Climbing... Falling... 

The top half of the overall Best Countries list was relatively stable year over year. With the exception of Germany (-5), South Africa (-4) and the Czech Republic (-4), all countries in the top 50 stayed within three spots of their 2022 rankings.
 

More notable shifts occurred for some countries further down the list, with many in the Middle East climbing up the ranks. Oman, for example, rose 13 spots year over year to reach No. 65 – the largest increase of any country between 2022 and 2023. Between 2019 and 2022, Oman fell 15 spots, making its steep climb back up a notable reversal.
 

Oman, which has a reputation for diplomacy and neutrality, has long acted as a regional mediator and was recently described as a “discreet architect of peace in the Middle East” by French newspaper Le Monde. Many have called the country “the Switzerland of the Middle East,” says David Roberts, an associate professor at King's College London with expertise in the Gulf monarchies.
 

“Oman has long cultivated its reputation as a neutral state,” Roberts says. “It’s quite mild-mannered. It doesn’t want to cause trouble."
 

Bahrain, another monarchy in the Persian Gulf, saw the second-largest increase between 2022 and 2023, up nine spots year over year. Outside of its strong standing in finance, Roberts notes Bahrain also has significant soft power when it comes to sports, hosting the annual Formula One Grand Prix auto race.
 

South America also saw some notable shifts, with Colombia (No. 60) dipping eight spots, and Uruguay (No. 57) climbing eight spots. Africa and Asia both remained relatively stable in the rankings, with no countries on those continents shifting more than four spots year over year. However, Myanmar – plagued by acts of genocide and other violence in recent years – has moved more than any other country since 2021, declining 22 spots in just two years.
 

Several European countries had noticeable year-over-year declines. Latvia saw the most noticeable drop, down eight spots to No. 72. Denmark and France both fell three spots, leaving the top 10. Germany slipped from No. 2 to No. 7.