About the index

The Health sub-index is based on performance across three indicators: insured health expenditure, life expectancy and health expenditure per capita. Life expectancy is a key driver of overall performance in the sub-index.

Luxembourg remains at the top of the Health sub-index for the second year in a row, with Ireland jumping to claim second, up from fifth last year. Sweden slips one rank to third, while Norway remains in fourth. Switzerland rounds out the top five countries within the sub-index. The Health sub-index is based on performance across three indicators: insured health expenditure, life expectancy and health expenditure per capita. Life expectancy is a key driver of overall performance in the sub-index.

Ireland comes in second place following a notable increase in its life expectancy score, with its ranking climbing 11 places following an eight-percentage-point increase for this indicator. A stable fifth placement for the other two indicators drives its overall score up by two percentage points. Luxembourg keeps its spot at the top of the sub-index with a top score in insured health expenditure and an increase of four percentage points for life expectancy. Despite breaking into the top five for life expectancy, Sweden drops to third this year in the Health rankings, as a result of Ireland’s rise. Norway remains in fourth after a seven-ranking drop in life expectancy, contrasted with a rise of seven rankings in health expenditure per capita. Switzerland’s score remains unchanged, but the country falls two spots to fifth, underscoring the importance of continual progress to remain at the top.

Completing the top ten are Australia, France, the Netherlands, Japan, and the UK. Australia rises from seventh to sixth, following a one-percentage-point increase in its overall score due to an improved life expectancy score. France keeps its score and climbs two places up to seventh. Keeping its score consistent from last year, the Netherlands holds its place in eighth. Japan drops three places to ninth in the rankings, even though its overall score remains unchanged. This shift is due to a slight decline in health expenditure pr capita, combined with other countries improving their performance. The UK breaks into the top ten (tenth) with a three-percentage-point increase in its overall score, attributable to its life expectancy score rising by ten percentage points.

Germany, Denmark, New Zealand, Iceland, and Singapore occupy the spots from 11th to 15th in the Health sub-index. Germany ascends three rankings to claim 11th despite an unchanged score from last year, while Denmark holds its place in 12th, though its overall score also did not change. New Zealand jumps four rankings, landing in 13th, following a five-percentage-point increase in its life expectancy score. Iceland continues its downward trend, dropping to 14th from 11th last year after a decrease in life expectancy score, which sends its ranking within the indicator down seven places to 16th. Singapore also drops by two places following decreases in both the insured health expenditure and life expectancy indicators.

The next five countries down the table are Austria, Canada, Belgium, Cyprus, and Finland. Austria’s score remains unchanged but falls one spot to 16th this year. Canada sees a notable decrease in rank, down from tenth to 17th following a two-percentage-point drop in its insured health expenditure score and six-percentage-point drop in life expectancy score. Conversely, Cyprus makes a notable leap to 19th place, up from 26th last year, driven by improved scores across the board, particularly a 13-place jump in the insured health expenditure indicator. Both Finland and Belgium maintain their scores but drop one and two rankings, respectively.

Rounding out the top 25 are Spain, Italy, Slovenia, the United States, and Israel. Spain, Italy, and Israel remain largely unchanged in their scores, but each drop by at least one ranking within the sub-index. Slovenia climbs one spot to 23rd, following a one-percentage-point increase in its overall score. The United States shows notable progress, gaining three percentage points compared to last year, driven by an improved life expectancy score that lifts the country into the top 25.

Norway overtakes the Czech Republic to top the Material Wellbeing sub-index, rising from sixth last year following an overall score increase of six percentage points to 86%. The Czech Republic slips down one place to second but has the same score as last year (83%). Slovenia also drops one spot in the rankings to third position with a static score. Meanwhile, Denmark stages an impressive improvement by flying 11 places up the table to fourth on the back of a 13-percentage-point score increase from 70% to 83%. The Netherlands completes the top five in the sub-index but drops two places down the rankings from third despite recording the same score as 2024 (82%).

The next five countries in the sub-index post a combination of gains and losses from 2024. Ireland lies in sixth place, rising three places up the rankings from last year with an improved score (81% vs. 77%). But Switzerland drops out of the top five by falling two spots to seventh with a marginally lower score. Meanwhile, Singapore is a standout success story, leaping 18 places up the sub-index table to eighth position and boosting its score from 56% to 79%. Powering its rise up the rankings is its income equality score, which increases by 31 percentage points from last year. Closing out the top ten is Germany (ninth) and Iceland (tenth), which drop two places and six places down the rankings, respectively. Losses in the unemployment indicator are the main drivers, with Iceland seeing a score decline of 21 percentage points and Germany’s score decreasing by ten percentage points.

The 11th to 15th rankings are held, respectively, by South Korea, Malta, the Slovak Republic, Japan, and Australia. Malta, which drops out of the top ten by declining two places to 12th, is the only country in this group to fall down in the rankings. Malta’s overall score decreases by two percentage points, driven by losses in income equality, where it plunges ten places to 30th. The Slovak Republic makes substantial progress, rising from 19th to 13th thanks to a perfect income equality score and improvements in the unemployment indicator. Meanwhile, South Korea and Australia both edge up one place from 12th and 16th, respectively. And Japan stays in 14th place, albeit with a marginally lower score.

Israel, Belgium, Austria, Hungary, and Russia complete the Material Wellbeing top 20. Belgium falls from 11th last year to 17th after posting decreases across all indicators and in particular, unemployment, where it drops seven percentage points. A reduced unemployment score also sees Austria post an overall score decline of three percentage points, pushing it five places down the rankings to 18th.

Hungary also loses ground, nudging down one place to 19th after registering marginal score declines in all indicators. Conversely, Israel and Russia move up the rankings by six places and five places, respectively. Russia, which finishes 20th in the sub-index, improves its overall score by six percentage points due to gains across the board. Most notably, Russia records a seven-percentage-point score increase in both the income per capita and unemployment indicators. Israel also improves markedly, increasing its score from 63% to 70% on the back of solid gains in the income equality and unemployment indicators.

Cyprus, Poland, Luxembourg, the United States, and New Zealand occupy the 21st to 25th positions, respectively, in the Material Wellbeing sub-index. Poland, Luxembourg and New Zealand all slide down the rankings – driven by declines in unemployment – while Cyprus climbs up the ladder and the United States stays steady. Poland loses the most ground, falling 14 places down the rankings and posting a 15-percentage-point score decline. In the unemployment indicator, Poland plunges from the top spot to 24th and sees its score tumble from 100% to 57%. Meanwhile, the United States retains its 24th rank despite its overall score decreasing by one percentage point. Cyprus makes the most progress in this group, rising six places up the table from 27th last year, owing to a substantial score gain of 21 percentage points in the unemployment indicator.