Finland: a miracle nation?

This small band of Nordics, who lived tucked up in the often-overlooked northern pocket of Europe, are universally considered to have the best education system on the planet.

What’s more, their written constitution commands that every single stage of education must be available to all citizens completely free of charge, from nursery, primary and tertiary right through to PhD level.

The Finns have developed a society along Nordic principles of equality, well-being and fairness. They value and defend these values dearly. But, and here is the next surprise, this small and unassuming country of almost 6 million people (there are more New Yorkers in the world than Finns) has at one time or another in recent years been ranked highly in the following areas:

FINLAND WORLD RANKINGS

Finland rankings 2019

Ranked 1st – Global Happiness [United Nations World Happiness Report 2019]
Ranked 1st – [Good Country Index 2019]
Ranked 2nd - 2019 World Press Freedom Index [Reporters Without Borders 2019]
Ranked 3rd – most innovative country [Bloomberg Innovation Index 2019]

Finland rankings 2018

Ranked 1st – Global Happiness [United Nations World Happiness Report 2018]
Ranked 1st – The Worldwide Educating for the Future Index 2018 [Economist Intelligence Unit 2018]
Ranked 1st – most stable country in the world [The Fund for Peace, Fragile States Index 2018]
Ranked joint 1st – the freest country in the world, with Sweden and Norway [Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2018]
Ranked 1st – the best governance in the world [Legatum Institute, The Legatum Prosperity Index 2018: Finland]
Ranked 1st - EU's best digital public services [European Commission, The Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) 2018: Finland]
Ranked 3rd - most prosperous country in the world [Legatum Institute, The Legatum Prosperity Index 2018: Finland]
Ranked 3rd - most advanced digital economy in Europe [European Commission's Digital Economy and Society Index (Desi)]
Ranked 3rd - third best country for business in Europe [European Chamber, Best European countries for business 2018]

Finland quality of life rankings

Ranked 1st – the best place to live in the world
Ranked 1st – the best place to grow up as a child
Ranked 1st – the best place in the world (Newsweek)
Ranked 1st – the best place to work and live being a parent
Ranked 1st – first place in Europe for quality of life (Eurostat)
Ranked 1st – as the most stable country in the world (Fund for Peace)
Ranked 1st – the Safest Country in the World (World Economic Forum)
Ranked 1st – the most satisfied with their accommodation in the EU (EU)
Ranked 1st – in the world for human well-being (Sustainable Society Index)
Ranked 1st – lowest child poverty rate (<5%) of all rich countries (UNICEF)
Ranked 1st – most personal freedom and choice in the world (Social Progress Index)
Ranked 1st – the least indebted households in Europe
Ranked 1st – the capital or country has frequently been ranked as the best place to live in the world
Ranked 1st – the European Happiness Equality Index (The Happiness Research Institute)
Ranked 1st – Helsinki the easiest & most pleasant big European city to get around in, 20-city comparison (Urban Mobility Index)
Ranked joint 1st – People in Helsinki have the highest satisfaction with where they live, also Stockholm (EC)
Ranked joint 1st – the Freest Country in the World [alongside Swe, Nor] (Freedom House)
Ranked 2nd – the happiest country (World Happiness Report)
Ranked 2nd – most satisfied with their life in Europe (Eurostat)
Ranked 2nd – place in the world to be a mother (Save the Children)
Ranked 2nd – the best place in the world for wage earners (International Labour Organisation (ILO))
Ranked 2nd – best supply of public online services a country in Europe (European Commission)
Ranked 2nd – most mobile broadband subscriptions per inhabitant in the world (OECD)
Ranked 3rd – best travel destination in the world in 2017 (Lonely Planet)
Ranked 3rd – most space per person in Europe, persons per km² (Eurostat)
Ranked 3rd – Helsinki the best city to live in, 65-city comparison (Metropolis)
Ranked 3rd – children with the most secure childhood in the world (Save the Children)
Ranked 3rd – people aged 15 who are the most satisfied with their lives in OECD (OECD, PISA)
Ranked 4th – the world for the most powerful passports (Global Passport Power Bank)
Ranked 4th – people (age 11–15) most satisfied with their life among young people in welfare countries (UNICEF)
Ranked 5th – the happiest country in the world (World Economic Forum)
Ranked 6th – by the UN survey for quality of life (United Nations)
Ranked 10th – Helsinki has ranked tenth as one of the world’s most liveable cities (Economist Intelligence Unit) iaculis ultricies nulla.

Finland business & economy rankings

Ranked 1st – for per capita income in Europe
Ranked 1st – in the economic creativity index
Ranked 1st – the most competitive economy in the world
Ranked 1st – in the Human Capital Index (World Economic Forum)
Ranked 1st – for the soundest banks in the world (World Economic Forum)
Ranked 1st – of Nordic countries for Executive Education (Financial Times)
Ranked 1st – Helsinki-Vantaa airport is the best in the world (Lonely Planet)
Ranked 1st – in the EU for the quality of export products (European Commission)
Ranked 1st – the strongest digital knowledge capital in Europe (European Commission)
Ranked 1st – Finland's businesses pay their invoices faster than in any country in Europe
Ranked 1st – Finnish enterprises most likely to have own website of OECD countries (OECD)
Ranked 1st – the highest participation in training provided by the employer in Europe (Eurofound)
Ranked 2nd – the best workers in the world (World Economic Forum)
Ranked 2nd – Corporate ethics best in the world (World Economic Forum)
Ranked 2nd – in the Network Readiness Index (Global Information Technology Report)
Ranked 2nd – the best country in the field of clean technology, 40-country comparison (WWF)
Ranked 2nd – (Helsinki) for European Cities of the Future – foreign investment (Financial Times)
Ranked 2nd – the most human capital in the world (World Economic Forum, Human Capital Index)
Ranked 2nd – Helsinki: most appealing city in the world for start-ups. (Nestpick, Start-up Cities Index)
Ranked 3rd – in the Global Competitiveness Index (World Economic Forum)
Ranked 3rd – the wealthiest country in the world (The Legatum Prosperity Index)
Ranked 3rd – best country for business in Europe (European Chamber)
Ranked 3rd – best economic environment for business growth (Grant Thornton, Global Dynamism Index)
Ranked 3rd – Relative to the population, the most professionals working in research and development (Bloomberg)
Ranked 3rd – Helsinki: ability to compete for talented workforce (INSEAD, Global Cities Talent Competitiveness Index)
Ranked 3rd – Helsinki: best city in terms of tech, innovation & entrepreneurship, 40-city comparison (CITIE: Nesta, Accenture)
Ranked 4th – best digital competitiveness in the world (IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking)
Ranked 4th – best sustainable competitiveness in the world (SolAbility, The Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index)
Ranked 4th – most innovative country in the world (World Economic Forum, The Global Competitiveness Report: Innovation)
Ranked 4th – Helsinki: best European city in supporting digital enterprises and entrepreneurs (Nesta, European Digital City Index)
Ranked 5th – in world ‘Open for Business’ rankings
Ranked 6th – in the world for most reputable countries (The Reputation Institute)
Ranked 6th – in the world for innovation capabilities and results (Global Innovation Index)
Ranked 10th – in the Most Innovative Countries (Best Countries Rankings)

Finland health rankings

Ranked 1st – have the highest fertility rates in the world
Ranked 1st – lowest maternal mortality in the world in Finland (WHO)
Ranked 1st – the highest doctor-to-patient and nurse-to-patient ratios in the world
Ranked 1st – the world's lowest infant mortality rate (around 1900 the rate of maternal deaths was 1 in every 170 and 15% of children died before reaching the age of 3)
Ranked 1st – the lowest risk in the world to be exposed to natural disasters (IASC, European Commission, Index for Risk Management)
Ranked 2nd – lowest total mortality from cancer in OECD countries (OECD Health at a Glance)
Ranked 2nd – lowest number of children weighing under 2.5 kg born in OECD (OECD, Health at a Glance)
Ranked 3rd – adults, least likely to smoke of OECD countries (OECD, Health at a Glance)
Ranked 3rd – lowest infant mortality rate in the world, deaths at the age of under 1 year (United Nations)

Finland equality rankings

Ranked 1st – for percentage of women in the workforce
Ranked 1st – the Most Stable Country in the world (Fund for Peace)
Ranked 1st – Helsinki is the most honest city in the world (Readers Digest)
Ranked 2nd – in the world for social progress (Social Progress Index)
Ranked 2nd – lowest inequality among children in the world (UNICEF)
Ranked 2nd – best country in the world to be a girl (Save the Children)
Ranked 2nd – best mother and children well-being in the world (Save the Children)
Ranked 2nd – the world gender equality (Global Gender Gap Report/World Economic Forum)
Ranked 2nd – most equal participation of genders in working life in EU, Work/Participation. (Gender Equality Index)
Ranked 3rd – most gender-equal country in the world (World Economic Forum)
Ranked 3rd – most equal for power being divided between genders ()
Ranked 4th – best in the world for women's gender equality in working life (The Economist, Glass-Ceiling Index)
Ranked 4th – for gender equality in working life (The Economist/Glass Ceiling Index)
Ranked 4th – for the lowest poverty rate in the OECD (OECD)
Ranked 5th – for the lowest income difference in the OECD (OECD)

Finland education rankings

Ranked 1st – primary education best in the world (World Economic Forum)
Ranked 1st – top OECD country in education (OECD, Better Life Index: Education)
Ranked 1st – most literate country in the world (World's Most Literate Nations: Rank Breakdown)
Ranked 1st – the ‘Best Place to Study’, offering its students the world's best education and opportunities to learn (Newsweek)
Ranked 1st – a global study of 31 OECD nations for outcomes in education for the country as a whole,
Ranked 1st – the highest GNP percentage figure of investment in education in the world (OECD)
Ranked 2nd – best literacy rate of those aged 15 in OECD (PISA)
Ranked 2nd – best knowledge of science among fourth graders in OECD (TIMSS)
Ranked 2nd – best in the world in using information and communication technologies to boost competitiveness and well-being (World Economic Forum)
Ranked 3rd – best in science of those aged 15 in OECD (PISA)
Ranked 3rd – best in literacy and numeracy among adults in OECD (OECD)
Ranked 3rd – quality of higher education in the world (World Economic Forum)
Ranked 3rd – comparison of lifelong learning in EU countries (European Commission)
Ranked 3rd – Education answers to future needs best in the world (Economist Intelligence Unit)
Ranked 3rd Worldwide Educating for the Future Index (Worldwide Educating for the Future Index, produced by the Economist Intelligence Unit)
Ranked 5th – Finnish adults' English skills in a comparison of 72 countries (Education First EF)

Finland politics & administration rankings

Ranked 1st – the least corrupt people on Earth
Ranked 1st – for trust in the police in the EU (Eurostat)
Ranked 1st – for press freedom in the world (Reporters Without Borders)
Ranked 1st – the least organised crime in the world (World Economic Forum)
Ranked 1st – the least corrupt country in the world (Transparency International)
Ranked 1st – availability of official information in the EU (Center for data innovation)
Ranked 1st – for the most independent judicial system in the world (World Economic Forum)
Ranked 1st – the highest for quality of public services and administration in the world
Ranked joint 1st – the freest and most reliable elections in the world [+Denmark] (The Electoral Integrity Project report)
Ranked 2nd – for trust in the legal system (Eurostat)
Ranked 2nd – protection of property rights in the world (World Economic Forum)
Ranked 2nd – police and internal security (World Internal Security and Police Index)
Ranked 3rd – most Female MPs in Europe (Inter-Parliamentary Union)
Ranked 3rd – best country in the world in adhering to the rule of law (World Justice Report)
Ranked 3rd – passport with most influence, 175 countries visa-free (Visa Restriction Index)

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