Topic 07 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Environment & Sustainability
How much pressure does a country put on the natural world?
Angola is placed first of 186 countries on environment & sustainability in the Country Index 2026, and Qatar 186th. The standing rests on 4 key statistics; the other 49 on this page are published as context, with no vote.
07
4 key statistics
01Country Index 2026
Who leads on environment & sustainability
The three countries placed highest of 186, the three placed lowest, and the country placed highest on each continent. Each position is a place in this topic’s own list, built from its key statistics.
1
AngolaMiddle Africa
1st of 186 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: Paulo César Santos derivative work: Jjtkk · CC0, greyscale
- 2
São Tomé and PríncipeMiddle Africa
2nd of 186 · 3 of 4 keys
3
Sierra LeoneWestern Africa
3rd of 186 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Annabel Symington derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
Placed lowest on Environment & Sustainability
Positions out of 186. A standing is relative: it says where a country places against the others measured, not that it scored zero.
Placed first on each continent · position among all 186
02The subject
About environment & sustainability
How much pressure a country's consumption puts on the natural world, and how far its farms and power supply have moved toward cleaner practice. The pressure is measured as a consumption footprint, which is smallest where people consume least — so countries with low incomes can stand high on this topic whatever their policies, and it is best read beside Development and Economy.
This topic measures the pressure a country puts on the natural world in three forms — how much of the planet’s biological capacity its consumption uses, how much carbon dioxide it emits for each person who lives there, and how much of its renewable fresh water it withdraws — and one sign of change: how much of its farmland is farmed organically, without synthetic fertiliser or pesticide.
Read them together, and read them carefully. Pressure is highest where people consume most, so countries with low incomes often place well on this topic whatever their environmental policy. That is a true statement about pressure on the planet, not a verdict that those countries are managing their environment better.
What this topic does not measure
Air quality and biodiversity are not keys, because the site does not yet hold data for them that passes every test. Forest cover, farmland, farm emissions and the renewable share of electricity are published here as context. Exposure to natural hazards belongs to Risk & Resilience.
03The evidence
The 4 statistics that decide it
These are the only statistics that place countries on environment & sustainability — one vote each. Every number is somebody else’s research, reproduced without adjustment; the ordering on top is this site’s.
Key 1 of 4
CO₂ Emissions per Capita
Global Carbon Project
Why it is a key: How much carbon dioxide a country's own fuel burning puts into the air for each person living there.
- Edition used
- 2024data for 2024
- Countries
- 210
- Publisher’s rank
- None — values only
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0
Every country, every editionMost affected, 2024 edition
QatarKey 2 of 4
Water Stress
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Why it is a key: Whether a country withdraws more freshwater than nature replaces: the one pressure in this subject a country creates for itself rather than faces.
- Edition used
- 2023data for 2023
- Countries
- 177
- Publisher’s rank
- None — values only
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0
Every country, every editionMost affected, 2023 edition
KuwaitKey 3 of 4
Organic Agricultural Area
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Why it is a key: Farmland managed without synthetic fertiliser or pesticide — how far a country's farms have moved toward cleaner practice.
- Edition used
- 2024data for 2024
- Countries
- 156
- Publisher’s rank
- None — values only
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0
Every country, every editionCurrent leader, 2024 edition
SamoaKey 4 of 4
Ecological Footprint
Global Footprint Network
Why it is a key: How much of the planet's biological capacity a country's own consumption uses up.
- Edition used
- 2025data for 2025
- Countries
- 126
- Publisher’s rank
- None — values only
- Licence
- CC BY-SA 4.0
Every country, every editionMost affected, 2025 edition
QatarHow the keys combine
Each country’s value on each key becomes its place in that key’s own field, as a share of the field. The shares are averaged, one vote per key, and only the order that produces is published.
The method in full
04Every placed country
Environment & Sustainability on a map
Darker is placed higher. Hover a country for its position, or select it to open its page. Below the map, each continent’s median position — half its placed countries sit at or above it, so lower is better.
1st of 5 continents
Oceania
25th
median position, of 186 · 8 of its 21 countries placed
Highest
Solomon Islands2nd of 5 continents
Africa
39th
median position, of 186 · 53 of its 55 countries placed
Highest
Angola3rd of 5 continents
Americas
89th
median position, of 186 · 35 of its 48 countries placed
Highest
Nicaragua4th of 5 continents
Europe
114th
median position, of 186 · 41 of its 49 countries placed
Highest
Liechtenstein5th of 5 continents
Asia
139th
median position, of 186 · 49 of its 52 countries placed
Highest
Palestine- Every region
All 21 sub-regions on Environment & Sustainability, best median first
- 1Middle Africamedian 8thfrom 9 of 9Angola1
- 2Melanesiamedian 14thfrom 4 of 5Solomon Islands7
- 3Polynesiamedian 25thfrom 2 of 7Samoa25
- 4Western Africamedian 34thfrom 16 of 16Sierra Leone3
- 5Eastern Africamedian 38thfrom 17 of 19
South Sudan9 - 6Central Americamedian 48thfrom 8 of 8Nicaragua=15
- 7South Americamedian 64thfrom 12 of 12
Ecuador31 - 8Southern Africamedian 72ndfrom 5 of 5
Lesotho=22 - 9Australia and New Zealandmedian 80thfrom 2 of 2
Australia80 - 10Southern Asiamedian 86thfrom 9 of 9
Nepal60 - 11Eastern Europemedian 97thfrom 10 of 10
Hungary68 - 12Northern Europemedian 101stfrom 10 of 13
Finland=61 - 13South-eastern Asiamedian 108thfrom 11 of 11
Timor-Leste32 - 14Western Europemedian 113thfrom 8 of 9Liechtenstein27
- 15Southern Europemedian 117thfrom 13 of 17
Croatia82 - 16Caribbeanmedian 123rdfrom 13 of 24
Haiti=44 - 17Northern Africamedian 126thfrom 6 of 6
Egypt96 - 18Northern Americamedian 150thfrom 2 of 4
Canada150 - 19Eastern Asiamedian 157thfrom 6 of 8
North Korea=121 - 20Western Asiamedian 160thfrom 18 of 19Palestine24
- 21Central Asiamedian 166thfrom 5 of 5
Tajikistan69
05The whole field
Where all 186 countries stand
In order, best first. A row resting on fewer keys rests on less evidence: a country needs 2 of the 4 to be placed at all. “=” marks a position shared with another country. Select a country to see the working behind its standing.
Showing 25 of 186 countries placed on Environment & Sustainability
- 1 of 186AngolaMiddle Africa3/4
- 2 of 186São Tomé and PríncipeMiddle Africa3/4
- 3 of 186Sierra LeoneWestern Africa4/4
- 4 of 186
GambiaWestern Africa2/4 - 5 of 186
Republic of the CongoMiddle Africa3/4 - 6 of 186
Central African RepublicMiddle Africa3/4 - 7 of 186Solomon IslandsMelanesia2/4
- 8 of 186
DR CongoMiddle Africa4/4 - 9 of 186South SudanEastern Africa2/4
- 10 of 186
TogoWestern Africa4/4 - 11 of 186
GuineaWestern Africa3/4 - 12 of 186
Guinea-BissauWestern Africa3/4 - 13 of 186
ChadMiddle Africa3/4 - 14 of 186
Papua New GuineaMelanesia3/4 - =15 of 186
EritreaEastern Africa3/4 - =15 of 186NicaraguaCentral America2/4
- 17 of 186
Burkina FasoWestern Africa4/4 - =18 of 186
UgandaEastern Africa4/4 - =18 of 186
VanuatuMelanesia2/4 - 20 of 186
BeninWestern Africa4/4 - 21 of 186
GabonMiddle Africa2/4 - =22 of 186LesothoSouthern Africa2/4
- =22 of 186
MalawiEastern Africa4/4 - 24 of 186PalestineWestern Asia2/4
- 25 of 186SamoaPolynesia3/4
- 26 of 186
SomaliaEastern Africa3/4 - 27 of 186LiechtensteinWestern Europe2/4
- 28 of 186
GuatemalaCentral America3/4 - 29 of 186
MozambiqueEastern Africa4/4 - 30 of 186
DjiboutiEastern Africa2/4 - 31 of 186EcuadorSouth America3/4
- 32 of 186Timor-LesteSouth-eastern Asia4/4
- 33 of 186
Equatorial GuineaMiddle Africa2/4 - 34 of 186
GhanaWestern Africa4/4 - 35 of 186
RwandaEastern Africa4/4 - 36 of 186
FijiMelanesia4/4 - 37 of 186
HondurasCentral America3/4 - 38 of 186
BurundiEastern Africa4/4 - 39 of 186
LiberiaWestern Africa4/4 - 40 of 186
UruguaySouth America3/4 - 41 of 186
ComorosEastern Africa3/4 - 42 of 186
CameroonMiddle Africa4/4 - 43 of 186
MadagascarEastern Africa4/4 - =44 of 186
CambodiaSouth-eastern Asia4/4 - =44 of 186HaitiCaribbean4/4
- 46 of 186
Côte d’IvoireWestern Africa4/4 - 47 of 186
KenyaEastern Africa4/4 - 48 of 186
BelizeCentral America3/4 - 49 of 186
YemenWestern Asia3/4 - =50 of 186
DominicaCaribbean3/4 - =50 of 186
TanzaniaEastern Africa4/4 - 52 of 186
EthiopiaEastern Africa4/4 - 53 of 186
ParaguaySouth America4/4 - 54 of 186
PeruSouth America4/4 - 55 of 186
BotswanaSouthern Africa3/4 - 56 of 186
GuyanaSouth America2/4 - 57 of 186
LaosSouth-eastern Asia4/4 - 58 of 186
PanamaCentral America3/4 - 59 of 186
MyanmarSouth-eastern Asia4/4 - 60 of 186NepalSouthern Asia4/4
- =61 of 186
BangladeshSouthern Asia4/4 - =61 of 186FinlandNorthern Europe3/4
- =61 of 186
ZambiaEastern Africa4/4 - 64 of 186
BoliviaSouth America4/4 - 65 of 186
LatviaNorthern Europe4/4 - 66 of 186
MauritaniaWestern Africa2/4 - 67 of 186
BrazilSouth America4/4 - 68 of 186HungaryEastern Europe3/4
- 69 of 186TajikistanCentral Asia4/4
- 70 of 186
SwedenNorthern Europe4/4 - 71 of 186
SwitzerlandWestern Europe4/4 - 72 of 186
NamibiaSouthern Africa3/4 - =73 of 186
MoldovaEastern Europe3/4 - =73 of 186
NigeriaWestern Africa4/4 - 75 of 186
SlovakiaEastern Europe4/4 - 76 of 186
Sri LankaSouthern Asia4/4 - 77 of 186
ColombiaSouth America4/4 - =78 of 186
RomaniaEastern Europe4/4 - =78 of 186
Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesCaribbean2/4 - 80 of 186AustraliaAustralia and New Zealand3/4
- 81 of 186
PhilippinesSouth-eastern Asia4/4 - 82 of 186CroatiaSouthern Europe4/4
- 83 of 186
NigerWestern Africa4/4 - 84 of 186
Costa RicaCentral America4/4 - 85 of 186
IndiaSouthern Asia4/4 - 86 of 186
PakistanSouthern Asia4/4 - 87 of 186
BhutanSouthern Asia4/4 - 88 of 186
PortugalSouthern Europe4/4 - =89 of 186
Dominican RepublicCaribbean4/4 - =89 of 186
LithuaniaNorthern Europe4/4 - =91 of 186
ArgentinaSouth America4/4 - =91 of 186
GeorgiaWestern Asia3/4 - =91 of 186
GrenadaCaribbean4/4 - 94 of 186
MaliWestern Africa4/4 - 95 of 186
TongaPolynesia3/4 - 96 of 186EgyptNorthern Africa4/4
- =97 of 186
AfghanistanSouthern Asia4/4 - =97 of 186
UkraineEastern Europe3/4 - 99 of 186
AlbaniaSouthern Europe4/4 - 100 of 186
GreeceSouthern Europe4/4 - 101 of 186
IrelandNorthern Europe3/4 - 102 of 186
NorwayNorthern Europe4/4 - 103 of 186
EswatiniSouthern Africa4/4 - 104 of 186
SenegalWestern Africa4/4 - 105 of 186
ChileSouth America4/4 - 106 of 186
El SalvadorCentral America4/4 - 107 of 186
SyriaWestern Asia4/4 - =108 of 186
TunisiaNorthern Africa4/4 - =108 of 186
VietnamSouth-eastern Asia4/4 - 110 of 186
NetherlandsWestern Europe3/4 - 111 of 186
SpainSouthern Europe4/4 - 112 of 186
SingaporeSouth-eastern Asia3/4 - 113 of 186
AustriaWestern Europe4/4 - 114 of 186
FranceWestern Europe4/4 - =115 of 186
ItalySouthern Europe4/4 - =115 of 186
United KingdomNorthern Europe4/4 - 117 of 186
Bosnia and HerzegovinaSouthern Europe3/4 - =118 of 186
IcelandNorthern Europe3/4 - =118 of 186
SloveniaSouthern Europe4/4 - 120 of 186
SurinameSouth America3/4 - =121 of 186North KoreaEastern Asia2/4
- =121 of 186
Saint LuciaCaribbean4/4 - =123 of 186
CubaCaribbean4/4 - =123 of 186
EstoniaNorthern Europe4/4 - 125 of 186
Cabo VerdeWestern Africa2/4 - =126 of 186
BulgariaEastern Europe3/4 - =126 of 186
SudanNorthern Africa4/4 - 128 of 186
MaldivesSouthern Asia2/4 - 129 of 186
New ZealandAustralia and New Zealand3/4 - 130 of 186
ZimbabweEastern Africa4/4 - 131 of 186
IndonesiaSouth-eastern Asia4/4 - 132 of 186
CyprusWestern Asia4/4 - =133 of 186
GermanyWestern Europe4/4 - =133 of 186
VenezuelaSouth America4/4 - 135 of 186
LuxembourgWestern Europe4/4 - 136 of 186
JordanWestern Asia4/4 - =137 of 186
CzechiaEastern Europe4/4 - =137 of 186
MoroccoNorthern Africa3/4 - =139 of 186
DenmarkNorthern Europe4/4 - =139 of 186
ThailandSouth-eastern Asia4/4 - 141 of 186
MontenegroSouthern Europe3/4 - 142 of 186
SerbiaSouthern Europe4/4 - =143 of 186
JamaicaCaribbean4/4 - =143 of 186
LebanonWestern Asia4/4 - =143 of 186
TaiwanEastern Asia2/4 - 146 of 186
BruneiSouth-eastern Asia2/4 - 147 of 186
KyrgyzstanCentral Asia3/4 - 148 of 186
MexicoCentral America4/4 - 149 of 186
Antigua and BarbudaCaribbean3/4 - 150 of 186CanadaNorthern America4/4
- 151 of 186
PolandEastern Europe4/4 - 152 of 186
MaltaSouthern Europe4/4 - 153 of 186
BelarusEastern Europe4/4 - 154 of 186
North MacedoniaSouthern Europe4/4 - 155 of 186
BelgiumWestern Europe4/4 - 156 of 186
TürkiyeWestern Asia4/4 - 157 of 186
ChinaEastern Asia4/4 - =158 of 186
MalaysiaSouth-eastern Asia4/4 - =158 of 186
MauritiusEastern Africa4/4 - 160 of 186
ArmeniaWestern Asia3/4 - 161 of 186
JapanEastern Asia4/4 - 162 of 186
BahamasCaribbean2/4 - 163 of 186
IsraelWestern Asia4/4 - 164 of 186
AndorraSouthern Europe3/4 - 165 of 186
Saint Kitts and NevisCaribbean2/4 - =166 of 186
RussiaEastern Europe4/4 - =166 of 186
UzbekistanCentral Asia4/4 - =168 of 186
AzerbaijanWestern Asia3/4 - =168 of 186
IraqWestern Asia4/4 - 170 of 186
South KoreaEastern Asia4/4 - 171 of 186
United StatesNorthern America4/4 - 172 of 186
South AfricaSouthern Africa4/4 - 173 of 186
United Arab EmiratesWestern Asia3/4 - 174 of 186
BarbadosCaribbean3/4 - 175 of 186
Trinidad and TobagoCaribbean2/4 - 176 of 186
MongoliaEastern Asia4/4 - 177 of 186
KazakhstanCentral Asia3/4 - 178 of 186
AlgeriaNorthern Africa3/4 - 179 of 186
TurkmenistanCentral Asia3/4 - 180 of 186
IranSouthern Asia3/4 - 181 of 186
OmanWestern Asia4/4 - 182 of 186
LibyaNorthern Africa2/4 - 183 of 186
BahrainWestern Asia3/4 - 184 of 186KuwaitWestern Asia3/4
- 185 of 186
Saudi ArabiaWestern Asia3/4 - 186 of 186QatarWestern Asia3/4
38 countries measured in the index but not placed on environment & sustainability
Each holds readings on too few of this topic’s key statistics to be placed. Their profiles still show every reading the publishers give.
- American Samoa
- Anguilla
- Aruba
- Bermuda
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Channel Islands
- Cook Islands
- Curaçao
- Faroe Islands
- French Polynesia
- Gibraltar
- Greenland
- Guam
- Hong Kong
- Isle of Man
- Kiribati
- Kosovo
- Macau
- Marshall Islands
- Micronesia
- Monaco
- Montserrat
- Nauru
- New Caledonia
- Niue
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Palau
- Puerto Rico
- Saint Martin
- San Marino
- Seychelles
- Sint Maarten
- Somaliland
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Tuvalu
- United States Virgin Islands
- Vatican City
06Beyond the headline
A different story
The countries placed furthest above and below their overall position in the Country Index 2026. Both positions are compared as a share of their own field, because 50th of 193 and 50th of 174 are not the same showing.
Placed higher on Environment & Sustainability than overall
Placed lower on Environment & Sustainability than overall
07In records
Environment in records
One country at the extreme of a statistic under this topic, read from its newest edition. Where countries tie at the top, no record is named.
Largest share of land under forest
94.45
% of land area
Highest organic share of farmland
86.38
% of agricultural land
Highest energy trilemma score
83.2
on the World Energy Council’s 0–100 scale
08Latest editions
Who rose and fell in the published ranks
The biggest moves between each report’s two newest editions, in the publisher’s own ranks — reports under this topic that print a rank. A report whose field changed by more than 5% is left out.
Ranks as published by Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame in the Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN): reference years 2023 (190 countries ranked) → 2024 (190 ranked), both from its 2026 report.
Improved most
rank before → after- Laos108 → 101+7
- Kyrgyzstan25 → 21+4
- Morocco99 → 95+4
Ranks as published by Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame in the ND-GAIN Country Index: reference years 2023 (190 countries ranked) → 2024 (190 ranked), both from its 2026 report.
09Context, no vote
Also measured under environment & sustainability
49 more statistics on the same subject, published in full and deliberately given no vote — keeping them out is what stops the standing drifting toward whichever kind of statistic was imported most. Select a row for its leader and trend.
PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · 220 countries · 2023Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis2202023
Most affected:
BangladeshAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · 26 editions, data 1998–2023
Municipal Solid Waste GenerationWorld Bank Group · 201 countries · 2026World Bank Group2012026
Most affected:
British Virgin IslandsWorld Bank Group · 1 edition
Annual Forest Area Change RateFAO · 193 countries · 2025FAO1932025
Current leader:
BahrainFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · 3 editions, data 2000–2025
World Risk IndexInstitute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV), Ruhr University Bochum · 193 countries · 2025Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV), Ruhr University Bochum1932025
Most affected:
PhilippinesInstitute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV), Ruhr University Bochum · 26 editions, data 2000–2025
Energy Intensity of GDP (PPP)EIA · 192 countries · 2024EIA1922024
Most affected:
TurkmenistanU.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) · 37 editions, data 1988–2024
Agricultural Emissions IntensityFAO · 190 countries · 2023FAO1902023
Most affected:
BotswanaFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · 34 editions, data 1990–2023
Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN)Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · 190 countries · 2024Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame1902024
Most affected:
MauritaniaNotre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · 30 editions, data 1995–2024
ND-GAIN Country IndexNotre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · 190 countries · 2024Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame1902024
Current leader:
NorwayNotre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · 30 editions, data 1995–2024
Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy)FAO · 186 countries · 2024FAO1862024
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · 10 editions, data 2015–2024
Renewable Internal Freshwater Resources per CapitaFAO · 181 countries · 2022FAO1812022
Current leader:
IcelandFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · 62 editions, data 1961–2022
Forest Area within Legally Established Protected AreasFAO · 179 countries · 2025FAO1792025
Current leader:
Saudi ArabiaFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · 6 editions, data 1990–2025
Water-Use EfficiencyFAO · 168 countries · 2023FAO1682023
Current leader:
LuxembourgFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · 24 editions, data 2000–2023
Carbon Intensity of ElectricityEmber · 165 countries · 2024Ember1652024
Most affected:
TurkmenistanEmber · 25 editions, data 2000–2024
Low-Carbon Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 165 countries · 2024Ember1652024
Ember · 25 editions, data 2000–2024
Renewable Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 165 countries · 2024Ember1652024
Ember · 25 editions, data 2000–2024
Wind and Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 165 countries · 2024Ember1652024
Baseline Water Stress (Aqueduct)WRI · 164 countries · 2019WRI1642019
World Resources Institute (WRI) · 1 edition
Coal Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 164 countries · 2024Ember1642024
Children's Climate Risk IndexUNICEF · 163 countries · 2020UNICEF1632020
Planetary pressures-adjusted HDIUNDP Human Development Report Office · 156 countries · 2023UNDP Human Development Report Office1562023
Current leader:
United KingdomUNDP Human Development Report Office · 34 editions, data 1990–2023
World Energy Trilemma IndexWorld Energy Council · 126 countries · 2023World Energy Council1262023
Adjusted Net SavingsWorld Bank Group · 118 countries · 2021World Bank Group1182021
Current leader:
BangladeshWorld Bank Group · 32 editions, data 1990–2021
Describing the shape of a country (27)
These have no better end — more is not better or worse, only different — so they could not place countries even as keys.
Fisheries and Aquaculture ProductionFAO · 220 countries · 2024FAO2202024
Highest:
ChinaFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · 75 editions, data 1950–2024
Population Living Below 5 m ElevationCenter for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University · 215 countries · 2015Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University2152015
Highest:
GuyanaCenter for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University · 3 editions, data 1990–2015
Forest AreaFAO · 213 countries · 2023FAO2132023
Highest:
SurinameFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · 34 editions, data 1990–2023
Tree Cover LossWorld Resources Institute — Global Forest Watch (data: University of Maryland) · 210 countries · 2025World Resources Institute — Global Forest Watch (data: University of Maryland)2102025
Highest:
CanadaWorld Resources Institute — Global Forest Watch (data: University of Maryland) · 25 editions, data 2001–2025
Agricultural LandFAO · 209 countries · 2023FAO2092023
Highest:
Côte d’IvoireFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · 63 editions, data 1961–2023
Burned AreaGWIS · 209 countries · 2025GWIS2092025
Highest:
AustraliaEuropean Commission Joint Research Centre — Global Wildfire Information System (GWIS) · 24 editions, data 2002–2025
Solar Electricity Installed CapacityEIA · 209 countries · 2024EIA2092024
Highest:
ChinaU.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) · 25 editions, data 2000–2024
Methane EmissionsEDGAR · 207 countries · 2025EDGAR2072025
Highest:
ChinaEuropean Commission, Joint Research Centre (EDGAR) · 56 editions, data 1970–2025
Arable Land per PersonFAO · 206 countries · 2023FAO2062023
Highest:
KazakhstanFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · 63 editions, data 1961–2023
Agricultural EmissionsFAO · 198 countries · 2023FAO1982023
Highest:
IndiaFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · 34 editions, data 1990–2023
Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 197 countries · 2021World Bank Group1972021
Fertilizer Consumption per HectareFAO · 191 countries · 2023FAO1912023
Highest:
MalaysiaFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · 63 editions, data 1961–2023
Temperature Change on LandFAO · 190 countries · 2025FAO1902025
Highest:
KazakhstanFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · 65 editions, data 1961–2025
Livestock DensityFAO · 188 countries · 2023FAO1882023
Highest:
SingaporeFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · 63 editions, data 1961–2023
Cropland Nitrogen BalanceFAO · 187 countries · 2023FAO1872023
Highest:
SingaporeFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · 63 editions, data 1961–2023
Pesticide Use per HectareFAO · 181 countries · 2024FAO1812024
Highest:
Antigua and BarbudaFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · 35 editions, data 1990–2024
Land Under Cereal ProductionFAO · 180 countries · 2023FAO1802023
Highest:
IndiaFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · 63 editions, data 1961–2023
Meat Supply per PersonFAO · 174 countries · 2023FAO1742023
Highest:
TongaFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · 14 editions, data 2010–2023
Water Withdrawal by SectorFAO · 173 countries · 2022FAO1732022
Highest:
SomaliaFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · 33 editions, data 1990–2022
Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 165 countries · 2024Ember1652024
Operating Wind Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · 157 countries · 2026Global Energy Monitor1572026
Agricultural Irrigated LandFAO · 121 countries · 2023FAO1212023
Highest:
BangladeshFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · 1 edition
Consumption-Based CO₂ EmissionsGlobal Carbon Project · 120 countries · 2023Global Carbon Project1202023
Highest:
ChinaGlobal Carbon Project · 34 editions, data 1990–2023
Mangrove AreaGlobal Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, JAXA, soloEO, Wetlands International, The Nature Conservancy) · 118 countries · 2025Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, JAXA, soloEO, Wetlands International, The Nature Conservancy)1182025
Highest:
IndonesiaGlobal Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, JAXA, soloEO, Wetlands International, The Nature Conservancy) · 41 editions, data 1985–2025
Environmentally Related Tax RevenueOECD · 112 countries · 2024OECD1122024
Operating Coal Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · 109 countries · 2026Global Energy Monitor1092026
Tropical Moist Forest DeforestationJRC · 100 countries · 2025JRC1002025
Highest:
BrazilEuropean Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) · 36 editions, data 1990–2025
10Analysis
Charts and analysis on environment & sustainability
Written analysis
11Keep reading
Explore further
The most-read profiles, on Environment & Sustainability
How Environment & Sustainability relates to the other topics
- Moves most with: EnergyAlmost no link between the two. (0.11, 149 countries)
- Moves most with: Gender & EqualityAlmost no link between the two. (-0.10, 179 countries)
- Moves least with: Health & WellbeingCountries placed high on one tend to place low on the other. (-0.61, 184 countries)
Rank correlation of the two topics’ positions across the countries placed on both: 1 means the same order, 0 no link. Every pair of topics
The other topics
The full Country Index 2026- Governance & InstitutionsFirst: Denmark
- Economy & InnovationFirst: Austria
- Work & LabourFirst: Iceland
- Education & KnowledgeFirst: United Arab Emirates
- Health & WellbeingFirst:
San Marino - Development & Human CapitalFirst:
Cook Islands - Gender & EqualityFirst: Latvia
- Democracy & Civil LibertiesFirst: Norway
- Peace & SecurityFirst: Iceland
- Risk & ResilienceFirst: Liechtenstein
- Mobility & TradeFirst: Singapore
- Food & AgricultureFirst: Serbia
- Poverty & InequalityFirst: Belarus
- Money & Public Finance
- EnergyFirst: Bhutan
- Digital & TechnologyFirst: Estonia
- People & Population
- Every topic, side by side
12Method
Questions, method and sources
Which country is placed first on environment & sustainability in the Country Index 2026?
Angola, of the 186 countries given a standing on Environment & Sustainability. The standing is this site’s own, built from 4 key statistics by 21 publishers; it is not a rank any of those publishers printed.
Which country is placed last on environment & sustainability?
Qatar, 186th of 186. A standing says how a country places against the others measured alongside it, so it moves when they move.
Which statistics decide the Environment & Sustainability standing?
CO₂ Emissions per Capita, Water Stress, Organic Agricultural Area, Ecological Footprint. Each is read at one edition and turned into a place within its own field; the places are averaged with one vote each. The other 49 statistics on this topic are published as context and have no vote.
Why is a country not placed on environment & sustainability?
A country needs readings on at least 2 of the 4 key statistics before it is placed. 38 countries in the Country Index fall short on this topic; every reading the publishers do give for them is still on their profiles.
Are these the publishers’ own rankings?
The underlying numbers and any printed ranks are the publishers’, reproduced without adjustment on each statistic’s page. The standing that combines them is this site’s, and the average it is ordered by is never published — only the position it produces.
How the Environment & Sustainability standing is decided, step by step
A standing is a place in a list, not a mark out of anything. This one is part of the Country Index 2026, and it is worked out like this.
- A few key indicators decide it; the rest are context. 4 indicators on this topic are keys and 49 are charted alongside them without a vote. That split is the point: if every statistic voted, importing five more of one kind would quietly change what the topic is about.
- Each key is read at one edition. ⚠ The keys behind this standing do not all describe the same year — they run from 2023 to 2025, because publishers release on their own schedules. Read the standing as “how this country places now”, not as a snapshot of one year.
- Every country’s published value is turned into a place within that one key’s own field, and then expressed as a share of that field — how far down this key’s list the country sits, rather than how many countries are above it. Keys where a higher published number is worse (terrorism, hunger, disaster risk) are turned round first, so the good end is always the same end.
- Dividing by the field first is the whole reason this works. A place carries the size of its list inside it: 22nd of 44 and 108th of 215 are the same showing, and averaging the numbers 22 and 108 says loudly that they are not. Fields on this site run from about 44 countries to about 215, so averaging raw places would reward a country for happening to be measured in small ones. Dividing each place by its own field removes the size and leaves only the showing.
- The shares are averaged, plainly. One key, one vote — no key is weighted above another, because any weighting would be this site’s opinion presented as a measurement. Countries are then put in order by that average, and the average itself is never published. It is our arithmetic with nothing anchoring it, so printing it would invite it to be read as a measurement somebody made. The position it produces, the band, and the keys it was built from are all published instead — every one of them checkable against the tables on this page.
- A country needs 2 of this topic’s 4 keys — half, rounded up, and never fewer than 2. A standing built from one reading, printed beside one built from four, is two different things sharing a column heading. 186 countries clear the bar here.
- A key has to earn its vote every edition. It must measure at least 120 countries (below that it starts measuring who was surveyed rather than the world), it must not have more than 10% of its field tied at either end, and it must not repeat another key in the same topic — Spearman correlation above 0.92 counts as repeating. A topic needs at least 2 surviving keys to place anyone at all; this one has 4.
- A standing is relative, and the grouping is ours. It says where a country places against the others measured alongside it, so it moves when they move. The publishers listed on this page did not agree to be read together, and each measures its subject its own way: the underlying numbers are theirs, the ordering on top is this site’s — the same method as the rest of the Country Index, applied to one subject instead of all of them.
The key statistics and their licences
- CO₂ Emissions per Capita — Global Carbon Project, CC BY 4.0
- Water Stress — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
- Organic Agricultural Area — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
- Ecological Footprint — Global Footprint Network, CC BY-SA 4.0
The other 49 statistics on this page come from 20 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
The countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Angola — Paulo César Santos derivative work: Jjtkk, CC0
- Sierra Leone — Annabel Symington derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Environment & Sustainability: country standings, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/topics/environment