Best countries for clean air and climate

About

Ranked on air quality, water quality and pollution, with the climate zone shown for context.

Last updated: October 23, 2026How we rank

This tab ranks on measured environmental quality rather than on whether a place sounds sunny. It combines air quality, water quality and an inverted pollution index.

Air quality is the limiting factor: a country without a published air-quality figure is not ranked, because clean air cannot be inferred from its neighbours. Climate zones are displayed on each card for context, but they are not scored, since a preference for Mediterranean over continental weather is a personal choice rather than a data point.

Figures are country averages and hide large differences between coast and interior, city and countryside. Use the ranking to find countries with clean air and water, then check the specific region you have in mind.

Countries at travel advisory level 4 are not ranked here.

Read the full method

Climate ranking

Finland

10.0out of 10

Air quality 5 · water quality 100 · Continental climate

Climate zones: Continental.

Clean air
English widely spoken

See Finland details

Iceland

10.0out of 10

Air quality 5 · water quality 100 · Polar climate

Climate zones: Polar.

Clean air
Fast internet
English widely spoken

See Iceland details

Andorra

9.9out of 10

Air quality 6 · water quality 100 · Temperate climate

Climate zones: Temperate.

Clean air
Fast internet

See Andorra details

Estonia

9.9out of 10

Air quality 4 · water quality 97 · Continental climate

Climate zones: Continental.

Clean air
English widely spoken

See Estonia details

Australia

9.7out of 10

Air quality 4 · water quality 100

Clean air
English widely spoken
Large expat community

See Australia details

Austria

9.4out of 10

Air quality 10 · water quality 100 · Continental climate

Climate zones: Continental.

English widely spoken

See Austria details

Denmark

9.4out of 10

Air quality 8 · water quality 100 · Temperate climate

Climate zones: Temperate.

Clean air
Fast internet
English widely spoken

See Denmark details

Sweden

9.4out of 10

Air quality 8 · water quality 93 · Temperate climate

Climate zones: Temperate.

Clean air
English widely spoken
Large expat community

See Sweden details

New Zealand

9.3out of 10

Air quality 4 · water quality 87 · Temperate climate

Climate zones: Temperate.

Clean air
Fast internet
English widely spoken

See New Zealand details

Latvia

9.1out of 10

Air quality 9 · water quality 97 · Temperate climate

Climate zones: Temperate.

Clean air
English widely spoken

See Latvia details

Norway

9.1out of 10

Air quality 12 · water quality 100 · Temperate climate

Climate zones: Temperate.

English widely spoken

See Norway details

Germany

9.0out of 10

Air quality 12 · water quality 99 · Temperate climate

Climate zones: Temperate.

English widely spoken
Large expat community

See Germany details

Netherlands

8.8out of 10

Air quality 11 · water quality 90 · Temperate climate

Climate zones: Temperate.

Fast internet
English widely spoken
Large expat community

See Netherlands details

Mauritius

8.8out of 10

Air quality 5 · water quality 73 · Tropical climate

Climate zones: Tropical.

Clean air
English widely spoken

See Mauritius details

Singapore

8.8out of 10

Air quality 11 · water quality 100

Fast internet
English widely spoken
Large expat community

See Singapore details

Spain

8.7out of 10

Air quality 11 · water quality 97 · Mediterranean climate

Climate zones: Mediterranean, Temperate.

Fast internet
Large expat community

See Spain details

Palau

8.6out of 10

Air quality 12 · water quality 90 · Tropical climate

Climate zones: Tropical.

English widely spoken

See Palau details

Portugal

8.5out of 10

Air quality 14 · water quality 99 · Mediterranean climate

Climate zones: Mediterranean.

Fast internet
English widely spoken
Large expat community

See Portugal details

Croatia

8.3out of 10

Air quality 14 · water quality 97 · Mediterranean climate

Climate zones: Mediterranean, Continental.

English widely spoken

See Croatia details

Czechia

8.1out of 10

Air quality 14 · water quality 85 · Temperate climate

Climate zones: Temperate, Continental.

English widely spoken

See Czechia details

Montenegro

7.9out of 10

Air quality 18 · water quality 95 · Mediterranean climate

Climate zones: Mediterranean.

See Montenegro details

Costa Rica

7.8out of 10

Air quality 11 · water quality 81 · Tropical climate

Climate zones: Tropical.

Large expat community

See Costa Rica details

Japan

7.7out of 10

Air quality 9 · water quality 70 · Temperate climate

Climate zones: Temperate, Continental, Subtropical.

Clean air
Fast internet
Large expat community

See Japan details

Slovenia

7.7out of 10

Air quality 15 · water quality 75 · Continental climate

Climate zones: Continental.

Fast internet
English widely spoken

See Slovenia details

Uruguay

7.7out of 10

Air quality 12 · water quality 79 · Temperate climate

Climate zones: Temperate.

See Uruguay details

Greece

7.7out of 10

Air quality 15 · water quality 98

English widely spoken

See Greece details

Grenada

7.7out of 10

Air quality 5 · water quality 65 · Tropical climate

Climate zones: Tropical.

Clean air
English widely spoken

See Grenada details

Lithuania

7.6out of 10

Air quality 10 · water quality 56

English widely spoken

See Lithuania details

Hungary

7.6out of 10

Air quality 18 · water quality 99 · Continental climate

Climate zones: Continental.

Fast internet

See Hungary details

Trinidad and Tobago

7.5out of 10

Air quality 12 · water quality 69 · Tropical climate

Climate zones: Tropical.

English widely spoken
Travel advisory: reconsider travel

See Trinidad and Tobago details

Next step

Climate ranking

Finland

Iceland

Andorra

Estonia

Australia

Austria

Denmark

Sweden

New Zealand

Latvia

Norway

Germany

Netherlands

Mauritius

Singapore

Spain

Palau

Portugal

Croatia

Czechia

Montenegro

Costa Rica

Japan

Slovenia

Uruguay

Greece

Grenada

Lithuania

Hungary

Trinidad and Tobago

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