Leaders | When nations excel

The Economist’s country of the year for 2024

The winner toppled a tyrant and seems headed for something better

This illustration shows a gold medal with a globe design hanging on a gray and white ribbon, set against a black background
image: Ryan Chapman

Each December The Economist picks a country of the year. The winner is not the richest, happiest or most virtuous place, but the one that has improved the most in the previous 12 months. The debate among our correspondents is vigorous. Previous winners include Colombia (for ending a civil war), Ukraine (for resisting an unprovoked invasion) and Malawi (for democratising). In 2023 we gave the prize to Greece for dragging itself out of a long financial crisis and re-electing a sensible centrist government.

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This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “When nations excel”

From the December 21st 2024 edition

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