When there is a report on the most visited countries, Thailand almost always makes it to the top of the leaderboard. Bangkok was even crowned the most visited city in the world in 2023, according to a report by Mastercard. But most visited doesn't always mean best. And when it comes to ranking the best countries in the world overall, Thailand has made it to twenty-eighth place.
The annual ranking of countries by US News & World Report and the Wharton School is out, and Thailand has achieved an overall score of 57.1, moving up one place from twenty-ninth in 2023.
While this improvement secures our position as number two in ASEAN, following Singapore (No.14), it still places the country below other Asian countries like Japan (No.2), China (No.16), and South Korea (No.18).
The ranking is based on 73 attributes collected from nearly 17,000 people in 36 countries around the world. The ten broad categories of the report include cultural influence, quality of life, heritage and adventure.
Unsurprisingly, Thailand scored best in the Adventure and Mover categories, positioning us fifth and sixth in the world respectively. The Mover category ranks countries based on their perceived ability to grow and adapt to change, including aspects such as economic shifts, global trends and new opportunities, showing off our potential for future growth.
However, the country faces challenges in the Social Purpose category where it ranks forty-fifth. This category measures a country's commitment to inclusiveness and social justice. Although officially legalising same-sex marriage just this week, Thailand still lags behind the world’s top countries on factors such as commitment to climate goals or social justice.
This year's ranking highlights that while the country is celebrated for its tourism and promising future, there is still room for improvement in social justice and inclusivity to enhance our ranking next year.
Check out the full ranking here