Natural Beauty Report

From magnificent mountains to colourful coral reefs, the world’s natural marvels are a huge draw for travellers.

Whether you want to hike the Himalayas, snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef, or see Niagara Falls, some of the very best tourist attractions are those that aren’t man-made.

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But which countries are the best to visit if you want to see most of these natural beauty spots?

Here’s a look at where in the world is home to the most natural sights per 100,000 square kilometres such as mountains, volcanoes, coral reefs and more.

The world’s most naturally beautiful countries

1. Indonesia - Natural beauty score 7.77 /10

Taking the crown as home to the most natural beauty spots per 100,000 square kilometres is Indonesia, home to over 17,000 incredible islands, which means that it has over 50,000 km of coastline.

And just off the shores of these islands, you’ll find over 50,000 square kilometres of coral reef, teeming with life, much of which can be explored from the popular province of Bali.

Some of Indonesia’s most popular natural attractions include the tropical forests on Sumatra and Kalimantan (including an orangutan reserve) and a number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Komodo National Park.

2. New Zealand - Natural beauty score 7.27 /10

New Zealand is home to rolling hills, sharp mountain peaks (including the Southern Alps) and a number of active volcanoes. 

The country also has a high number of glaciers, with just over 5,000 per 100,000 square kilometres and a long coastline of over 15,000 square kilometres.

With a very diverse landscape, thousands of people flock to New Zealand to sample its natural wonders for themselves. 

In fact, many films and TV shows have chosen it as a shooting location to stand in for fantastical locations such as The Lord of the Rings’ Middle-earth.

3. Colombia  - Natural beauty score 7.16 /10

Colombia comes in third and like Indonesia and New Zealand, enjoys a long coastline along the shores of the Caribbean.

However, it has a very varied landscape too, from the Andes mountains to the Amazon rainforests and scores very highly for the fact it is home to 500,000 square kilometres of tropical forest.

The top 10 most beautiful countries

The top 50 most beautiful countries

Use the table below to see the 50 most beautiful countries in the world, according to their concentration of natural beauty spots.

While many of the countries in the top 50 are smaller nations (often collections of islands), a number of larger tourist destinations make the grade too, including the United States, France, Australia, Norway and Thailand.

While beauty is ultimately subjective, it’s clear that these countries have a lot to offer visitors, whether you prefer adventuring in the mountains or relaxing by the coast.