The Cleanest Countries in the World in 2026

What does ‘cleanest country’ actually mean?

‘Cleanest country’ can mean two different things: how a nation scores on measurable environmental indicators like the Environmental Performance Index (EPI), or how tidy its streets, cities, and public spaces look and feel day to day. At Remitly, we hear from plenty of Australians curious about both angles, whether they’re planning a trip or thinking about a move abroad.

TL;DR

The 2026 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) is the closest thing to an objective ‘cleanest country’ ranking, though there’s no single official title.
Estonia, Luxembourg, Germany, Finland, and the United Kingdom currently top that index.
Japan has an international reputation for cleanliness and strong everyday tidiness norms, separate from EPI scoring.

There’s no single, universally agreed cleanest country in the world. Based on the 2026 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) from Yale University and Columbia University, Estonia, Luxembourg, Germany, and Finland rank among the top performers. Japan, meanwhile, has an international reputation for exceptionally clean public spaces and strong cultural norms around tidiness, combining community habits, school-based education, and efficient waste management.

How we researched this: figures below come from the 2026 EPI (Yale University and Columbia University) and other named, dated sources credited in each section.

The 2026 Environmental Performance Index: which countries rank highest?

The Environmental Performance Index ranks 180 countries and territories on measures including air and water quality, waste management, sanitation, and climate policy, produced jointly by Yale University and Columbia University. A high score doesn’t always match the everyday tidiness people associate with ‘clean’ streets.

Estonia: 74.79
Luxembourg: 74.24
United Kingdom: 71.51
Finland: 71.04
Germany: 69.93

Finland’s top-five finish reflects a broader pattern: Nordic and Northern European countries consistently score well on the EPI, thanks to strong environmental regulation and sustained infrastructure spending.

Japan: the cultural gold standard for cleanliness

Japan has an international reputation for exceptionally clean public spaces and strong cultural norms around tidiness, because tidiness is woven into daily life, from schools to neighbourhoods.

Cleaning is embedded in several aspects of Japanese life. Students commonly participate in cleaning their schools, a practice generally referred to simply as sōji, while ōsōji refers to a more thorough, major clean, particularly the traditional end-of-year clean.

Student participation in cleaning is a well-known norm in Japanese schools. In many schools, students take part in regular cleaning of classrooms, hallways, and shared spaces, a practice intended to teach teamwork, respect for shared spaces, and a sense of responsibility for their environment. Schools also employ staff responsible for broader maintenance and environmental management.

Ōsōji, the end-of-year cleaning ritual, is a separate, long-standing tradition that symbolises clearing out old energy and making space for a fresh start in the new year. People deep clean their homes, offices, and public spaces, often working from top to bottom and inside to out.

That same discipline extends to waste sorting: the town of Kamikatsu is known for requiring residents to separate waste into dozens of categories, part of a long-running zero-waste programme.

The Japanese tradition of linking cleanliness to responsibility and well-being extends into modern life and global culture. The Japanese World Cup football team famously went viral for leaving their locker room spotless, and world-renowned organising consultant and bestselling author Marie Kondo has brought Japan’s tidy philosophy to homes worldwide.

On a local level, community involvement in Japan is just as strong. Neighbourhoods routinely organise clean-ups of shared or public spaces, and it’s common to see residents tidying streets, parks, or front areas of shops and homes.

For Australians curious about the culture behind it, Remitly’s guide to Japanese culture explores more of these everyday habits.

Singapore, Rwanda, and Switzerland: three different paths to cleanliness

Singapore, Rwanda, and Switzerland each keep their countries clean through a different mix of law, community habit, and public spending.

Singapore: legislation as a cleanliness tool

Singapore is famous for having strict legislation that promotes cleanliness. Often, these regulations catch out unsuspecting tourists who aren’t familiar with the laws. For example, Singapore generally prohibits the import and sale of chewing gum, with limited exceptions for approved oral-dental and medicinal gum.

These laws and regulations help to uphold Singapore’s reputation and nickname, ‘The Fine City.’ They ban untidy habits like littering and spitting, reinforcing the idea that cleanliness is everyone’s responsibility. Over time, the government’s strong stance on hygiene and cleanliness has helped make tidiness a core part of Singapore’s national identity.

Enforcement sits with Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA). Under Singapore’s Environmental Public Health Act, a first littering conviction can carry a court fine of up to SGD 2,000 (approx. AUD 2,200), rising to SGD 4,000 (approx. AUD 4,410) for a second conviction and SGD 10,000 (approx. AUD 11,020) for a third or subsequent one; courts can also impose a Corrective Work Order of up to 12 hours. Where Japan leans on culture, Singapore leans on law.

A trip on the cards? Remitly’s guide to visiting Singapore from Australia covers what to expect on the ground.

Rwanda: community action at national scale

In Rwanda, there’s a national community work program held on the last Saturday of every month, known as Umuganda. Activities can include cleaning public spaces, building infrastructure, and other local projects, and it’s widely credited as part of the country’s post-genocide rebuilding process, helping transform the capital, Kigali, into one of Africa’s cleanest cities.

Rwanda also banned plastic bags nationwide in 2008, among the first countries to do so. Visitors can find entry requirements in Remitly’s guide to visas in Rwanda.

Switzerland’s reputation for tidiness is backed by numbers: it recycles more than half of its municipal waste and is among the European countries with recycling rates above 50%. Waste management is largely organised at cantonal and municipal level, with many areas using volume-based charges or specially taxed rubbish bags under the polluter-pays principle.

For anyone moving there, that expectation extends beyond recycling: keeping shared stairwells and courtyards tidy is often a community responsibility. Remitly’s guide to Switzerland’s minimum wage is a useful starting point for weighing up the cost of relocating.

What about Australia? Where does it rank?

Australia ranks 25th out of 180 countries and territories in the 2026 EPI, with an overall score of 59.4. Its performance is uneven: 31st for sanitation and drinking water (scoring 79.22), but only 71st for climate change and 51st for biodiversity and habitat – two categories the EPI weights heavily.

For readers comparing living standards abroad, that split is a reminder that ‘clean’ can mean different things depending on what’s measured. Remitly’s look at Australia’s most pressing environmental challenges digs deeper into where the gaps sit.

What the world’s cleanest countries have in common

The countries most often described as clean share four things: civic education that starts in childhood, clear legislation with real enforcement, strong community accountability, and consistent infrastructure investment. These examples show that countries can pursue cleanliness through different combinations of regulation, infrastructure, education and community participation.

Rwanda shows a different route again: legislation, such as its plastics ban, paired with sustained community participation through Umuganda, has helped produce a visibly cleaner capital without Switzerland’s level of infrastructure spending.

Practical takeaways for Australians travelling or living abroad

Travelling somewhere with strong cleanliness expectations, such as Singapore or Japan: carry your rubbish until you find a bin and familiarise yourself with local rules and customs.
Moving somewhere with strong tidiness norms, like Switzerland or Germany: expect shared spaces such as stairwells and bin areas to come with unwritten rules your neighbours expect you to learn fast.
Bringing habits home to Australia: resources like Smart Traveller and Keep Australia Beautiful are a practical starting point, wherever you’re headed next.

FAQs

What is the cleanest country in the world?

There’s no single official title for the cleanest country in the world. Based on the 2026 EPI from Yale University and Columbia University, Estonia, Luxembourg, and Germany rank among the top performers, while Japan has an international reputation for exceptionally clean public spaces and strong cultural norms around tidiness.

Which countries rank highest on the Environmental Performance Index?

The 2026 EPI ranks Estonia, Luxembourg, Germany, Finland, and the UK as its top five performers out of 180 countries assessed, based on measures like air and water quality, waste management, and climate policy.

What makes Japan’s cleanliness culture unique?

Japan’s approach starts young: many students take part in regular cleaning of their own schools, a practice generally called sōji. That habit carries into adulthood through neighbourhood clean-ups and detailed waste-sorting, like the dozens of categories used in Kamikatsu.

Where does Australia rank on the Environmental Performance Index?

Australia ranks 25th out of 180 countries and territories in the 2026 EPI, with an overall score of 59.4. It scores strongly on sanitation and drinking water access but weaker on climate policy and biodiversity protection. Rankings shift with each EPI edition, so check the latest report for current figures.

What is Umuganda in Rwanda?

Umuganda is Rwanda’s monthly community work program, generally held on the last Saturday of the month. Activities can include cleaning public spaces, building infrastructure, and other local projects, and it’s widely credited with helping make Kigali one of Africa’s cleanest capitals.

Which countries have the strictest cleanliness laws?

Singapore enforces fines for littering and restricts the import and sale of chewing gum, overseen by its National Environment Agency. Rwanda enforces a nationwide plastic bag ban, introduced in 2008.

Key takeaways

There’s no single “cleanest country” title – the 2026 EPI ranks Estonia, Luxembourg, Germany, Finland, and the UK among its top performers.
Japan’s cleanliness culture is built on sōji, students cleaning their own schools, plus neighbourhood clean-ups and detailed waste-sorting.
Singapore enforces cleanliness through law, with court fines of up to SGD 2,000 for a first littering conviction; Rwanda relies on Umuganda, its monthly community work program.
Switzerland recycles just over half its municipal waste, backed by cantonal rules and strong social expectations around shared spaces.

If tidier habits are something you’d like to bring home, Remitly’s look at World Nature Conservation Day in Australia has practical ideas for getting involved locally. And if you’re settling in from overseas, Remitly can help you send money to family and friends back home.

Last reviewed: August 2026