Cleanest Countries in the World 2022

Cleanliness isn’t simply a fashion statement; it’s also a health benefit. Human health may be greatly improved by ensuring that drinking water, air, and waste are handled properly and by ensuring that proper Sanitation is in place.




Air pollution-related disorders, such as respiratory and cardiovascular disease, are less common in nations with good air quality ratings, lowering the risk of exposure to dangerous particles such as fine particulate matter (PM2.5).

Non-communicable illnesses account for 72 percent of all fatalities in countries with high pollution levels, 16 percent of which are due to toxic pollution.

The EPI is an index of environmental performance.

In a joint effort with the World Economic Forum, Yale and Columbia’s researchers analyzed the cleanliness and environmentally friendly nature of 180 countries. The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) was devised to attain this goal (EPI).

The Environmental Performance Index measures two main policy goals, ecosystem vitality and environmental health, which considers 32 performance indicators across 11 different categories. Sustainable development and environmental quality are also included in this list.

The cleanest nations are rated first, while the worst are placed last. Each country’s environmental policies and progress toward those objectives may be quickly assessed for quick comparison.




The World’s Cleanest Countries – 2020 EPI Ranking

  1. Denmark – 82.5
  2. Luxembourg – 82.3
  3. Switzerland – 81.5
  4. United Kingdom – 81.3
  5. France – 80
  6. Austria – 79.6
  7. Finland – 78.9
  8. Sweden – 78.7
  9. Norway – 77.7
  10. Germany – 77.2




1. Denmark

Denmark is the most ecologically friendly and cleanest nation in 2020, with an overall EPI score of 82.5. The excellent rankings that Denmark has in areas such as wastewater treatment (100), waste management (99.8), and the Species Protection Index set it apart (100).

Climate change mitigation and reduction measures are among the world’s most extensive and successful. Danish hotels, boats, and cuisine are becoming environmentally friendly or powered by solar energy, demonstrating the country’s commitment to sustainability.

2. Luxembourg

Despite the country’s fast population and GDP expansion, Luxembourg has achieved tremendous progress in decreasing its environmental footprint.

As a whole, Luxembourg’s overall score is 82.3, but the country’s results in Sanitation, Drinking Water, and Pollution Emissions are even more excellent (100). With fewer than 600,000 people, Luxembourg is a mostly rural country with abundant woods and several natural parks.




3. Switzerland

A score of 81.5 gives Switzerland third place in the world for overall cleanliness. Switzerland’s Drinking Water (100) and Sanitation (100) scores were the highest globally and tied to Denmark’s Species Protection Index score of 100.

Switzerland is recognized for its pristine water and abundance of animals.

4. United Kingdom

With an EPI of 81.3, the United Kingdom is ranked as the fourth-cleanest nation in the world. With a population of 66.52 million people, this is an excellent result.

A flawless score for drinking water, Sanitation, & pollution emissions are all that separate the United Kingdom from the rest of Europe.

5. France

In terms of environmental quality, France ranks sixth in the world with an EPI of 80. The vast majority of France’s energy comes from nuclear power, which greatly reduces carbon emissions and helps the country achieve a flawless pollution emissions score of 100.

In France, hydro turbines along its rivers and a restriction on retailers discarding unneeded, excellent food are among its environmental measures.




6. Austria

Austria is the sixth-cleanest nation in the world, with an EPI of 79.6. Pesticide and fertiliser laws in Austria are among the most severe in the world, and the country’s ecosystems are among the most healthy.

Some of Europe’s most stringent air pollution, chemical, and waste management regulations may be found in Vienna’s Austrian capital. About two-thirds of Austria is covered in lush woods and pastures.

7. Finland

This nation, Finland, is the seventh-cleanest of all Nordic countries. An estimated 35% of Finland’s energy is derived from clean, renewable sources.

Environmental health (99.3) and air quality (98.8) are perfect 100s in Finland, as are Sanitation and drinking water and exposure to heavy metals. Forests and animals are also protected throughout the nation.




8. Sweden

The EPI score for Sweden is 78.7. Sweden and Australia are tied for the second-cleanest air in the world, thanks to Sweden’s low carbon dioxide emissions and the usage of renewable energy sources across the nation.

Sweden, meanwhile, is committed to the environment, and the nation has boosted its greenery while protecting tens of thousands of acres of forest.

9. Norway

9th in the world, Norway’s EPI is 77.7. With a Sanitation and Drinking Water score of 100 percent and an Air Quality score of 97.9 percent, it ranks seventh in the world. In terms of environmental health, Norway ranks second in the world, after only Finland.

Almost all of Norway’s power comes from renewable sources. The government’s goal is to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by the end of the decade following that year.

Also See: Carbon Negative Countries 2022

10. Germany

Germany is the tenth-cleanest nation in the world, yet it is also the most technologically sophisticated.

While it ranks fourth in Biodiversity and Habitat, it has an EPI score of 77.2. Through eco-friendly measures and investments in sustainability, Germany is embarking on a renewable energy revolution.




CountryEPI Score
10 Year Change
Denmark82.50007.3000
Luxembourg82.300011.6000
Switzerland81.50008.6000
United Kingdom81.30009
France805.8000
Austria79.60005.4000
Finland78.90006
Sweden78.70005.3000
Norway77.70007.6000
Germany77.20001.2000
Netherlands75.30001.5000
Japan75.1000-0.5000
Australia74.90005.5000
Spain74.30008.6000
Belgium73.30002.1000
Ireland72.80002.9000
Iceland72.30000.4000
Slovenia724.6000
New Zealand71.30001.8000
Czech Republic714
Canada713.7000
Italy711.1000
Malta70.700011.6000
United States69.30002.9000
Greece69.10003.4000
Slovakia68.30003.9000
Portugal674
South Korea66.50002.2000
Israel65.80005.2000
Estonia65.30004.3000
Cyprus64.80006.3000
Romania64.70008.1000
Hungary63.70003.3000
Croatia63.100013.4000
Lithuania62.90005.2000
Latvia61.60005
Poland60.90001.1000
Seychelles58.200014.8000
Singapore58.1000-8.4000
Taiwan57.20004.6000
Bulgaria574.2000
United Arab Emirates55.600011.3000
North Macedonia55.40002.2000
Chile55.30003.7000
Serbia55.20007
Brunei54.80002
Kuwait53.600012.8000
Jordan53.400011.2000
Belarus532.3000
Colombia52.90000.9000
Mexico52.60007.4000
Costa Rica52.50001
Armenia52.30004.5000
Argentina52.20005
Brazil51.20004.9000
Bahrain5117.3000
Ecuador513.9000
Russia50.50003.9000
Venezuela50.3000-0.5000
Ukraine49.50000.7000
Uruguay49.10001
Albania4910.2000
Antigua and Barbuda48.50003.3000
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines48.40006.1000
Cuba48.40000.8000
Jamaica48.20002
Iran489.1000
Malaysia47.90004.4000
Trinidad and Tobago47.500010.7000
Panama47.30003.3000
Tunisia46.70006.4000
Azerbaijan46.50004
Paraguay46.4000-4.9000
Montenegro46.30007.3000
Dominican Republic46.30003
Gabon45.80004.4000
Barbados45.60000.9000
Bosnia and Herzegovina45.400010.9000
Lebanon45.40001.1000
Thailand45.40004.1000
Suriname45.2000-7.1000
Tonga45.10002.4000
Mauritius45.10006.2000
Algeria44.80000.5000
Kazakhstan44.70009
Dominica44.60001.1000
Moldova44.4000-2.3000
Bolivia44.3000-0.3000
Uzbekistan44.30003.1000
Peru44-0.8000
Saudi Arabia446.4000
Turkmenistan43.90008.4000
Bahamas43.5000-2.4000
Egypt43.30007.7000
Grenada43.10005.4000
Saint Lucia43.1000-1.4000
El Salvador43.10005.6000
South Africa43.10008.5000
Turkey42.60002.1000
Morocco42.300013.3000
Belize41.9000-2
Georgia41.3000-1.3000
Botswana40.4000-1.1000
Namibia40.20009.1000
Kyrgyzstan39.8000-1.9000
Iraq39.50000.2000
Bhutan39.3000-9.6000
Nicaragua39.20000.1000
Sri Lanka39-0.6000
Oman38.500011
Philippines38.4000-4.1000
Malawi38.3000-2.6000
Burkina Faso38.30006.9000
Tajikistan38.2000-0.7000
Equatorial Guinea38.10009.6000
Honduras37.80006.5000
Indonesia37.80004.1000
Kiribati37.70006.2000
Sao Tome and Principe37.60005.3000
Samoa37.3000-3.9000
China37.30008.4000
Qatar37.1000-4.8000
Zimbabwe37-7.3000
Central African Republic36.9000-3.9000
DR Congo36.4000-0.4000
Guyana35.9000-6.4000
Maldives35.60006.7000
Uganda35.60001.8000
Timor-Leste35.3000-3
Laos34.8000-2.8000
Sudan34.80008.4000
Zambia34.7000-7.3000
Kenya34.7000
Fiji34.4000-2.6000
Ethiopia34.40000.2000
Mozambique33.90005.3000
Eswatini33.8000-1.6000
Rwanda33.8000-1.5000
Cambodia33.6000-0.2000
Cameroon33.60001.5000
Vietnam33.40005.4000
Pakistan33.10006.1000
Micronesia33-4.8000
Nepal32.7000-8.1000
Papua New Guinea32.40007.7000
Mongolia32.2000-7.6000
Comoros32.1000-1.2000
Guatemala31.8000-0.3000
Tanzania31.10001.7000
Nigeria313.6000
Marshall Islands30.80001.1000
Republic of the Congo30.8000-1.5000
Niger30.8000-8.1000
Senegal30.7000-2.7000
Eritrea30.4000-3.7000
Benin302.7000
Angola29.70005.3000
Togo29.5000-2.1000
Mali29.4000-3.3000
Guinea-Bissau29.1000-0.9000
Bangladesh29-0.1000
Vanuatu28.9000-11.9000
Djibouti28.10002.3000
Lesotho28-1
Gambia27.90003.6000
Mauritania27.70000.3000
Ghana27.6000-4.4000
India27.6000
Haiti274.2000
Burundi27-11.1000
Solomon Islands26.7000-2
Chad26.7000-0.9000
Madagascar26.5000-6.6000
Guinea26.4000-4.2000
Ivory Coast25.8000-8.5000
Sierra Leone25.70000.7000
Afghanistan25.50005
Myanmar25.1000-1.2000
Liberia22.6000-3.7000




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