Millennials love the maple leaf — they rated Canada as the “best” country in a recent poll.
An international survey conducted by U.S. News and World Report found that America’s northern neighbor is favored most by the young generation. Americans had to wait for international admiration, though.
Germany placed second, the United Kingdom third, Japan fourth, and the United States snuck into fifth place. Australia, Sweden, France, Denmark, and the Netherlands rounded out the top 10.
U.S. News scored countries on “65 country attributes” gathered from survey responses that fell under nine categories: adventure, citizenship, cultural influence, entrepreneurship, heritage, movers, open for business, power, and quality of life. Entrepreneurship, citizenship, and quality of life were weighted most heavily, inclining the rankings toward human rights and prosperity above other concerns.
The inclination toward Canada isn’t all that surprising. Their press freedom and economic freedom are ranked higher than the United States. It’s prosperous and peaceful. The international reputation of Canadians, in the United States and abroad, remains strong.
Canadian millennials, too, seem to be doing well.
“Of all Canadians between 25 and 34 years old, more than 50 percent own a home and nearly 80 percent are employed, according to a report from TD bank,” U.S. News noted. “Compare that to the lower rate of employment and homeownership of millennials in the U.S., along with a lower average income, and a move up north may seem quite inviting.”
For some Americans, that invitation might extend to romance. For those who agree with #NeverTrump, a dating site called Maple Match offers to connect single Americans to an “ideal Canadian partner,” Reuters noted. O Canada, indeed — the True North is winning hearts and minds abroad.
