US Slides Again in Ranking of World's Best Countries

Call it the "Trump Effect." For the second straight year, the United States has dropped in the annual US News Best Countries ranking, according to US News & World Report. The ranking is determined by a survey of more than 21,000 people around the world regarding their perceptions of 80 countries based on dozens of metrics, including entrepreneurship, corruption, education, military strength, technological expertise, economic stability, and food. While the US is still seen as the most powerful nation in the world, it's also seen as less trustworthy, less progressive, and more unstable. Overall, 2018's top 10 countries are very similar to the 2017 ranking, with the Netherlands as the only new addition, replacing Norway. Here are 2018's top 10 countries and how their rank compares to 2017:

1. Switzerland (no change)
2. Canada (no change)
3. Germany (up one)
4. United Kingdom (down one)
5. Japan (no change)
6. Sweden (no change)
7. Australia (up one)
8. United States (down one)
9. France (no change)
10. Netherlands (up one)

See the full rankings here. (More best countries stories.)