Nepal ranks as most nature-connected nation in global study, Spain last

Nepal has emerged as the world's most nature-connected nation according to groundbreaking research published in the journal Ambio, while European economic powers, including Spain and Britain, ranked near the bottom of the 61-country survey. The study represents the first comprehensive global measurement of psychological and emotional bonds with the natural world.

Global rankings and regional patterns

The research, conducted by British and Austrian academics including University of Derby Professor Miles Richardson, surveyed 57,000 people worldwide. Following Nepal, the top five most nature-connected nations included Iran, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Nigeria. Croatia and Bulgaria were the only European countries to break into the top ten, while Britain placed 55th alongside the Netherlands, Canada, Germany, Israel, and Japan. Spain occupied the lowest position in the global nature-connection index.

Key factors influencing nature connection

The investigation revealed that spirituality and religious faith served as the strongest predictors of a close relationship with nature across cultures. Conversely, the study identified a negative correlation between nature connection and the World Bank's "ease of doing business" metric. Countries with more market-friendly, business-oriented economies consistently demonstrated weaker emotional ties to the natural environment, according to the research findings.

Research implications and methodology

The Ambio journal study assessed how social, cultural, economic, and geographic factors collectively shape human attitudes toward nature. Professor Richardson's team developed their nature-connection index through comprehensive surveys measuring emotional attachment and psychological affiliation with the natural world. The research suggests that economic development priorities may come at the expense of maintaining strong human-nature relationships in many industrialized nations.