Movers
A country’s future growth is dependent on a range of factors, including how well-prepared it is to weather challenges posed by the global economy. To be successful, nations need resiliency and momentum. These countries are the ones to watch.
Part of the overall Best Countries rankings from U.S. News, the Movers subranking is based on an equally weighted average of scores from four country attributes: different, distinctive, dynamic and unique. For more information on how we rank, read the Best Countries methodology.
#1 in Movers
#21 in Best Countries Overall
Read More »The United Arab Emirates, or UAE, is a federation of seven emirates on the southeast end of the Arabian Peninsula. The country, wedged between between Oman and Saudi Arabia, has rocky desert, wetlands, waterless mountains and coastlines that stretch along the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf. The emirates that currently comprise the UAE were known as the Trucial States in the 19th century as a result of a series of agreements with Great Britain. In 1971, six of these states merged to form the UAE; a seventh joined in 1972.
$359 billionGDP
9.99 millionPopulation
$66,766GDP PC, PPP
#1 in Movers
#21 in Best Countries Overall
Read More »The United Arab Emirates, or UAE, is a federation of seven emirates on the southeast end of the Arabian Peninsula. The country, wedged between between Oman and Saudi Arabia, has rocky desert, wetlands, waterless mountains and coastlines that stretch along the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf. The emirates that currently comprise the UAE were known as the Trucial States in the 19th century as a result of a series of agreements with Great Britain. In 1971, six of these states merged to form the UAE; a seventh joined in 1972.
GDP
$359 billionGDP PER CAPITA, PPP
$66,766POPULATION
9.99 million#2 in Movers
#35 in Best Countries Overall
Read More »Egypt, with vast swaths of desert in its east and west and the rich Nile River Valley at its heart, is site to one of the world’s earliest and greatest civilizations. Its location at the northeast corner of Africa bordering the Mediterranean Sea has made it a cultural and trading center. But its location has also made it a prize to claim by empires and put it at the center of social and religious movements.
$404 billionGDP
104 millionPopulation
$13,316GDP PC, PPP
#2 in Movers
#35 in Best Countries Overall
Read More »Egypt, with vast swaths of desert in its east and west and the rich Nile River Valley at its heart, is site to one of the world’s earliest and greatest civilizations. Its location at the northeast corner of Africa bordering the Mediterranean Sea has made it a cultural and trading center. But its location has also made it a prize to claim by empires and put it at the center of social and religious movements.
GDP
$404 billionGDP PER CAPITA, PPP
$13,316POPULATION
104 million#3 in Movers
#29 in Best Countries Overall
Read More »Qatar is located on a small desert peninsula that extends northward into the Persian Gulf from the Arabian Peninsula. Qatar became subject to the Islamic caliphate after the rise of Islam in 628 A.D. and was subsequently ruled by a number of local and foreign powers. Once a poor British protectorate, the small nation became an independent state in 1971. Now rich in oil and natural gas, Qatar is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Just over half of the country’s gross domestic product is comprised of manufacturing, construction and financial services, which has helped the country weather the global decline in oil prices in recent years.
$180 billionGDP
2.93 millionPopulation
$93,521GDP PC, PPP
#3 in Movers
#29 in Best Countries Overall
Read More »Qatar is located on a small desert peninsula that extends northward into the Persian Gulf from the Arabian Peninsula. Qatar became subject to the Islamic caliphate after the rise of Islam in 628 A.D. and was subsequently ruled by a number of local and foreign powers. Once a poor British protectorate, the small nation became an independent state in 1971. Now rich in oil and natural gas, Qatar is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Just over half of the country’s gross domestic product is comprised of manufacturing, construction and financial services, which has helped the country weather the global decline in oil prices in recent years.
GDP
$180 billionGDP PER CAPITA, PPP
$93,521POPULATION
2.93 million#4 in Movers
#34 in Best Countries Overall
Read More »Saudi Arabia is the giant of the Middle East, with both the vast majority of land and wealth of the Arabian Peninsula falling within its borders. Millions of devout Muslims from around the world participate in a pilgrimage to Mecca each year, believed to be the birthplace of the Muslim prophet Mohammed and the cradle of Islam. A fierce religious identity dominates the Sunni-majority nation, with principles of the Koran, conservative Sunni teachings known as Wahhabism and strict Islamic Shariah law present in all aspects of life.
$834 billionGDP
35.3 millionPopulation
$49,551GDP PC, PPP
#4 in Movers
#34 in Best Countries Overall
Read More »Saudi Arabia is the giant of the Middle East, with both the vast majority of land and wealth of the Arabian Peninsula falling within its borders. Millions of devout Muslims from around the world participate in a pilgrimage to Mecca each year, believed to be the birthplace of the Muslim prophet Mohammed and the cradle of Islam. A fierce religious identity dominates the Sunni-majority nation, with principles of the Koran, conservative Sunni teachings known as Wahhabism and strict Islamic Shariah law present in all aspects of life.
GDP
$834 billionGDP PER CAPITA, PPP
$49,551POPULATION
35.3 million#5 in Movers
#31 in Best Countries Overall
Read More »Located in Southeast Asia, India sits on a peninsula that extends between the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. The country, the birthplace of Hinduism and Buddhism, is the world’s second most-populous nation after China, and has roughly one-sixth of the world’s population. After years of nonviolent struggle against British rule, India gained its independence in 1947.
$3.17 trillionGDP
1.39 billionPopulation
$7,334GDP PC, PPP
#5 in Movers
#31 in Best Countries Overall
Read More »Located in Southeast Asia, India sits on a peninsula that extends between the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. The country, the birthplace of Hinduism and Buddhism, is the world’s second most-populous nation after China, and has roughly one-sixth of the world’s population. After years of nonviolent struggle against British rule, India gained its independence in 1947.
GDP
$3.17 trillionGDP PER CAPITA, PPP
$7,334POPULATION
1.39 billion#6 in Movers
#17 in Best Countries Overall
Read More »Home to one of the world’s oldest civilizations, China has been ruled by the Communist Party since 1949, when the nation was established as the People’s Republic of China. The country is the world’s most populous and is considered the second-largest by land mass.
$17.7 trillionGDP
1.41 billionPopulation
$19,338GDP PC, PPP
#6 in Movers
#17 in Best Countries Overall
Read More »Home to one of the world’s oldest civilizations, China has been ruled by the Communist Party since 1949, when the nation was established as the People’s Republic of China. The country is the world’s most populous and is considered the second-largest by land mass.
GDP
$17.7 trillionGDP PER CAPITA, PPP
$19,338POPULATION
1.41 billion#7 in Movers
#28 in Best Countries Overall
Read More »Thailand, which translates to “land of the free,” is the only Southeast Asian nation that did not encounter European colonization. Located just above the equator, the nation is wedged into the Indochina peninsula with neighbors Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia and has an arm that extends out to Malaysia.
$506 billionGDP
70.0 millionPopulation
$19,209GDP PC, PPP
#7 in Movers
#28 in Best Countries Overall
Read More »Thailand, which translates to “land of the free,” is the only Southeast Asian nation that did not encounter European colonization. Located just above the equator, the nation is wedged into the Indochina peninsula with neighbors Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia and has an arm that extends out to Malaysia.
GDP
$506 billionGDP PER CAPITA, PPP
$19,209POPULATION
70.0 million#8 in Movers
#6 in Best Countries Overall
Read More »Japan, one of the world’s most literate and technically advanced nations, is an East Asian country made up of four main islands. While most of Japan is covered by mountains and heavily wooded areas, the country’s roughly 126 million people lead a distinctly urban lifestyle. Long culturally influenced by its neighbors, today the country blends its ancient traditions with aspects of Western life.
$4.94 trillionGDP
126 millionPopulation
$42,940GDP PC, PPP
#8 in Movers
#6 in Best Countries Overall
Read More »Japan, one of the world’s most literate and technically advanced nations, is an East Asian country made up of four main islands. While most of Japan is covered by mountains and heavily wooded areas, the country’s roughly 126 million people lead a distinctly urban lifestyle. Long culturally influenced by its neighbors, today the country blends its ancient traditions with aspects of Western life.
GDP
$4.94 trillionGDP PER CAPITA, PPP
$42,940POPULATION
126 million#9 in Movers
#27 in Best Countries Overall
Read More »Occupying half of South America’s land mass, Brazil is the giant of the continent – both in size and in population. Brazil’s history is filled with economic turmoil, veering from boom to bust, and its culture is a melting pot that has traditionally welcomed the world. Brazil is one of the world’s top tourist destinations. However, the country in the 21st century confronts serious questions touching on poverty, inequality, governance and the environment.
$1.61 trillionGDP
214 millionPopulation
$16,056GDP PC, PPP
#9 in Movers
#27 in Best Countries Overall
Read More »Occupying half of South America’s land mass, Brazil is the giant of the continent – both in size and in population. Brazil’s history is filled with economic turmoil, veering from boom to bust, and its culture is a melting pot that has traditionally welcomed the world. Brazil is one of the world’s top tourist destinations. However, the country in the 21st century confronts serious questions touching on poverty, inequality, governance and the environment.
GDP
$1.61 trillionGDP PER CAPITA, PPP
$16,056POPULATION
214 million#10 in Movers
#19 in Best Countries Overall
Read More »Founded as a British trading colony in the 19th century, Singapore is a bustling metropolis in Southeast Asia and home to one of the world’s busiest ports. The vast majority of its 5.7 million citizens live on the eponymous capital island, and dozens of surrounding islands complete the city state. Gross domestic product per capita is high and unemployment is low, making Singapore one of the wealthiest nations in the world.
$397 billionGDP
5.45 millionPopulation
$116,486GDP PC, PPP
#10 in Movers
#19 in Best Countries Overall
Read More »Founded as a British trading colony in the 19th century, Singapore is a bustling metropolis in Southeast Asia and home to one of the world’s busiest ports. The vast majority of its 5.7 million citizens live on the eponymous capital island, and dozens of surrounding islands complete the city state. Gross domestic product per capita is high and unemployment is low, making Singapore one of the wealthiest nations in the world.
GDP
$397 billionGDP PER CAPITA, PPP
$116,486POPULATION
5.45 million