Data transparency
Methodology
A data platform is only as trustworthy as its methodology is clear and public. This page sets out how we standardise scoring, where the data comes from, and what we do not do.
How to read the scale
Most indices are put on a 0–100 scale so they are easy to read, but each one is calculated in the way that suits its data. Some compare each country with the highest and lowest in the list after setting aside outliers; some score against fixed thresholds; some add up several components using published weights. Each index page states its own method. Passport Index also shows how many destinations each passport reaches without applying for a visa in advance; Migration ROI narrows very large gaps between programmes so scores do not bunch at the ends of the scale.
A 0–100 score shows where a country stands against the others within the same index. A score of 80 for tax and a score of 80 for healthcare therefore measure different things and cannot be compared directly. Pillars are only added together in composite scores whose formula and weights are published.
Three tiers of indices
The three tiers only group indices by depth.
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Tier 1 · Core
Foundation indices, drawn from government and international-organisation sources.
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Tier 2 · Premium
In-depth indices for migration and wealth-preservation decisions: tax, safety, healthcare, education, cost of living.
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Tier 3 · Signature
Composite scores weighted from tier 1 and 2 indices. Each one publishes its rule for missing data.
Newsletter
Get the latest updates
Ongoing updates on passports, quality of life, safety, tax freedom, wealth protection and other data.
Data principles
- Source priority government / intergovernmental / independent bodies.
- We only use data whose licence allows republication. Most of it is under CC-BY, which allows reuse with attribution.
- Entry rules are checked against each country's official government portal, and every link is checked to be live.
- Every page names its source, version and data date. Travel or investment-programme information should be rechecked at the official link before you act on it.
- Composite scores are published only once their component indices have been verified.
What we don't do
- We neither copy nor directly compare against any other organisation's ranking — the calculation method is proprietary to us.
- No ranking by sponsor; the data stays neutral towards every programme.
- We do not sell users' personal data to third parties.
- We give no legal, tax or investment advice — this is reference data for research.
Updated & versioned
Entry rules and country indices change over time. With every update we tag a data version so you know which point in time the figures belong to. Coverage and the level of verification can differ between datasets and are stated on the corresponding page. Always verify with the official authority of the destination country before making a travel or investment decision.
Version means the index release date, not a single observation year. Component indicators use their latest available observations, which can refer to different years.
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data sources for the 14 indices
The date beside each index is its most recent data update.
Tier 1 · Core
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Government sources, country by country (official link and check date recorded on each programme).
Opportunity Map is a programme explorer, not a 0–100 score or a “best country” ranking. Default filters show only active/new snapshot statuses. Closed, suspended and proposed programmes appear only when selected. Statuses and conditions are historical observations at the source-check date shown on each programme, not confirmation that a programme is open today; always recheck the official authority before making a decision. Amounts, timing and paths are historical references; family eligibility, additional fees, taxes, exchange rates and applicant qualifications must be checked against official rules. A dash means missing data, not no requirement.
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An in-house bilateral visa matrix, taken from each destination government's own source.
Strength = visa-free + visa on arrival + eTA, normalised to 0–100. e-Visa is recorded separately and does not count toward Strength.
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UNDP + UN SDG Global Database + World Bank governance indicators (CC-BY).
Weighted mean of 8 pillars: Health 16, Safety 14, Economy 14, Education 14, Environment 14, Equality 12, Infrastructure 8, Digital 8. Normalised 0-100.
The Health, Safety and Education pillars take their scores directly from the Healthcare, Global Safety and Education indices.
Tier 2 · Premium
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World Bank ICP + World Bank WDI + inflation (CC-BY).
Min-max normalisation after capping outliers at 2.5–97.5%. Affordability = low prices 70% + price stability 30%; real purchasing power = PPP income / price level 80% + price stability 20%. When stability data is unavailable, the remaining pillar receives all weight. Each indicator uses its latest available observation, so years can differ across countries. Scores run from 0 to 100; higher is better within each mode. These are not rents, monthly USD budgets or personal income estimates. The snapshot date is not the observation year of every indicator. Covers the household price level, purchasing-power income and inflation. Numbeo is not used: its licence bars republication and commercial use.
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World Bank WDI + Human Capital Index (CC-BY).
5 pillars: Learning quality 28, Educational attainment 22, Expected years of schooling 18, Education spending 17, Basic access 15.
The heaviest pillar, harmonised learning outcomes (28%), rests on 2020 data: the World Bank has not updated the Human Capital Index since 21 Sep 2020.
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UNODC + World Bank governance indicators + WHO + UCDP armed-conflict data (CC-BY).
5 pillars: Violent crime 30, Stability & absence of terrorism 24, Law enforcement & order 18, Road safety 16, Absence of armed conflict 12.
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World Bank WDI + UN universal health coverage indicator (CC-BY).
5 pillars: Health outcomes 26, Coverage & access 22, Health workforce & facilities 18, Spending & investment 18, Financial protection 16.
Covers life expectancy, infant and maternal mortality, skilled birth attendance, health workforce and spending, and out-of-pocket share. The coverage figures originate with the WHO but are taken through the UN channel, because the WHO release bars commercial use.
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OECD Tax Database + national tax authorities (tax-rate table compiled by us).
Higher score = lighter tax. 6 pillars: Personal income 24, Capital gains & dividends 20, System & incentives 16, Net wealth 14, Inheritance & gift 14, Corporate & social security 12. Absolute scale, not winsorised.
Field-level review on 14 September 2026: selected tax fields in Estonia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Brazil were updated; this is not a fresh verification of all 145 jurisdictions. Brazil’s 10% dividend figure is withholding subject to thresholds, transitional exceptions and annual reconciliation. Slovakia’s 24% CIT applies above EUR 5 million revenue; the middle band remains 21%. Statutory rates are not individual effective tax rates.
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World Bank governance indicators + inflation + banking-system soundness (non-performing loans, capital adequacy) — CC-BY.
Higher score = capital is safer. 6 pillars: Rule of law & property rights 26, Political stability 16, Institutions & regulation 16, Financial soundness 16, Monetary stability 14, Freedom of capital movement 12.
Tier 3 · Signature
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Composite of Prosperous Intelligence component index scores.
6 pillars: Education 26, Healthcare 20, Safety 20, Quality of life 16, Affordability 10, Passport 8.
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Composite of Prosperous Intelligence component index scores.
8 pillars: Passport 18, Quality of life 16, Safety 14, Healthcare 12, Real purchasing power 12, Education 10, Wealth protection 10, Tax 8. Reweighted across whichever pillars have data; at least 60% of the total weight must be present.
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Investment programme table (government sources) + the Passport Index.
ROI = visa-free destinations / (cost in USD millions x years to citizenship), log-normalised to 0-100. Only programmes that are active or new, capital-gated, and lead to citizenship are scored.
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Composite of Prosperous Intelligence component index scores.
6 pillars: Affordability 24, Healthcare 24, Safety 18, Quality of life 14, Tax 12, Wealth protection 8.
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The Passport Index (entry conditions) + component index scores + NASA POWER (climate) + Wikipedia and Wikidata (direct flights from Vietnam, UNESCO heritage, geography) + World Bank (protected areas, forest, population density, malaria from WHO data).
