Country rankings

Social Mobility by Country

Denmark has the highest Social Mobility Index in 2020 (85.2), followed by Norway (83.6) and Finland (83.6). Ivory Coast has the lowest (34.5).

Economics81 countries · 1 metricUpdated Nov 7, 2024Original page
1 source
Social Mobility IndexBetter directionWhether a higher or a lower value is better. A green arrow means higher is better, a red arrow means lower is better, and no arrow means neither.More in the glossary →
Year 202081 of 235 countries

Social Mobility Index, 2020

Darker means higher. Click a place to highlight it.

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Ranking

Highest first: the first 15 and last 5 of 81 countries.

Distribution Median and middle halfThe median is the middle value: half of places are above it, half below. The middle half is the range holding the central 50% of places.More in the glossary →

Each dot is one country; the lines mark the median and the middle half.

Median
63.8
Middle half 51.7 – 74.4
Average
62.4
81 countries
Highest
85.2
Denmark
Lowest
34.5
Ivory Coast

Data

Click a column to sort, a row to highlight that place on the charts.

81 countries · # = rank by Social Mobility Index
#
1Denmark85.2
2Norway83.6
2Finland83.6
4Sweden83.5
5Iceland82.7
6Netherlands82.4
7Switzerland82.1
8Belgium80.1
8Austria80.1
10Luxembourg79.8
11Germany78.8
12France76.7
13Slovenia76.4
14Japan76.1
14Canada76.1
16Australia75.1
17Ireland75.0
17Malta75.0
19Czechia74.7
20Singapore74.6
21United Kingdom74.4
22New Zealand74.3
23Estonia73.5
24Portugal72.0
25South Korea71.4
26Lithuania70.5
27United States70.4
28Spain70.0
29Cyprus69.4
30Poland69.1
31Latvia69.0
32Slovakia68.5
33Israel68.1
34Italy67.4
35Uruguay67.1
36Croatia66.7
37Hungary65.8
38Kazakhstan64.8
39Russia64.7
40Bulgaria63.8
40Serbia63.8
42Romania63.1
43Malaysia62.0
44Costa Rica61.6
45China61.5
46Ukraine61.2
47Chile60.3
48Greece59.8
49Moldova59.6
50Vietnam57.8
51Argentina57.3
52Saudi Arabia57.1
53Georgia55.6
53Albania55.6
55Thailand55.4
56Ecuador53.9
56Armenia53.9
58Mexico52.6
59Sri Lanka52.3
60Brazil52.1
61Philippines51.7
61Tunisia51.7
63Panama51.4
64Turkey51.3
65Colombia50.3
66Peru49.9
67Indonesia49.3
68El Salvador47.4
69Paraguay46.8
70Ghana45.5
71Egypt44.8
72Laos43.8
73Guatemala43.5
73Honduras43.5
75India42.7
76South Africa41.4
77Bangladesh40.2
78Pakistan36.7
79Cameroon36.0
79Senegal36.0
81Ivory Coast34.5

What correlates with Social Mobility Index (2020)?

Pearson r against 1,792 other country metrics sharing at least 49 countries. Ranks are read by standing: a better rank counts as higher, whether rank 1 is the best place on a list or the worst. Correlation is not causation.

Higher together

Places that have a higher Social Mobility Index tend to score higher on these (or rank better)

  1. Quality of Life Rank (US News)Standard of Living by CountryA rank: rank 1 is the best
    r = +0.96 · very strong · n = 76
    Plot
  2. Social Progress IndexSocial Progress Index by Country
    r = +0.96 · very strong · n = 80
    Plot
  3. LP Living ConditionsLegatum Prosperity IndexA rank: rank 1 is the best
    r = +0.95 · very strong · n = 81
    Plot
  4. LP EducationLegatum Prosperity IndexA rank: rank 1 is the best
    r = +0.95 · very strong · n = 81
    Plot
  5. Health and Environment Infrastructure ScoreInfrastructure by Country
    r = +0.95 · very strong · n = 52
    Plot
  6. Legatum Prosperity RankLegatum Prosperity IndexA rank: rank 1 is the best
    r = +0.94 · very strong · n = 81
    Plot

Opposite directions

Places that have a higher Social Mobility Index tend to score lower on these (or rank worse)

  1. Gender Inequality Index ScoreGender Inequality Index by Country
    r = −0.94 · very strong · n = 81
    Plot
  2. Public ServicesFailed States
    r = −0.93 · very strong · n = 81
    Plot
  3. Vulnerability Score (lower is better)Countries that Still Have Slavery
    r = −0.91 · very strong · n = 78
    Plot
  4. Vulnerability ScoreGlobal Slavery Index by Country
    r = −0.91 · very strong · n = 78
    Plot
  5. Fragile States Index
    r = −0.89 · very strong · n = 81
    Plot
  6. Failed States IndexFailed States
    r = −0.89 · very strong · n = 81
    Plot

Quick answers

Which country has the highest Social Mobility Index?
Denmark has the highest Social Mobility Index in 2020, at 85.2, followed by Norway (83.6) and Finland (83.6).
Which country has the lowest Social Mobility Index?
Ivory Coast has the lowest Social Mobility Index in 2020, at 34.5.
What is the median Social Mobility Index across countries?
The median is 63.8 across the 81 countries with data in 2020.
Where does this social mobility by country data come from?
Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Social Mobility Rankings - World Economic Forum.

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