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.
Strong social capital drives sustainable economic growth and long-term stability
Bottom Line: Countries with high social capital scores provide more stable, predictable, and profitable environments for long-term investment and business operations.
Key clusters to measure social cohesion and well-being
Evaluation of the quality of health care systems based on performance indicators
Analysis of the current population health against health statistics
Availability and level of gender opportunities and equality across all social, educational and economic aspects
Level of income and wealth distribution and equality across the economy
Evaluation of security performance indicators for the citizens of a country
Evaluation of individual freedoms, including political, economic, social and religion
A global snapshot of social capital performance and trends
Japan leads globally, followed by the Netherlands and France, with Scandinavian nations in the top 10
Western European countries dominate the top 30, with notable exceptions being Japan (1st) and South Korea (17th)
The USA ranks 118th due to high crime rates, limited healthcare access, and rising inequality
Most African nations, particularly within the Sahel zone, face challenges in healthcare and human rights
China ranks 43rd, India 89th, demonstrating varied social development across major economies
48% of countries show positive trends in social capital, indicating global progress in human development
Explore how countries compare across social capital indicators
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Discover how Social Capital connects with Natural, Economic, Intellectual, and Governance Capital
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