All 44 Countries in Europe, Ranked From Worst to First

Europe — the land of high culture, high fashion, delicious food and centuries-spanning history. What’s not to love? 

Well, we asked ourselves this question, and considering how many countries are in Europe, we decided there are plenty of things not to love. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but a good deal of Europe’s 44 official countries (as recognized by the United Nations) have no business being among the Greeces, Spains and Swedens of the continent. 

Armed with the knowledge that, in fact, not all of Europe is so superior to the rest of the world, we set out to decide which countries are enviable and which ones just aren’t. We’re wholly certain many readers will be astonished by our conclusions. Which is to say, we fully expect many people will vehemently disagree, especially if they already have strong opinions about the best European countries to live in and visit.

Here’s our ranking of all 44 countries in Europe, from worst to best. 

Capital: Vatican City

Official language: Italian 

Population: 618 

Even if you’re a true believer, why would you visit this city-state? It’s so crowded that the only things you’ll actually “see” are the sweaty bodies of the 10 million others who were let through the gates at the exact same time, all with camera phones at the ready. 

Sights like the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica are incredibly impressive, sure, but as “The Chicago Tribune” accurately put it, “Overtourism [is] gripping the great treasures of humanity.”

Capital: Moscow

Official language: Russian

Population: 146.7 million 

There’s no mystery about what Russia is today and why it landed in this spot.

Global conflicts aside, we’ll admit that the European cities of Russia have their charms — Moscow and St. Petersburg offer much in the way of history and culture — but a tense political situation and brutal weather make the country a hard sell on the whole, even in better times. 

Pass.