Social Capital Index

Social Capital Index

Evaluation of social cohesion, human development, and societal well-being

The Social Capital of a nation is the extent of social stability and the well-being of the entire population. Social Capital demands social cohesion and a certain level of consensus, which in turn delivers a stable environment for the economy, and prevents natural resources from being over-exploited. Social Capital is the combination of individual human capital, communal wellbeing, security, freedom, and equality.

In addition to local historical and cultural influences, the social consensus in a society is affected by several factors: health care systems and their universal availability/affordability (measuring physical health); educational levels and their contribution to crime (measuring social health and the ability to assess the future generational balance within a society); freedom of expression and freedom from fear; and the absence of violent conflicts. Only in these circumstances can the economy flourish, generate value, jobs and income for the population.

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Social Capital Indicators

Key clusters to measure social cohesion and well-being

Health care systems

Evaluation of the quality of health care systems based on performance indicators

Population health

Analysis of the current population health against health statistics

Gender equality

Availability and level of gender opportunities and equality across all social, educational and economic aspects

Income equality

Level of income and wealth distribution and equality across the economy

Safety & crime

Evaluation of security performance indicators for the citizens of a country

Freedom

Evaluation of individual freedoms, including political, economic, social and religion

Why Social Capital Matters

Strong social capital drives sustainable economic growth and long-term stability

For Investors

  • Reduced political and social risk in investment portfolios
  • Higher consumer confidence and purchasing power in stable societies
  • Lower operational costs due to reduced crime and social unrest
  • Better talent retention and workforce productivity
  • Long-term market stability and predictable returns

For Businesses

  • Access to skilled and healthy workforce
  • Stronger consumer markets with equitable income distribution
  • Reduced corruption and regulatory uncertainty
  • Better infrastructure and public services
  • Enhanced brand value through operating in stable, ethical markets

Bottom Line: Countries with high social capital scores provide more stable, predictable, and profitable environments for long-term investment and business operations.

The State of the World

A global snapshot of social capital performance and trends

Global Scores

Lowest25%
Global Average45%
Global Best62%
Ideal World100%

Global Trends

Positive Trends59%
No Trend5%
Negative Trends37%
Overall Sentiment+21.4%
More NegativeMore Positive

Key Observations

1

The top rankings in the Social Capital Dimension are almost entirely occupied by European nations (18 of the top 20 are European), led by Slovenia, with Norway, the Netherlands, Iceland and Czechia completing the top 5

2

The United Arab Emirates has significantly increased performance across a number of clusters, including health care availability, income equality and gender equality, rising from 39th in 2015 to 13th. Japan, ranked 6th, the UAE, Taiwan (23rd) and South Korea (24th) are the only non-European nations inside the top 30

3

Timor-Leste ranks 46th despite a very low GDP and a marginal health care system (143rd) compared to developed nations. However, the country scores high in general population health (17th), safety, equality and indicators related to social consensus. The Timor example shows that social capital is not necessarily tied to high GDP

4

The US is ranked alarmingly low (162nd) in social capital, due to poor population health (178th), high crime rates (178th in safety), rising inequality (162nd) and weak labour conditions (153rd). The continuously deteriorating social capital score, down from 93rd in 2010, could have served as an early warning sign of a deteriorating overall sustainable competitiveness

5

Most African nations, particularly within the Sahel zone, still face challenges in healthcare provision, human rights and safety: Sudan ranks 189th, Chad 178th, Mali 176th and Burkina Faso 168th, and 8 of the 10 lowest-ranked countries are African. Unfortunately, the African average has not improved since 2015

6

China ranks 69th, India 89th and Brazil 145th in Social Capital, demonstrating varied approaches to social development across major emerging economies

Social Capital Rankings

Explore how countries compare across social capital indicators

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Rank
Country
Score
1Slovenia62.04
2Norway58.52
3Netherlands58.23
4Iceland58.14
5Czech Republic58.13
6Japan58.05
7Italy57.74
8Portugal57.30
9Croatia56.94
10Finland56.84
11Slovakia56.71
12Estonia56.69
13United Arab Emirates56.55
14Poland56.24
15Ireland56.17
16Denmark56.01
17Moldova55.67
18Belgium55.41
19Sweden55.26
20Montenegro54.81
21France54.57
22Spain54.52
23Taiwan54.50
24South Korea54.50
25Austria54.30
26Albania54.26
27Switzerland54.19
28North Macedonia54.08
29Serbia53.79
30Cyprus53.59

Note: Showing top 30 countries. Click column headers to sort.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

About social capital and how it is measured in the GSCI

Social capital is the extent of social stability and the well-being of an entire population. It encompasses health care quality and accessibility, population health, gender and income equality, personal safety and low crime rates, and individual freedoms. Social capital demands social cohesion and a certain level of consensus, which delivers a stable environment for the economy and prevents natural resources from being over-exploited.
The GSCI Social Capital Index evaluates countries across seven indicator clusters: health care systems quality based on performance data, population health statistics, gender equality across social, educational and economic dimensions, income and wealth distribution, safety and crime indicators, individual freedoms including political, economic, social and religious freedoms, and labour conditions.
Countries with high social capital provide more stable, predictable environments for investment and business. Strong social capital reduces political risk, increases consumer confidence and purchasing power, lowers costs from crime and social unrest, improves workforce productivity, and ensures long-term market stability. Only in societies with adequate health, education, freedom and equality can the economy fully flourish and generate value.
The top rankings are almost entirely occupied by European nations (18 of the top 20), led by Slovenia, with Norway, the Netherlands, Iceland and Czechia completing the top 5. Japan ranks 6th and is one of only four non-European countries in the top 30, alongside the United Arab Emirates (13th), Taiwan (23rd) and South Korea (24th). Timor-Leste ranks 46th despite low GDP, scoring high in population health, equality and social consensus indicators.
The US ranks 162nd in social capital due to poor population health, high crime rates, rising inequality and weak labour conditions, down from 93rd in 2010. This continuously deteriorating social capital score serves as an early warning sign for deteriorating overall sustainable competitiveness, demonstrating that economic output alone does not guarantee societal well-being.

Explore All Six Capital Dimensions

Discover how Social Capital connects with Natural, Economic, Intellectual, and Governance Capital

View All Dimensions