The term socialist has been thrown around quite a bit in the past few years. Not since the cold war has the term garnered so much attention in the press and from politicians. But when you look at countries who actually have a socialist economic structure, you can see some similarities to the United States – but there are some really stark differences.
Below, you will see some of the most socialistic nations in the world today:
- China
- Denmark
- Finland
- Netherlands
- Canada
- Sweden
- Norway
- Ireland
- New Zealand
- Belgium
Despite popular myths, there is very little connection between economic performance and welfare expenditure. Many of the countries on this list are proof of that, such as Denmark and Finland. Even though both countries are more socialistic than America, the workforce remains stronger.
China
In China the government manages and controls the economy. Many of the domestic companies are owned and run by the government. Recently, the Chinese economy has become more geared towards capitalism, but is still officially socialist. Life in China remains relatively less stressful and more relaxed than life in capitalist countries like America.
Denmark
Denmark has a wide range of welfare benefits that they offer their citizens. As a result, they also have the highest taxes in the world. Equality is considered the most important value in Denmark. Small businesses thrive, with over 70 percent of companies having 50 employees or less
Finland
Finland has one of the world’s best education systems, with no tuition fees and also giving free meals to their students. The literacy rate in Finland is 100 percent. Finland has one of the highest standards of living in the world. Like Denmark and other European countries, equality is considered one of the most important values in society. Whereas in the Netherlands, government control over the economy remains at a minimum, but a socialist welfare system remains. The lifestyle in the Netherlands is very egalitarian and organized, where even bosses do not discipline or treat their subordinates rudely.
Canada
Like the Netherlands, Canada also has mostly a free market economy, but has a very extensive welfare system that includes free health and medical care. Canadians remain more open-minded and liberal than Americans, and Canada is ranked as one of the best top five countries to live in by the United Nations and the Human Development Index (HDI) rankings.
Sweden
Sweden has a large welfare system, but due to a high national debt, required much government intervention in the economy. In Norway, the government controls certain key aspects of the national economy, and they also have one of the best welfare systems in the world, with Norway having one of the highest standards of living in all of Europe. Norway is not a member of the European Union.
Ireland
Ireland has arguably one of the best welfare systems in the world, with unemployment checks higher on average than Denmark or Switzerland’s average. Around 25 percent of Ireland’s GDP goes towards paying for the welfare system, as compared to 15 percent of America’ GDP towards America’s social support programs.
New Zealand
New Zealand may not be a socialist country, but the welfare system in the country is very wide ranging, offering support for housing, unemployment, health, child care, and education as well. Therefore, New Zealand has many of the characteristics of a socialist country, even while remaining officially free market.
Belgium
Lastly, Belgium has most of the same social security benefits that New Zealand offers, including invalid and old age pensions. The welfare system causes much of the country’s budget deficit though, and so is considered by some to be a burden on society.
New Zealnd
New Zealand? I thought NZ’s recent free-market reforms allowed far more foreign investment, and the World Bank in 2005 said New Zealand was the most business-friendly country in the world, just after Singapore. Or did you really mean “New Lealnd”
the most open free markets are in the most extensively socialzed countries. Graft and corruption is the true enemy of free markets, not governments doing their jobs- ensuring conditions which foster the well being of the people they govern- think Finland and Norway. Graft and corruption thrive in countries with no social satiety net and poor education opportunity. This creates a climate in which there can be no free market based on competition, and instead we see a market based on elevation of the most corrupt- think USA and its financial institutions.
Don’t know why they call universal healthcare a socialism. Then why do we have universal primary & secondary education? That’s socialism too. So is Social Security. These are just a good system that Government implements to keep minimum level of living. How it is fair that our tax money is going toward criminial’s healthcare where as small business owner cannot afford to go to a hospital.
I read that this guy could not get on an organ transplant list because he did not have enough deposit to be on the list when a prisoner got his organ just because he commited a crime and was in jail.
Then there was a smarter guy who “robbed” a jewelry store just so that he can get arrested since he didn’t have money for his transplant.
Eventually anyone who needs something will have to commit a crime just to see a doctor. When I was visiting Korea, which has universal healthcare, my son got sick so we went to a doctor who had much higher technological equipments than in the States only chaged around 7 bucks for examination & cleaned his earwax since we had no Korean insurance. People who had insurance were paying around 2-3 bucks per visit. Reason…administrative overhead. Meaning high and mighty people up there needs 100 thousands and millions of dollars in their pocket to buy their mercedes and porsches. Most doctors will not get affected universal or privatized insurance except for those who’re on the board or admin somewhere.
So people may say socialism or communism, but having universal healthcare run by government just make sense…if not, I’d say we take it away from the convicts and all the politician. Let politicians buy their own medical insurance out of their pocket, we know they can afford to.
how can anyone compare these top 10 socialist countries,or any countries to the united states. the u.s.a is a melting pot of EVERYONE.! you can come here legally or illegally. and you get treated with the same rights as a natural born citizen. if socialism really works,then let’s bring back the great thinkers of the past,for they lay the foundations of true socialism, i.e stalin, lenin,trotski,marks,engles.there are more people in some of the states, alone, in the u.s.a then in some of the countries mentioned here. also,let’s not forget how many people were killed and tortured under,SOCIALISM. free health care is not free! somebody has to pay.!
I think you’re confusing socialism with communism. And yes “somebody has to pay” WE pay. They are called taxes and healthcare/education are the kind of things taxes are SUPPOSED to pay for. Instead it goes to paying off the federal reserve. Oh, and politicians salaries (who have free healthcare for life, btw.)
first off, the taxes in denmark are not 70%
as some of my family members lives there.
I live in norway with my mother and father, we have high taxes and are a socialist nation, socialism and communism are TWO entirely different things. for example norway is socialist but we are far from communist’s and we don’t have crime at high rate, it is actually the lowest in the WORLD!
secondly
China is a communist state not a socialist nation.