The United Kingdom has secured the 12th position in the 2025 World Citizenship Index (WCI), released by CS Global Partners in its annual World Citizenship Report.
With a score of 79.3, the UK ranks behind several Nordic nations, including Iceland, Finland, and Sweden.
The Index assessed a total of 20 countries this year, with Switzerland emerging at the top with a score of 85, displacing Ireland, which held the top spot in 2024 but has now dropped to 8th place.
The WCI, developed through rigorous qualitative and quantitative research, evaluates 188 nationalities across five core motivators of citizenship: Safety and Security, Economic Opportunity, Quality of Life, Global Mobility, and Financial Freedom.
The final rankings are determined through a proprietary formula that combines each country’s score in these pillars, weighted according to their relevance to high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs).
Micha Rose Emmett, CEO of CS Global Partners said: “Our Index goes beyond simple visa-free access, it is designed to understand what motivates individuals to value one citizenship over another.
The UK’s performance marks a slight decline from last year, when it held the 9th position.
A contributing factor to its lower ranking is the country’s rising annual inflation, which reached 3% in January 2025, up from 2.5% in December 2024.
Additionally, ongoing challenges in housing affordability, taxation, and access to public services have led many residents to explore alternative citizenship options.
Despite these setbacks, the UK continues to score well in the “Quality of Life” pillar, maintaining its 6th place ranking, the same as last year. This reflects the country’s enduring strengths in healthcare, education, cultural richness, and lifestyle offerings.
