Othering & Belonging Institute

The Netherlands, Sweden, and Norway took the top spots in the 2019 Inclusiveness Index, our annual ranking of global inclusion that classifies 132 countries and all 50 US states according to policies and laws that challenge or promote belonging. In the US index, Hawaii, Nevada, and Maryland edged out front, while Louisiana, South Dakota, and North Dakota ranked at the bottom. US states and global nations that rank high in inclusivity provide greater access to power and resources to groups that span salient social cleavages, such as gender, race, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation. In addition to ranking individual nations and US states according to their levels of inclusivity, the report also includes supplemental highlights identifying the major trends influencing belonging this year, such as increasing anti-trans violence and global corruption.