Cleanliness is one of the key factors that influence the quality of life in a country. Of course, salaries, social life, infrastructure and other aspects are also important, but in recent years, increasing attention has been paid to efforts to tackle various types of pollution and the visible results of these efforts.
Information on who the leaders in cleanliness are provided by the World Population Review based on data from the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) for 2024. This is especially important against the backdrop of the growing challenges associated with industrialization, modern lifestyles and global sustainability goals.
The index was jointly developed by scientists from Yale University and Columbia University and assesses how clean and environmentally responsible 180 countries around the world are. The rating is based on 58 indicators in 11 categories that measure progress in three main areas: ecosystem vitality, environmental health and climate change.
Among the indicators assessed are air quality, clean water and sanitation, biodiversity conservation, protection of animal and plant species and sustainability practices. After all countries receive their scores, they are ranked from the cleanest and most environmentally responsible to those with the lowest score and visible need for change.
Top 5 cleanest countries in the world
-
Estonia – 75.3 points
Estonia is a leader in cleanliness and environmental practices. The high score is due to air quality, ecosystem protection and climate protection actions. The country is investing in renewable energy sources, forest protection and zero-carbon urban transport. -
Luxembourg – 75 points
Despite its small size, Luxembourg has made great efforts in water and sanitation management. Over 55% of the territory is under special protection, which supports biodiversity and compliance with strict European standards. -
Germany – 74.6 points
Germany achieves excellent results in wastewater management and biodiversity protection. Despite its industrial potential, the country actively implements measures for sustainability and environmental protection. -
Finland – 73.7 points
Finland stands out for the quality of its sewage, drinking water and heavy metal management. The country also scores well on air quality and effective forest conservation. -
Great Britain – 72.7 points
The UK has demonstrated that industrial development can coexist in harmony with the environment. The country has the highest scores for water conservation and has reduced greenhouse gases by 30% over the past decade.
The remaining countries in the top 10 are Sweden, Norway, Austria, Switzerland and Denmark. Greece is in 11th place, while Bulgaria is at 56.3 points, which puts it well down the rankings. By comparison, Turkey’s score is 37.6 points.