Country Rankings

Be careful when using these indexes. They measure qualities that are difficult to quantify. Moreover, methodologies often change year to year; therefore, multiyear comparisons are often invalid. For these reasons, it is important to know the methodologies used to derive these cross country comparisons before using them. Most of the indexes included provide their methodology.

Search tip: If you are looking for an indicator, e.g. stability, do a search in the search box for the database that you select. That will let you know which index measures that quality.

• Environmental Performance Index (EPI) (2006-) from Yale and Columbia Universities
  Identifies broadly-accepted targets for environmental performance and measures how close each country comes to these goals. Ranks 149 countries on 25 indicators tracked across six established policy categories: Environmental Health, Air Pollution, Water Resources, Biodiversity and Habitat, Productive Natural Resources, and Climate Change.
• Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI) (2000-2002, 2005) from Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy and Center for International Earth Science Information Network
  Benchmarks the ability of nations to protect the environment over the next several decades. Is succeeded by the Environmental Performance Index.