The Social Capital Index 2024
Social Capital reflects the sum of a nation’s social stability and the well-being—both perceived and real—of its population. It fosters social cohesion and consensus, creating a stable environment for economic growth while reducing the over-exploitation of natural resources. Although not easily quantifiable, Social Capital is influenced by factors such as healthcare availability and affordability, income and asset equality (linked to crime levels), demographic structure, freedom of expression, freedom from fear, and the absence of violent conflict.
A stable social consensus enables economic activities to flourish, encouraging individuals to contribute to sustainable development rather than resorting to illegal activities that undermine the broader economy. Higher levels of Social Capital correlate with stronger economic performance and greater individual motivation to support collective progress.
State of Social Capital 2024
Key Insights from the Social Capital Index 2024:
- Top Performers: Japan ranks first, followed by the Netherlands, France, Iceland, and Norway, with the remaining Scandinavian nations also in the top 10.
- The top 30 is largely dominated by Western European countries and the Baltics, with Japan (1), South Korea (17), and the United Arab Emirates (25) as notable exceptions.
- The United States ranks 118th due to high crime rates, limited healthcare access, and increasing inequality.
- China ranks 43rd, India 89th, Nigeria 109th, and Brazil 179th.
- In South America, Uruguay (68), Argentina (71), and Peru (86) are the highest-ranked countries, while in Africa, Senegal (56), Madagascar (76), and Kenya (78) lead.
- Many African nations, particularly in and south of the Sahel region, rank at the bottom of the index. This is attributed to challenges such as inadequate healthcare, high child mortality, restricted freedoms, and unstable human rights conditions.
For more information, refer to the Social Capital Index page or download the full Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index
The Social Capital World Map
