Country profile

Sri Lanka: Costs, Safety, Relocation and Quality of Life

Sri Lanka is especially relevant in the Nomadino comparison when comparing everyday costs, housing and recurring expenses as well as travel, accommodation and visitor usability. The current data points to a solid overall picture; its strongest main categories are Costs and Travel & Vacation, while Dining & Going Out, Personal Services and Communication & Digital Costs stand out at topic level. Before making a decision, check social freedom, participation and openness as well as infrastructure, mobility and digital usability more closely, because the largest deductions come from LGBTQ+ Friendliness, Arts & Entertainment and Internet & Connectivity.

Overall rating 59.75 points
Global rank Rank 110 globally
Continental rank Rank 20 in Asia

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 Sri Lanka

Why is Sri Lanka especially relevant in this comparison?

The profile is shaped mainly by everyday costs, housing and recurring expenses as well as travel, accommodation and visitor usability; its strongest main categories are Costs and Travel & Vacation.

Which topics stand out positively for Sri Lanka?

Dining & Going Out, Personal Services and Communication & Digital Costs show the strongest topic-level results.

What should be checked before making a decision?

social freedom, participation and openness as well as infrastructure, mobility and digital usability deserve closer attention; the largest deductions come from LGBTQ+ Friendliness, Arts & Entertainment and Internet & Connectivity.

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

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 Sri Lanka 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

Sri Lanka 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 travel, accommodation and visitor usability need to be weighed against different priorities; social freedom, participation and openness as well as infrastructure, mobility and digital usability still deserve closer attention.

All ratings and indicators for Sri Lanka

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

70
/ 100
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Homicide Rate
Rank 120 globally 87
Petty Crime Index
Rank 91 globally 61
Women's Safety
Rank 119 globally 57
Organized Crime
Rank 130 globally 49
Kidnapping Risk
Rank 114 globally 77
BAC Limit (โ€ฐ)
Rank 1 globally 100
90
/ 100
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Active Conflicts & War Risk
Rank 7 globally 96
Political Violence
Rank 105 globally 80
Geopolitical Risk
Rank 104 globally 87
Terrorism Risk
Rank 1 globally 100

Natural Hazards

8 indicators

65
/ 100
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Flood Risk
Rank 129 globally 45
Storm Risk
Rank 92 globally 78
Earthquake Risk
Rank 28 globally 90
Drought Risk
Rank 131 globally 61
Wildfire Risk
Rank 98 globally 50
Landslide Risk
Rank 103 globally 55
Tsunami Risk
Rank 188 globally 38
Volcano Risk
Rank 1 globally 100

Privacy & Surveillance

6 indicators

54
/ 100
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State Surveillance
Rank 145 globally 55
Internet Censorship
Rank 143 globally 58
Internet Freedom
Rank 139 globally 56
Data Protection Laws
Rank 154 globally 38
VPN Access
Rank 144 globally 62
Cybercrime Risk
Rank 129 globally 56
48
/ 100
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Rule of Law
Rank 128 globally 49
Property Rights Security
Rank 130 globally 49
Corruption Perception
Rank 148 globally 37
Police Effectiveness
Rank 121 globally 57
Expropriation Risk
Rank 137 globally 51
Extradition Risk
Rank 83 globally 47

Long-Term Stability

4 indicators

48
/ 100
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Political Stability
Rank 164 globally 50
Economic Resilience
Rank 206 globally 36
Government Efficiency
Rank 132 globally 54
Climate Vulnerability
Rank 119 globally 56
โค๏ธ Health ShowHide

Healthcare & Access

12 indicators

58
/ 100
ShowHide
Healthcare Quality
Rank 87 globally 65
Universal Healthcare Coverage
Rank 158 globally 58
Emergency Care
Rank 114 globally 59
Medicine Access
Rank 149 globally 58
Hospital Infections & Patient Safety
Rank 118 globally 59
Health Insurance for Foreigners
Rank 86 globally 69
Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure
Rank 205 globally 31
Doctor Density
Rank 140 globally 36
Hospital Beds
Rank 54 globally 57
Healthcare Coverage (%)
Rank 154 globally 82
Specialist Visit Cost
Rank 38 globally 79
English-Speaking Doctors
Rank 100 globally 58

Environmental Health

6 indicators

51
/ 100
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Fine Particulate Matter Exposure (PM2.5)
Rank 124 globally 67
Noise Pollution
Rank 187 globally 38
UV Radiation
Rank 169 globally 14
Tap Water Safety
Rank 175 globally 53
Sanitation
Rank 111 globally 72
Waste Management
Rank 168 globally 21
74
/ 100
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Life Expectancy
Rank 81 globally 79
Infectious Diseases
Rank 116 globally 74
Obesity Rate
Rank 31 globally 86
Infant Mortality (per 1,000)
Rank 65 globally 63
Mental Health
Rank 142 globally 59
Suicide Rate
Rank 195 globally 40
Maternal Mortality
Rank 77 globally 76
Vaccination Rate
Rank 17 globally 98
Alcohol & Tobacco Consumption
Rank 83 globally 70
Drug and Substance-Use Burden
Rank 38 globally 86
๐Ÿ’ธ Finance & Taxes ShowHide

Taxes & Finance

10 indicators

66
/ 100
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Effective Income Tax Rate (%)
Rank 131 globally 82
Top Income Tax Rate
Rank 154 globally 44
Social Security Burden
Rank 122 globally 71
VAT / GST Rate
Rank 152 globally 43
Capital Gains Tax
Rank 112 globally 79
Dividend Tax Rate
Rank 135 globally 70
Inheritance / Estate Tax
Rank 1 globally 100
Territorial Tax System
Rank 97 globally 25
Tax Filing Effort (hours/year)
Rank 97 globally 69
Double Taxation Agreements
Rank 70 globally 62
52
/ 100
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Capital Flow Freedom
Rank 184 globally 56
Capital Market Depth
Rank 161 globally 56
Business Credit Access
Rank 153 globally 52
Investor Protection
Rank 149 globally 44
Foreign Investment Openness
Rank 157 globally 43
Currency Convertibility & Transferability
Rank 168 globally 64
Venture Capital & Startup Financing
Rank 128 globally 50
Alternative Financing Access
Rank 147 globally 47

Banking & Fintech

8 indicators

59
/ 100
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Expat Banking Ease
Rank 146 globally 33
Banking Stability
Rank 175 globally 60
SWIFT / Wire Access
Rank 162 globally 75
Fintech Development
Rank 137 globally 50
ATM Availability
Rank 166 globally 53
Banking Secrecy Index
Rank 98 globally 52
Automatic Tax Information Exchange
Rank 15 globally 93
Cash Transaction Limit
Rank 1 globally 100

Bitcoin & Crypto

6 indicators

37
/ 100
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Crypto Adoption
Rank 86 globally 35
Crypto Regulation
Rank 146 globally 34
Legal Status
Rank 153 globally 36
Bitcoin Merchant Acceptance
Rank 129 globally 13
Crypto Tax Rate
Rank 1 globally 100
Bitcoin Cash Access
Rank 137 globally 9

Real Estate & Property

4 indicators

44
/ 100
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Foreigner Ownership Rights
Rank 186 globally 15
Transaction Costs
Rank 154 globally 60
Affordability
Rank 174 globally 45
Gross Rental Yield
Rank 74 globally 68
48
/ 100
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Corporate Tax Rate
Rank 176 globally 25
Cost to Start a Business
Rank 112 globally 63
Labor Market Flexibility
Rank 149 globally 54
Days to Register a Company
Rank 91 globally 58

Macroeconomics

9 indicators

60
/ 100
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GDP per Capita (PPP, USD)
Rank 135 globally 55
Inflation Rate (CPI, %)
Rank 131 globally 84
Public Debt (% of GDP)
Rank 213 globally 21
GDP Growth Rate (%)
Rank 39 globally 88
Economic Freedom Index
Rank 172 globally 49
Tax Burden (% of GDP)
Rank 184 globally 63
Central Bank Independence
Rank 194 globally 49
Foreign Exchange Reserves (months of imports)
Rank 163 globally 49
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)
Rank 83 globally 80
47
/ 100
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Avg. Monthly Net Salary ($/month)
Rank 152 globally 24
Purchasing Power Index
Rank 112 globally 36
Unemployment Rate (%)
Rank 75 globally 84
Wage Growth Rate (%)
Rank 10 globally 95
Salary-to-Rent Ratio
Rank 150 globally 52
Minimum Wage (USD/month)
Rank 171 globally 19
๐Ÿ  Costs ShowHide

Housing & Utilities

5 indicators

75
/ 100
ShowHide
City Rent per Square Meter
Rank 69 globally 55
Rural Rent per Square Meter
Rank 49 globally 74
Electricity Cost
Rank 71 globally 82
Heating & Gas Cost
Rank 27 globally 99
Water & Sewage Cost
Rank 1 globally 100

Food & Basic Goods

7 indicators

74
/ 100
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Milk Price per Liter
Rank 157 globally 35
Bread Price per 500 Grams
Rank 26 globally 90
Egg Price for 12 Eggs
Rank 61 globally 77
Chicken Fillet Price per Kilogram
Rank 63 globally 81
Beef Round Price per Kilogram
Rank 36 globally 81
Vegetable Basket Price per Kilogram
Rank 80 globally 77
Water Price per Liter in Supermarket
Rank 62 globally 80

Dining & Going Out

9 indicators

95
/ 100
ShowHide
Price of an Inexpensive Restaurant Meal
Rank 13 globally 92
Burger Menu Price
Rank 1 globally 100
Cappuccino (Cafรฉ)
Rank 26 globally 95
Local Beer (Restaurant)
Rank 31 globally 96
Local Beer Price in a Market
Rank 29 globally 97
Imported Beer Price in a Market
Rank 14 globally 96
Cocktail (Bar)
Rank 34 globally 95
Mid-Range Wine Bottle Price
Rank 43 globally 85
Soft Drink Price in a Market
Rank 29 globally 97

Mobility Costs

7 indicators

77
/ 100
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Transit Cost
Rank 22 globally 97
Fuel Price ($/L)
Rank 144 globally 57
Car Rental ($/day)
Rank 37 globally 92
Car Insurance ($/yr)
Rank 57 globally 96
Car Purchase Index
Rank 153 globally 1
Driving License Cost ($)
Rank 82 globally 95
City Parking ($/hr)
Rank 58 globally 95
93
/ 100
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Internet Cost
Rank 25 globally 86
Mobile Plan Cost
Rank 1 globally 100
Prepaid SIM & Data Package Cost
Rank 1 globally 100
eSIM & Travel Data Cost
Rank 1 globally 100
Coworking Day Pass Cost
Rank 14 globally 82

Personal Services

4 indicators

94
/ 100
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Haircut Cost
Rank 33 globally 91
Fitness Club Monthly Fee
Rank 35 globally 97
Laundry & Dry Cleaning Cost
Rank 8 globally 97
Local Services Cost
Rank 44 globally 91
๐Ÿ—๏ธ Infrastructure ShowHide
43
/ 100
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Logistics Performance
Rank 76 globally 40
Rail Network Density
Rank 53 globally 46
Airport Connectivity
Rank 96 globally 43
Port Connectivity
Rank 39 globally 42
49
/ 100
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Road Quality
Rank 83 globally 55
Traffic Congestion
Rank 197 globally 34
Road Density
Rank 34 globally 74
Traffic Deaths
Rank 150 globally 58
EV Charging Infrastructure
Rank 104 globally 11

Electricity & Energy

6 indicators

69
/ 100
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Power Outages
Rank 127 globally 82
Electrification Rate
Rank 157 globally 96
Energy Self-Sufficiency
Rank 119 globally 40
Renewable Energy Share
Rank 96 globally 42
CO2 Intensity
Rank 95 globally 47
Nuclear Exposure
Rank 1 globally 100
36
/ 100
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Broadband Speed
Rank 118 globally 48
Fixed Broadband Subscriptions
Rank 142 globally 21
Mobile Speed
Rank 123 globally 51
5G Coverage
Rank 113 globally 10

Public Transport

4 indicators

41
/ 100
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Transit Coverage
Rank 103 globally 45
Transit Punctuality
Rank 120 globally 52
Cycling Infrastructure
Rank 111 globally 12
Walkability Score
Rank 104 globally 52
๐ŸŒฟ Lifestyle ShowHide

Work-Life Balance

5 indicators

55
/ 100
ShowHide
Annual Working Hours
Rank 171 globally 40
Paid Vacation Days
Rank 154 globally 47
Happiness Index (UN)
Rank 168 globally 48
Burnout Risk
Rank 156 globally 42
Public Holidays
Rank 1 globally 100

Climate & Weather

6 indicators

72
/ 100
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Temperature Comfort
Rank 61 globally 69
Sunshine Hours
Rank 149 globally 75
Humidity Comfort
Rank 165 globally 51
Rainy Days
Rank 189 globally 53
Extreme Heat Days
Rank 53 globally 94
Seasonal Variation
Rank 16 globally 96

Outdoor & Lifestyle

5 indicators

73
/ 100
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Beach Quality
Rank 64 globally 73
Mountain Access
Rank 63 globally 56
Protected Land Area (%)
Rank 1 globally 100
Biodiversity Index
Rank 48 globally 76
Forest Cover
Rank 102 globally 45

Leisure & Recreation

4 indicators

53
/ 100
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Sports & Fitness Facilities
Rank 117 globally 39
Urban Green Space Access
Rank 65 globally 71
Leisure Infrastructure
Rank 118 globally 38
Recovery Time
Rank 137 globally 64

Arts & Entertainment

6 indicators

36
/ 100
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Museums per 100,000 People
Rank 143 globally 25
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Rank 40 globally 42
Music & Nightlife
Rank 108 globally 40
Cinema Density
Rank 108 globally 18
Cultural Freedom
Rank 144 globally 42
Football and Stadium Culture
Rank 203 globally 52
55
/ 100
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Cuisine Diversity
Rank 51 globally 51
Restaurant Density
Rank 61 globally 58
Street Food Scene
Rank 46 globally 54
Local Market Quality
Rank 58 globally 60
Cafรฉ Culture
Rank 68 globally 50
Local Freshness
Rank 64 globally 64
Local Authenticity
Rank 44 globally 51

Family-Friendly

7 indicators

49
/ 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 81 globally 79
Child Safety Score
Rank 92 globally 65
Childcare Coverage (%)
Rank 127 globally 15
Playground Density
Rank 117 globally 45

Pet-Friendly

7 indicators

49
/ 100
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Pet Entry Rules
Rank 152 globally 35
Veterinary Quality
Rank 122 globally 50
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 166 globally 40
Outdoor Pet Access
Rank 153 globally 38
โœˆ๏ธ Relocation & Residency ShowHide
61
/ 100
ShowHide
Residence Permit Ease
Rank 161 globally 58
E-Government
Rank 137 globally 63
Visa Processing Time
Rank 4 globally 78
Local Registration Requirements
Rank 117 globally 61
Foreign Document & Qualification Recognition
Rank 141 globally 54
Household Goods & Customs
Rank 125 globally 42
International Licence Compatibility
Rank 127 globally 57
55
/ 100
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Visa-Free Tourist Stay Days
Rank 129 globally 35
Visa Application Ease
Rank 136 globally 59
Border Openness
Rank 151 globally 48
Travel & Entry Comfort
Rank 134 globally 52
Visa Income & Asset Requirements
Rank 75 globally 93
50
/ 100
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Digital Nomad Visa
Rank 142 globally 35
Remote Work Legality
Rank 127 globally 53
Freelance Legal Framework
Rank 111 globally 66
Remote Job Market
Rank 135 globally 55
Coworking Density
Rank 73 globally 52
Nomad Community
Rank 92 globally 45
Avg. Remote Salary (USD)
Rank 138 globally 45
54
/ 100
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Work Rights for Foreigners
Rank 138 globally 55
Work Permit Access for Foreigners
Rank 131 globally 60
Local Self-Employment and Freelancing Rights
Rank 134 globally 55
Employment Restrictions for Foreigners
Rank 155 globally 49
Professional Qualification Recognition
Rank 144 globally 52
Business Ownership by Foreigners
Rank 178 globally 47
49
/ 100
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Time to Permanent Residency or Citizenship
Rank 124 globally 42
Family Reunification
Rank 136 globally 56
Naturalization Requirements
Rank 130 globally 57
Residence Status Stability
Rank 131 globally 58
Residence Status for Spouses and Children
Rank 135 globally 54
Passport Power (Henley Index)
Rank 216 globally 9
Dual Citizenship Allowed
Rank 57 globally 90
Citizenship by Investment
Rank 13 globally 0

Language & Integration

7 indicators

55
/ 100
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English Proficiency (EF EPI)
Rank 87 globally 62
Local Language Barrier
Rank 85 globally 64
Integration Ease
Rank 130 globally 61
Cultural Etiquette Gap
Rank 126 globally 59
Expat Community Size
Rank 164 globally 27
Cultural Distance to West
Rank 111 globally 62
International Schools
Rank 128 globally 42
37
/ 100
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Expat Welcome Culture
Rank 165 globally 43
Foreigner Discrimination
Rank 152 globally 33
Xenophobia Levels
Rank 161 globally 37
Racial Safety for Foreigners
Rank 154 globally 34
54
/ 100
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Rental Access for Foreigners
Rank 140 globally 49
Tax Residency Clarity for Expats
Rank 53 globally 60
Local Contracts and Utilities Access
Rank 135 globally 53
Local Identity and Address Proof
Rank 133 globally 52
Everyday Accounts and Payments for Foreigners
Rank 126 globally 58
๐Ÿ–๏ธ Travel & Vacation ShowHide
54
/ 100
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Hotel Quality
Rank 123 globally 54
Vacation Rental Quality
Rank 138 globally 52
Accommodation Availability
Rank 101 globally 55
Booking & Transparency
Rank 140 globally 54

Tourism Infrastructure

4 indicators

57
/ 100
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Airport-to-Destination Transfer
Rank 100 globally 52
Digital Travel Services
Rank 128 globally 55
Traveler Payment Infrastructure
Rank 144 globally 59
Tourist Information Quality
Rank 119 globally 63
61
/ 100
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Major Attractions Density
Rank 87 globally 51
Guided Tours & Bookable Experiences
Rank 129 globally 58
Tourist Outdoor Activities
Rank 39 globally 80
Nightlife & Entertainment for Visitors
Rank 102 globally 53
75
/ 100
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Tourist Beach Quality
Rank 80 globally 74
Swimming & Water Sports
Rank 96 globally 69
National Parks & Nature Access
Rank 43 globally 81

Vacation Costs

5 indicators

93
/ 100
ShowHide
Hotel Cost
Rank 33 globally 94
Vacation Rental Cost
Rank 47 globally 94
Attraction Entry Cost
Rank 10 globally 95
Tour & Activity Cost
Rank 16 globally 94
Tourist Taxes & Fees
Rank 65 globally 84
78
/ 100
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High-Season Overcrowding
Rank 90 globally 86
Off-Season Usability
Rank 89 globally 72
Seasonal Capacity Shortage
Rank 109 globally 66
Seasonal Price Surcharges
Rank 38 globally 87
๐ŸŒ Society & Participation ShowHide

Society & Freedom

4 indicators

57
/ 100
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Press Freedom
Rank 143 globally 50
Democracy Index
Rank 119 globally 61
Personal Freedom
Rank 131 globally 62
Freedom of Political Expression
Rank 139 globally 52

Education & Knowledge

5 indicators

55
/ 100
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Adult Literacy Rate
Rank 144 globally 93
PISA Score
Rank 106 globally 40
Tertiary Enrollment Rate
Rank 162 globally 22
Education Expenditure
Rank 179 globally 52
School Life Expectancy
Rank 109 globally 70
41
/ 100
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Pension Replacement Rate (%)
Rank 91 globally 25
Unemployment Benefit Duration (months)
Rank 95 globally 25
Social Spending (% of GDP)
Rank 127 globally 27
Gini Index
Rank 119 globally 60
Poverty Rate (%)
Rank 65 globally 55
Housing Support Score
Rank 131 globally 36
Social Mobility Score
Rank 109 globally 47
Social Cohesion
Rank 133 globally 52
47
/ 100
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Gender Equality
Rank 123 globally 56
Womenโ€™s Rights & Equality
Rank 124 globally 53
Anti-Discrimination Protection
Rank 145 globally 40
Minority Rights Protection
Rank 157 globally 34
Everyday Discrimination Risk
Rank 149 globally 38

LGBTQ+ Friendliness

5 indicators

23
/ 100
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Same-Sex Legal Status
Rank 154 globally 13
LGBTQ+ Anti-Discrimination
Rank 153 globally 27
LGBTQ+ Social Acceptance
Rank 159 globally 28
LGBTQ+ Rights
Rank 150 globally 26
Pride Culture
Rank 156 globally 21
44
/ 100
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Disability Support Score
Rank 131 globally 44
Public Accessibility
Rank 141 globally 43
Digital Accessibility
Rank 145 globally 43
Inclusion in Education and Work
Rank 141 globally 48

Religion & Worldviews

4 indicators

52
/ 100
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Religious Freedom Index
Rank 161 globally 60
Secularization Score
Rank 167 globally 33
Religious Diversity Index
Rank 51 globally 48
Religious Influence in Public Life
Rank 161 globally 57

Demography

10 indicators

48
/ 100
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Median Age
Rank 126 globally 55
Fertility Rate
Rank 1 globally 100
Population Growth
Rank 144 globally 32
Net Migration Rate
Rank 176 globally 37
Urbanization Rate
Rank 219 globally 5
Foreign Population Share
Rank 186 globally 25
Population Density
Rank 190 globally 44
Gender Ratio (F/100 M)
Rank 48 globally 60
Youth Gender Ratio (15-29)
Rank 106 globally 88
Single-Person Households
Rank 136 globally 19