PHNOM PENH — Cambodia has achieved a historic milestone by ranking first globally in the Natural Environment category of the 2026 Best Countries report published by U.S. News & World Report.
“This places it at the top for its natural environment, a significant achievement within the broader rankings,” the report stated. The recognition highlights the Kingdom’s extensive environmental protection efforts, biodiversity conservation, and ongoing sustainable development initiatives.
The Metrics Behind the Milestone
The evaluation metrics by U.S. News & World Report score countries using a combination of global consumer surveys and specific aggregated data points, focusing on key elements like land and resource sustainability, environmental governance, and ecosystem preservation.
The index notes that economic giants do not always lead the charge in environmental preservation:
“Nations with lower levels of industrial activity and urbanisation often achieve stronger scores for natural environment preservation.”
According to the rankings index, the global top five for Natural Environment are:
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Cambodia (Leading specifically in Land & Resource Sustainability)
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Seychelles (Leading in Natural Amenities)
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Slovenia
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Croatia
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Latvia
Regionally within Southeast Asia, Cambodia secured the definitive top spot, followed by Myanmar (ranking 40th globally) and Laos (ranking 43rd globally) according to regional data published by SEA Infographics. Conversely, on the overall aggregate Best Countries metric—which heavily weighs economic footprint, entrepreneurship, and global influence—Cambodia placed 91st globally, a list topped overall by Switzerland, as reported by The Phnom Penh Post.
Expanding Conservation and Protected Areas
Reacting to the announcement, Cambodia’s Minister of Environment, Eang Sophalleth, hailed the ranking as a proud moment for the country. “It is a great honour for Cambodia and the Cambodian people in the field of environment and natural resources internationally,” he stated in a press release covered by the Khmer Times.
The Ministry of Environment attributes this international recognition to stricter law enforcement across its ecosystems. Statistics released by the Ministry show that Cambodia currently manages 73 protected natural areas encompassing more than seven million hectares. This accounts for approximately 41% of the country’s total land area, dedicated entirely to safeguarding pristine wildlife habitats and crucial forest ecosystems.
Strategic Eco-Policies and the 2050 Vision
The milestone reflects successive, long-term environmental strategies executed by the Royal Government:
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The Institutional Framework: The Ministry noted that the foundational environmental protections were established under former Prime Minister Hun Sen (current President of the Senate).
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The Pentagonal Strategy: Current Prime Minister Hun Manet has reinforced these initiatives through Phase 1 of the “Pentagonal Strategy”, prioritizing green growth and climate resilience.
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The Circular Strategy on Environment: This ongoing campaign heavily emphasizes three core pillars: Cleanliness, Greenness, and Sustainability.
To actively combat climate change and expand its lush tree canopy, Cambodia has driven massive nationwide reforestation programs, distributing at least one million tree saplings annually to citizens. These efforts directly align with Cambodia’s national target: achieving complete carbon neutrality by 2050, as documented by The Star.
Boosting Eco-Tourism Appeal
This global recognition is expected to significantly boost Cambodia’s growing ecotourism sector. Beyond the iconic cultural allure of Angkor Wat, international attention is increasingly shifting toward Cambodia’s raw natural assets—ranging from the dense rainforests of the Cardamom Mountains to the vibrant marine life of its southern islands.
To capitalize on this, the Ministry of Tourism is aggressively marketing its sustainable travel initiatives, seeking to transform these protected landscapes into a year-round pillar of the national economy by drawing eco-conscious global travelers.
