globally 38

LGBTQ+ Friendliness

5 indicators

31
/ 100
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Same-Sex Legal Status
Rank 124 globally 34
LGBTQ+ Anti-Discrimination
Rank 150 globally 29
LGBTQ+ Social Acceptance
Rank 138 globally 34
LGBTQ+ Rights
Rank 146 globally 28
Pride Culture
Rank 139 globally 24
37
/ 100
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Disability Support Score
Rank 157 globally 36
Public Accessibility
Rank 166 globally 36
Digital Accessibility
Rank 166 globally 35
Inclusion in Education and Work
Rank 155 globally 44

Religion & Worldviews

4 indicators

55
/ 100
ShowHide
Religious Freedom Index
Rank 152 globally 65
Secularization Score
Rank 124 globally 42
Religious Diversity Index
Rank 125 globally 35
Religious Influence in Public Life
Rank 135 globally 63

Demography

10 indicators

58
/ 100
ShowHide
Median Age
Rank 73 globally 73
Fertility Rate
Rank 1 globally 100
Population Growth
Rank 97 globally 44
Net Migration Rate
Rank 176 globally 37
Urbanization Rate
Rank 126 globally 52
Foreign Population Share
Rank 182 globally 28
Population Density
Rank 76 globally 64
Gender Ratio (F/100 M)
Rank 90 globally 53
Youth Gender Ratio (15-29)
Rank 22 globally 91
Single-Person Households
Rank 136 globally 19