Paradise on Earth? The 10 countries with the world’s greatest natural assets

Some destinations become famous because of a single landmark. Others seem to have won the geographical lottery.

These are the places where rainforest meets mountain range, where wildlife competes for attention with dramatic coastlines and where one national park is often followed by another. They are home to coral reefs, glaciers, deserts, tropical forests, great migrations, rare species and some of the most extraordinary landscapes on Earth.

For travelers seeking nature, these countries offer something increasingly valuable: variety. You can dive among coral reefs in the morning, hike through ancient forests the next day and still leave with a list of places you’ll need another trip to see.

To identify the world’s most nature‑rich destinations, we turned to the natural resources pillar of the World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026 (TTDI 2026), produced in collaboration with Zurich Insurance Group. The Index assesses countries across factors including biodiversity, UNESCO World Heritage natural sites, protected natural areas and ecological diversity.

In other words, these are not simply countries with a beautiful mountain or famous beach. They are destinations with remarkable depth, variety and abundance of natural assets.

Here are the world’s top 10.

1. United States
Along with 63 designated national parks – including world‑famous Yellowstone, Yosemite and Denali – the U.S. also boasts the Grand Canyon, the Everglades, Alaska’s vast wilderness and Hawaii’s volcanic wonders. Few destinations combine such a breadth of landscapes, ecosystems, wildlife and protected areas within a single national border.

2. Australia
From the Great Barrier Reef – a marine park containing over 3,000 coral reefs – to the vast landscapes of the Outback, Australia offers some of the world’s most distinctive natural experiences. Uluru, Kakadu National Park, unique wildlife such as koalas and kangaroos, and exceptional ecoregion diversity all help explain its place near the top of the ranking.

3. Mexico
Mexico combines deserts, tropical forests, coral reefs, whale migration routes and the famous ring of cenotes on the Yucatán Peninsula – natural freshwater sinkholes that trace the rim of the Chicxulub crater, formed by an asteroid impact around 66 million years ago. Add the Sea of Cortez, often called “the world’s aquarium,” and it’s easy to see why Mexico ranks so highly.

4. Brazil
The Amazon Rainforest alone would be enough to secure Brazil a place near the top of this ranking. But Brazil’s natural appeal extends far beyond it. The Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland, is one of the best places on Earth to spot jaguars, while Iguazu Falls, the Atlantic Forest and thousands of kilometers of coastline add even more natural firepower.

5. China
China’s extraordinary size creates extraordinary diversity. The country has more UNESCO natural World Heritage sites than any other nation, alongside giant panda sanctuaries, the dramatic Tiger Leaping Gorge and even the northern slopes of Mount Everest. From high plateaus and deep gorges to subtropical forests and river valleys, its natural assets are remarkably varied.

6. Canada
Scale is Canada’s superpower. Banff and Jasper National Parks, Niagara Falls, dramatic mountain scenery, glacier‑fed lakes and vast Arctic wilderness help make it one of the planet’s premier outdoor playgrounds. It also offers some of the best opportunities anywhere to spot wildlife, including polar bears.

7. India
India’s natural assets stretch from the Himalayas and its network of 58 tiger reserves to the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans and the famous backwaters of Kerala. Visitors can move from snow-capped mountain landscapes to tropical waterways, dense forests and wildlife-rich national parks within a single trip.

8. France
France’s natural attractions are often overshadowed by Paris, but they are remarkably diverse. From the snow-covered Alps and Pyrenees to Atlantic coastlines, Mediterranean beaches and wildlife-rich wetlands, France offers one of Europe’s richest collections of outdoor landscapes, including many in its overseas territories.

9. Indonesia
Home to more than 17,000 islands, Indonesia combines volcanoes, tropical rainforests, coral reefs and some of the planet’s richest marine ecosystems. It is also one of the last places on Earth where travelers can see endangered orangutans in the wild, while Komodo National Park protects the world’s largest lizard.

10. Colombia
Colombia is a birdwatcher’s paradise, home to around 1,950 bird species – close to one in five of all bird species on Earth. But birds are only part of the story. The country spans Caribbean coastlines, Amazon rainforest, Andean mountains, Pacific ecosystems and even the striking red landscapes of the Tatacoa Desert – packing an astonishing amount of biodiversity into a relatively compact area.

More than scenic views

One of the more interesting findings from the TTDI is that natural assets alone do not guarantee tourism success. The destinations that perform best combine extraordinary landscapes and wildlife with strong transport links, visitor infrastructure, conservation efforts and tourism services.

After all, even paradise on Earth needs roads, flights, accommodation and careful management if visitors are going to experience it. The most successful destinations are not only those blessed by Mother Nature, but those that protect and support what they have been given.