Top 5 Cleanest Countries in the World

What classifies a country as clean or not? Thanks to students and professors at Yale University and Columbia University, environmental performance is now easily measurable. Jointly, the universities developed the EPI, the Environmental Performance Index which quantifies environmental excellence and puts it into numbers. The highest score obtainable is 100 and the EPI is divided half and half into environmental health and ecosystem vitality. The following is a list of the top 5 cleanest countries in the world, according to their EPI.

Coming in at number 5 is Costa Rica with an EPI of 90.5, a country that relies heavily on ecotourism that attracts tourists to its virgin rainforests and waterfalls. It aims to be carbon-neutral by 2021 and stands as an example and role model to other Latin American countries in its battle against deforestation. Costa Rica has launched several programs that promote sustainable development. FUNDECOR, a project to develop the area around the Central Volcanic Mountain Range, manages over 30,000 acres of forest by helping landowners create management plans.

The fourth cleanest country in the world is Finland with an EPI of 91.4. Finland has been said to have the cleanest drinking water in the world by the United Nations. It is covered by 70% forest and has a small population that does not contribute as much to pollution. Finland has many types of renewable energy such as peat, garbage, consumer-burned wood, etc. produce 25% of Finland's energy compared to the EU average of 10%.

Norway and Sweden are tied at second place, both obtaining a score of 93.1. Norway, also the third richest country in the world, has perfectly clean water and control over its low ozone levels. Almost all of its electricity comes from its hydro power plants. Sweden also has comparably crystalline drinking water and its forests are at the top of the government's environmental priority list.

The title of the cleanest country in the world goes to Switzerland, scoring an EPI of 95.5. The cleanliness of the world's fifth richest nation also translates to a remarkably high life expectancy of 81 years. Its water quality is the best in Europe and has top notch pesticide regulation. In Switzerland, 53% of electricity comes from hydroelectricity while 42% comes from nuclear power. The remaining 5% comes from conventional power sources. Over 2/3 of Swiss recyclable substances are recycled and in most districts in Switzerland, there is a charge for using one's own garbage disposable. It does not get much cleaner than the Swiss.