Congrats Canada, we best U.S. by every measure (but one)

A new global ranking of countries makes Canada look pretty good compared to most other places – and even better when stacked up against the elephant to our south.

The second annual “social progress index,” which is the creation of a team led by Harvard professor Michael Porter, lists Canada as the seventh-best place on the planet to live.

The comprehensive review takes a wide array of factors into account under three main umbrella categories: Basic human needs, foundations of well-being and lastly, opportunity.

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Canada’s ranking are the bolded dots. The U.S. readings are lighter in colour. Where the two countries are close, the U.S. dot isn’t visible.

Wide margin

Canada’s index reading trumps that of the United States in 11 of the 12 sub-categories, and in some cases by a wide margin.

Canada ranks ninth in the world for personal safety, for example, while the U.S. – where guns are far more readily accessible and crime rates generally higher – sits at No. 31.

With a private health care system Washington is desperate to rein in costs on, the the United States’ health and wellness ranking is an abysmal 71st, while Canada sits at 13.

There’s also a considerable gap across the board when in comes to opportunity in each country.

The land of the free appears to be less so than Canada, with the former’s reading for personal freedom and choice putting the United States at 15th globally compared with Canada, which sits in sixth spot.

Still, the United States has the advantage in one critical area that may explain much about its society and who benefits most from it.

The U.S. is tops in the world for access to advanced education, reflecting the elite schools that reside within its borders. Still, even there, Canada – perhaps surprisingly – isn’t trailing by much at all. We’re No. 2.

The full report can be found online here.