Canada Named Second Most Progressive Country In The World

Canada is the second most progressive country in the world when it comes to social and environmental performance, according to a report by the Social Progressive Imperative. Finland nabbed the top spot, with Canada beating out 132 other countries including Australia, Norway, Denmark, the United Kingdom and Switzerland.
Canada has been grabbing international headlines for its tolerance and inclusivity from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau marching in the Toronto Pride Parade (the first prime minister to do so) to its welcoming of Syrian refugees. According to the 2016 Social Progress Index, Canada has even more going on – but there’s always room for improvement.

The 2016 Social Progress Index was recently released by the Social Progress Imperative. Covering approximately 94 percent of the world’s population, the report explores 53 unique indicators, dividing them into three main categories: Basic Human Needs, Opportunity and Foundation of Wellbeing. The Social Progress Imperative used data from a range of sources in order to measure a nation’s ability to meet both the environmental and social needs of its citizens.
When it comes to social wellbeing and quality of life, Canada came in second. The nation is known for its social welfare policies, and also leads in the Opportunity category thanks to personal rights, tolerance and education. The nation ranked first in Access to Advanced Education; the report attributes this to Canada’s top-ranking universities and notes it may also be a sign of Canada’s multicultural model.

That’s not to say the country is perfect: Canada ranked lower for some environmental factors, including waste water treatment and greenhouse gas emissions. Residents of Toronto and Vancouver won’t be surprised to hear Canada ranked lower when it comes to the availability of affordable housing.
The Social Progress Index aims to understand the success of societies beyond just economic outcomes. The report is also the “first comprehensive framework for measuring social progress that is independent of GDP, but complementary to it.”

About the author

Alix Hall

Born and raised in Ontario, Canada, Alix studied Art History and English Literature at Queen’s University. A love of the arts, history, rain, and queuing took her to England, where she completed a Masters degree in Culture, Communication and Media, and worked around London, including Kensington Palace and Tate Britain. Following a transatlantic move back to Ontario, Alix now calls Toronto home and is thrilled to rediscover the city as she helps launch The Culture Trip’s Toronto hub as Editorial Director. She has a penchant for yoga classes, wandering art galleries, and methodically scouting out the best bookstores and coffee shops.