Three African countries—Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa—have secured spots on the 2024 list of the world’s best countries, according to a global ranking by U.S. News and World Report, developed in partnership with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and global marketing firm WPP.
According to Business Insider Africa, Egypt topped the African entries, ranking 35th globally, followed by Morocco in 39th place, and South Africa in 40th. The results reflect the growing international image of these countries across diverse fields, including economy, culture, and lifestyle.
The ranking is based on an extensive global survey involving more than 17,000 people from around the world, including business leaders, experts, intellectual elites, and ordinary citizens. Participants evaluated 87 countries across 73 attributes.
These attributes were grouped into ten subcategories: adventure, agility, cultural influence, entrepreneurship, heritage, movers, open for business, power, quality of life, and social purpose. This approach gave the ranking a comprehensive scope that goes beyond economic indicators alone.
To ensure the credibility of the results, the report explains, initial eligibility criteria included a minimum GDP threshold, tourism volume, and foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows. Final scores were then calculated based on GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP), reflecting each country’s relative economic prosperity.
Business Insider also emphasized that the ranking was not solely determined by economic size, but also factored in global cultural impact, openness to innovation and entrepreneurship, quality of life, and social purpose.
Morocco’s inclusion in this global ranking reinforces its position as a rising African player on the international stage. The country has been implementing advanced development strategies in recent years, focusing on digital transformation, renewable energy, and a growing emphasis on cultural heritage and sustainable tourism.
Morocco has garnered praise from major international institutions in recent years for its political stability, effective economic policies, and commitment to strategic partnerships across continents—boosting its reputation as a promising destination in Africa.
The selection of these three African nations comes at a time of global uncertainty, as countries in the Global South strive to position themselves as emerging powers in an international order that is being reshaped by geopolitical and technological shifts.
The report underscores the importance of smart and strategic positioning by African countries—through enhancing their economic appeal, promoting cultural openness, and improving quality of life. These factors have become increasingly vital in shaping global public opinion.
While Switzerland topped the list due to its excellence in quality of life, economic environment, and social purpose, Japan and the United States followed in second and third places respectively, driven by their economic and technological power and global political influence.
