Switzerland is the World’s Most Positive Country for 2015, according to the annual global index published by Daily Positive (D+).
The top 10 World’s Most Positive Countries for 2015 along with respective ranking points are as follows:
Country Name Total Points
Switzerland 556
Sweden 533
China 517
England 502
Australia 491
Germany 479
United States of America 462
New Zealand 449
Singapore 431
Norway 424
Apart from this overall list of ten most positive countries, for the first time ever, D+ also introduces a list of regional positive countries from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America.
Switzerland jumped to the top spot from last year’s fourth position with its consistent display of competitiveness in nurturing innovation and talent. Such sincere support helped projects like the solar-powered aircraft Solar Impulse 2 or the Large Hadron Collider to go to a new high this year. Switzerland also ensured the country’s productivity and prosperity by ranking higher in various prestigious indexes, such as, global democracy index, peace index, tourism-friendly index and education index.
Second placed Sweden was not far away in terms of innovation and also in all the above mentioned indexes. Perhaps that is why this year the Swedish researchers won prestigious awards, such as, the Princess of Asturias Award for Technical & Scientific Research and the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Sweden’s Eurovision song contest win made its long list of achievements for 2015 more entertaining.
China moved to third position in 2015, sliding down one spot from last year. One of the important diplomatic wins for China in 2015 was to be able to attract global interest to the Chinese-led development bank Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). China made significant progress with its domestic navigation system Beidou by launching new satellites. Youyou Tu of China won the Nobel Prize in Medicine for her discoveries concerning a novel therapy against Malaria.
After retaining the top position for two consecutive years, England moved down to the fourth position in 2015. Despite its slow productive run this year, English researchers unveiled a graphene light bulb with lower energy emissions and lower manufacturing costs. English pride prevailed at the World Snooker Championship and Ashes Cricket championship.
Australia remained at the fifth position in 2015. Australian researchers have unveiled the world's first 3D-printed jet engine, the University of New South Wales and their robots defended their RoboCup World Football Championship title. Australia successfully launched one of the world’s most-advanced communication satellites Sky Muster into orbit, and they may have lost the Ashes to England but won their fifth One Day International Cricket World Cup at home.
Germany moved up one position to the sixth spot in 2015 compared to last year. Germany was well supported in our global poll for its role with the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis. German construction of wind turbines reached a record high, German researchers helped develop a prototype quantum radar that has the potential to detect objects which are invisible to conventional systems.
The United States of America slid down to seventh position this year. Improved diplomatic relationships with Cuba and Iran were seen as the best foreign policy successes in 2015. Some of this year’s notable scientific achievements were, American doctors successfully transplanted, for the first time in the world, a scalp and skull while performing kidney and pancreas transplants. American researchers have discovered the world’s first warm-blooded fish – the opah.
New Zealand made it to the eighth position in the list. New Zealand ranked high in the democratic and peaceful country indexes in 2015. New Zealand announced the creation of a 620,000 km2 Ocean Sanctuary in the Kermadec region, which will be one of the world’s most significant fully protected ecosystems. Also, New Zealand reported a budget surplus for the first time since 2008.
Singapore is at the ninth position and made it to the list for the first time in our positivity index’s 5-year history. Singapore has been very competitive in terms of innovation and education. Singapore’s education systems, from school to the university, have been rated top-class in 2015.
Another newcomer to the list, Norway, took the final spot of our top ten positive countries. According to a report published in 2015, Norway had the highest proportions (35.5%) of women in corporate boardrooms compared with the rest of the world. Norwegian democracy was top ranked and served as example for the global communities.
Despite slow response to the rescue of the missing Chibok schoolgirls, Africa’s biggest economy Nigeria stood firm with new administrations and fresh approaches against terrorism in the country. Nigeria signed a bill that criminalizes female genital mutilation in the country.
Bangladesh and India were jointly named as the most positive countries from Asia. Both the neighbors simplified their border by exchanging more than 150 enclaves of land and settled the long running dispute peacefully. It was widely compared to the Fall of the Berlin Wall.
Finland was our regional winner from Europe. Its reputable education system, vibrant democracy, peaceful and innovative approach to national and international issues earned them the honor this year. Women’s empowerment and professional development were also high on the agenda for Finnish prosperity.
Cuba was crowned as the regional winner from North America. Cuba restored full diplomatic relations with the United States and as a result, the United States removed many sanctions imposed on Cuba. Consequently, new travel and trade rules between the two countries came into effect, the diplomatic missions of each country became full embassies, and they have re-established direct telephone links for the first time in 15 years.
Chile took the regional tittle from South America. Chile announced the creation of the largest marine reserve in the Americas in its Pacific waters. Chile won the Copa America football title for the first time in their history.
