--- description: The U.S. came in fourth place title: This Is the Best Country in the World image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt861cc1eea99a843b/698879caa988ca59aa6b6310/germany-berlin.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # This Is the Best Country in the World ## Video: Person of The Year 2015: Watch Angela Merkel's Year in Review [Watch (HLS stream): Person of The Year 2015: Watch Angela Merkel's Year in Review](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/CG7O6dnC.m3u8) (3:47)  _Published 2015-12-09. Person of the year 2015: Watch Angela Merkel's Year in Review_ by [Sarah Begley](/author/sarah-begley/) ## Sarah Begley Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jan 20, 2016 2:25 PM CUT  Fireworks explode next to the Brandenburg gate during New Year celebrations in Berlin on Jan.1, 2016. Fireworks explode next to the Brandenburg gate during New Year celebrations in Berlin on Jan.1, 2016.Hannibal Hanschke—Reuters by [Sarah Begley](/author/sarah-begley/) ## Sarah Begley Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jan 20, 2016 2:25 PM CUT A report released at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday has ranked the [best countries in the world](http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2016/01/20/worlds-best-country/79044916/ "undefined"), putting Germany in the number one spot. The inaugural Best Countries report report, assembled by U.S. News and World Report, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and BAV Consulting looked at factors including “sustainability, adventure, cultural influence, entrepreneurship and economic influence,” USA Today reports. More than 16,200 people, including business leaders, were consulted. **Read more:** [Angela Merkel: ](http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2015-angela-merkel/?iid=toc%5F121015 "undefined")[Chancellor of the Free World](http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2015-angela-merkel/?iid=toc%5F121015 "undefined") Canada and the U.K. rounded out the top three, with the U.S. coming in fourth place. \[[USA Today](http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2016/01/20/worlds-best-country/79044916/ "undefined")\] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4186601/best-country-in-the-world-davos/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4186601/best-country-in-the-world-davos/"},"headline":"This Is the Best Country in the World","datePublished":"2016-01-20T14:25:52.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-22T14:16:37.492Z","description":"According to a Davos report","url":"https://time.com/4186601/best-country-in-the-world-davos/","keywords":["Davos","Switzerland"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt861cc1eea99a843b/698879caa988ca59aa6b6310/germany-berlin.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Sarah Begley","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/sarah-begley/"}],"articleSection":"World","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt861cc1eea99a843b/698879caa988ca59aa6b6310/germany-berlin.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Fireworks explode next to the Quadriga sculpture atop the Brandenburg gate during New Year celebrations in Berlin January 1, 2016. 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