We list 46 European countries for reference in Europe Traveler Guide. The largest being European Russia to the smallest the Holy See – Vatican City. Parts of Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Kazakstan overlap into what is considered by geographers continental Europe. We may include them in the future. Also now omitted are Kosovo, who has declared its independence, Crimea’s alliance as a part of the Russian Federation and Transnistria the breakaway state of Moldova. At this time the UN as well as most countries have not recognized their autonomous status.
European Union Member Countries
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czechia
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
While these European microstates are not members of the EU, they include use of the Euro and other areas of cooperation
Andorra
Holy See
Monaco
San Marino
Non-European Union Countries
Albania
Belarus
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Iceland
Kosovo
Liechtenstein
Moldova
Montenegro
North Macedonia
Norway
Russia
Serbia
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom
These areas are are Dependancies of the United Kingdom
Gibraltar
British Overseas Territory
Guernsey
Crown Dependency
Isle of Man
Crown Dependency
Jersey
Crown Dependency
Country Statistics
The following table shows a quick snapshot of important information all European countries, excluding those mentioned above.
| Country | Capitol | Area (mi2) | Population | Symbol | Currency | EU | Schengen | Time Zone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ALBANIA | Tirana | 11,082 | 2,878,549 | AL | ALL- Lek | No | No | CET |
 | ANDORRA | Andorra la Vella | 179 | 74,794 | AD | EUR – € | No | No | CET |
 | AUSTRIA | Vienna | 32,386 | 8,857,960 | A | EUR – € | 1995 | 1995 | CET |
 | BELARUS | Minsk | 80,155 | 9,477,100 | BY | BYN – Br | No | No | MSKS |
 | BELGIUM | Brussels | 11,787 | 11,449,656 | BE | EUR – € | 1952 | 1985 | CET |
 | BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA | Sarajevo | 19,772 | 3,511,372 | BA | BAM – KM | No | No | CET |
 | BULGARIA | Sofia | 42,858 | 7,000,039 | BG | BNG – лв | 2007 | No | EET |
 | CROATIA | Zagreb | 21,831 | 4,105,493 | HR | HRK – kn | 2013 | No | CET |
 | CYPRUS | Nicosia | 2,276 | 864,200 | CY | EUR – € | 2004 | No | EET |
 | CZECHIA | Prague | 30,451 | 10,627,794 | CZ | CZK- Kč | 2004 | 2004 | CET |
 | DENMARK | Copenhagen | 16,640 | 5,837,213 | DK | DKK – kr | 1973 | 1996 | CET |
 | ESTONIA | Tallinn | 17,505 | 1,328,976 | EE | EUR – € | 2004 | 2004 | EET |
 | FINLAND | Helsinki | 130,666 | 5,522,015 | FI | EUR – € | 1995 | 1996 | EET |
 | FRANCE | Paris | 210,026 | 67,076,000 | FR | EUR – € | 1952 | 1985 | CET |
 | GERMANY | Berlin | 137,903 | 83,122,889 | DE | EUR – € | 1952 | 1985 | CET |
 | GIBRALTAR | Westside | 2.6 | 34,003 | GI | GIP – £ | No | No | CET |
 | GREECE | Athens | 50,949 | 10,768,193 | GR | EUR – € | 1981 | 1992 | CET |
 | GUERNSEY | St. Peter Port | 25 | 62,792 | GG | GBP – £ | No | No | EET |
 | HOLY SEE | Vatican City | .17 | 799 | VA | EUR – € | No | No | CET |
 | HUNGARY | Budapest | 35,919 | 9,771,000 | HU | HUF – Ft | 2004 | 2004 | CET |
 | JERSEY | St. Heller | 46.2 | 103,267 | JE | GBP – £ | No | No | EET |
 | ICELAND | Reykjavik | 39,682 | 342,773 | IS | ISK – kr | No | 1996 | GMT |
 | ISLE of MAN | Douglas | 221 | 84,069 | IM | GBP – £ | No | No | EET |
 | ITALY | Rome | 116,336 | 60,390,560 | IT | EUR – € | 1952 | 1990 | CET |
 | KOSOVO | Pristina | 4,203 | 1,806,279 | XK | EUR – € | No | No | CET |
 | LATVIA | Riga | 24,928 | 1,921,300 | LV | EUR – € | 2004 | 2004 | EET |
 | LIECHTENSTEIN | Vaduz | 62 | 38,194 | LI | CFH- CHF | No | 2008 | CET |
 | LITHUANIA | Vilnius | 25,212 | 2,794,090 | LT | EUR – € | 2004 | 2004 | EET |
 | LUXEMBOURG | Luxembourg City | 998 | 626,108 | LU | EUR – € | 1952 | 1985 | CET |
 | MALTA | Valletta | 122 | 514,564 | MT | EUR – € | 2004 | 2004 | CET |
 | MOLDOVA | Chișinău | 13,067 | 2,681,735 | MD | MDL – L | No | No | EET |
 | MONACO | Monte Carlo | .78 | 39,419 | MC | EUR – € | No | No | CET |
 | MONTENEGRO | Podgorica | 5,333 | 622,359 | ME | EUR – € | No | No | CET |
 | NETHERLANDS | Amsterdam | 16,033 | 17,417,600 | NL | EUR – € | 1952 | 1985 | CET |
 | NORTH MACEDONIA | Skopje | 9,928 | 2,075,301 | MK | EUR – € | No | No | CET |
 | NORWAY | Oslo | 125,013 | 5,323,933 | NO | NOK – kr | No | 1996 | CET |
 | POLAND | Warsaw | 120,728 | 38,433,600 | PL | PLN – Zł | 2004 | 2004 | CET |
 | PORTUGAL | Lisbon | 35,556 | 10,276,617 | PT | EUR – € | 1986 | 1992 | GMT |
 | ROMANIA | Bucharest | 92,043 | 19,523,621 | RO | RON – lei | 2007 | No | EET |
 | RUSSIA | Moscow | 3,992,500 | 108,949,694 | RU | RUB – ₽ | No | No | *(1) |
 | SAN MARINO | San Marino | 24 | 33,407 | SM | EUR – € | No | No | CET |
 | SERBIA | Belgrade | 29,913 | 6,963,764 | RS | RSD – Дин | No | No | CET |
 | SLOVAKIA | Bratislava | 18,933 | 5,445,087 | SK | EUR – € | 2004 | 2004 | CET |
 | SLOVENIA | Ljubljana | 7,827 | 2,070,050 | SI | EUR – € | 2004 | 2004 | CET |
 | SPAIN | Madrid | 195,364 | 47,733,038 | ES | EUR – € | 1986 | 1992 | CET |
 | SWEDEN | Stockholm | 173,860 | 10,319,601 | SE | SEK + kr | 1995 | 1996 | CET |
 | SWITZERLAND | Bern | 15,940 | 8,526,932 | CH | CFH- CHF | No | 2004 | CET |
 | TURKEY | Ankara | 302,535 | 83,154,997 | TR | TL – ₺ | No | No | EET |
 | UKRAINE | Kyiv | 232,820 | 41,660,982 | US | грн – ₴ | No | No | EET |
 | UNITED KINGDOM | London | 93,788 | 66,796,807 | GB | GBP – £ | No | No | GMT |
Country Prosperity Index
The Legatum Prosperity Index is an annual ranking developed by the Legatum Institute, an independent educational charity founded and part-funded by the private investment firm Legatum.
As of the 2021 rankings, 167 countries and territories were ranked, and Denmark topped the list at number 1 with a 83.86 score, followed by Norway in second and Sweden third. The United States ranked 20th and the South Sudan was in last place at 167th.
Top 50 Countries
The list below shows all countries and their overall ranking in the world. The micro-state countries below were not ranked in the report. 
Andorra , 
Holy See. 
Liechtenstein, 
Monaco.
1 
Denmark
2 
Norway
3 
Sweden
4 
Finland
5 
Switzerland
6 
Netherlands
7 
Luxembourg
8 
New Zealand
9 
Germany
10 
Iceland
11 
Austria
12 
Ireland
13 
United Kingdom
14 
Singapore
15 
Canada
16 
Australia
17 
Estonia
18 
Hong Kong
19 
Japan
20 
United States
21 
Taiwan
22 
France
23 
Belgium
24 
Spain
25 
Malta
26 
Slovenia
27 
Czechia
28 
Portugal
29 
South Korea
30 
Latvia
31 
Italy
32 
Israel
33 
Lithuania
34
Cyprus
35 
Slovakia
36 
Poland
37 
Uruguay
38 
Chile
39 
Costa Rica
40 
Croatia
41 
United Arab Emirates
42 
Malaysia
43 
Greece
44 
Hungary
45 
Mauritius
46 
Qatar
47 
Romania
48 
Bulgaria
49 
Montenegro
50 
Seychelles
These European Countries did not rank in the top 50
53 
Serbia
60 
North Macedonia
69 
Albania
70 
Russia
72 
Moldova
78 
Ukraine
93 
Turkey
Only European countries are listed in the categories of prosperity pillars below. If you wish to view all country rankings by pillar profiles go to Legatum Institute Prosperity Index 2021 for the complete report.
Safety and Security
Safety and Security is an integral component of prosperity. Citizens’ well- being is dependent on having personal safety, where their person and property are free from violence and theft. A secure and stable environment is necessary for attracting investment and sustaining economic growth. In short, a nation can prosper only in an environment of security and safety for its citizens. The United States ranked 69, the South Sudan is ranked last at 167.
1 Norway
2 Switzerland
3 Luxembourg
4 Iceland
5 Denmark
9 Netherlands
10 Sweden
11 Austria
12 Czechia
13 Ireland
14 Slovenia
17 United Kingdom
18 Finland
20 Poland
21 Germany
22 Malta
23 Italy
24 Estonia
25 Croatia
28 Spain
Personal Freedom
Personal Freedom captures the extent to which the population of a country is free to determine the course of their lives without undue restrictions. This includes freedom from coercion and restrictions on movement, speech and assembly. Central to this is the level of agency an individual experiences, and their freedom from discrimination. The United States ranked 22, Eritrea is ranked last at 167.
1 Norway
2 Denmark
3 Sweden
4 Finland
5 Netherlands
6 Ireland
7 Luxembourg
9 Iceland
10 Switzerland
12 Germany
13 Portugal
14 Austria
17 United Kingdom
18 Spain
19 Belgium
20 Malta
23 Estonia
24 Czechia
25 France
26 Italy
Governance
Governance measures the extent to which there are checks and restraints on political power and whether govern- ments operate effectively and without corruption. The nature of a country’s governance has a material impact on its prosperity. The rule of law, strong insti- tutions and regulatory quality contrib- ute significantly to economic growth, as do competent governments that enact policy efficiently and design regulations that deliver policy objectives without being overly burdensome. The United States ranked 23, Venezuela is ranked last at 167.
1 Finland
2 Denmark
3 Norway
5 Netherlands
6 Sweden
7 Switzerland
8 Luxembourg
9 Germany
11 Iceland
13 Austria
14 United Kingdom
15 Ireland
16 Belgium
17 Estonia
19 France
24 Portugal
25 Spain
26 Malta
31 Czechia
32 Lithuania
Social Capital
Social Capital measures how cohesive a society is in terms of people trusting, respecting and helping one another, and the institutional structures they inter- act with. A person’s wellbeing is best provided for in a society where people trust one another and have the support of their friends and family. Societies with lower levels of trust tend to experience lower levels of economic growth and social wellbeing. Thus, the word “capi- tal” in “social capital” highlights the contribution of social networks as an asset that produces economic returns and improves wellbeing. The United States ranked 13, Afghanistan is ranked last at 167.
1 Denmark
2 Norway
3 Finland
5 Sweden
6 Iceland
5 Netherlands
7 Netherlands
9 Switzerland
12 Austria
16 Germany
18 Ireland
19 Luxembourg
20 United Kingdom
22 Malta
25 Estonia
31 Spain
35 Slovenia
40 Montenegro
45 Moldova
48 Hungary
53 Slovakia
55 France
56 Poland
57 Czechia
Open Economies
Open Economies encourage innovation and investment, promote business and trade, and facilitate inclusive growth. This domain captures the extent to which the economies of each country embody these ideals.
Investment Environment – Enterprise Conditions – Market Access and Infrastructure – Economic Quality
1 Norway
2 Denmark
3 Sweden
4 Finland
5 Netherlands
6 Ireland
7 Luxembourg
9 Iceland
10 Switzerland
Living Conditions
Living Conditions measures whether a reasonable quality of life is extended to the whole population, which is necessary for a nation to be prosperous. This includes several key areas — in addition to material resources, people must also have access to adequate shelter and a healthy diet, basic services such as electricity, clean water and sanitation, safety at work and in their lived environment and the ability to connect and engage in core activities in society. The United States ranked 27, Central African Republic is ranked last at 167.
1 Netherlands
2 Germany
3 Denmark
5 Sweden
6 Switzerland
7 Norway
8 Luxembourg
9 Finland
10 United Kingdom
12 Iceland
14 Malta
15 Belgium
17 Austria
18 Portugal
19 Ireland
20 Spain
21 Estonia
23 France
25 Slovenia
28 Czechia
Health
Health measures the extent to which people are healthy and have access to the necessary services to maintain good health. Those who enjoy good physical and mental health report high levels of wellbeing, whilst poor health provides a major obstacle to people fulfilling their potential. The coverage and accessibility of effective healthcare, combined with behaviours that sustain a healthy life- style, are critical to both individual and national prosperity. The United States ranked 68, Japan is ranked 1, Central African Republic is ranked last at 167.
4 Norway
8 Iceland
9 Netherlands
10 Sweden
11 Malta
12 Luxembourg
13 Switzerland
14 Finland
16 Germany
18 Denmark
16 Germany
17 Italy
19 Belgium
20 France
21 Spain
23 Slovenia
25 Austria
26 Ireland
28 Cyprus
30 Czechia
Education
Education is a building block for prosper- ous societies; the accumulation of skills and capabilities contributes to economic growth. Education provides the opportu- nity for individuals to reach their poten- tial, and a more fulfilled and prosperous life. A better-educated population also leads to greater civic engagement and improved social outcomes — such as better health and lower crime rates. The United States is ranked 20, Singapore is ranked 1, the South Sudan is ranked last at 167.
3 Denmark
4 Finland
7 Netherlands
8 Switzerland
10 Norway
13 Ireland
14 Sweden
15 Iceland
16 United Kingdom
18 Belgium
19 Estonia
21 Slovenia
22 Russia
23 Germany
24 Spain
25 Austria
26 Latvia
27 France
28 Lithuania
31 Czechia
Natural Environment
Natural Environment captures the parts of the physical environment that have a direct effect on people in their daily lives and changes that might impact the prosperity of future generations. A well-managed natural environment benefits a nation by yielding crops, material for construction, wildlife and food, and sources of energy, while clean air leads to a higher quality of living for all. The United States ranked 23, Pakistan is ranked last at 167.
1 Sweden
2 Finland
3 Slovenia
5 Estonia
6 Austria
7 Switzerland
8 Denmark
9 Latvia
10 Norway
11 Luxembourg
12 France
13 Ireland
14 Germany
15 Lithuania
17 Iceland
20 Slovakia
22 United Kingdom
26 Czechia
27 Croatia
28 Greece
33 Hungary
35 Netherlands
36 Portugal
38 Cyprus