SOLOMON Islands is being ranked 15th amongst the top 50 most beautiful countries in the world.

That’s according to an United Kingdom’s (UK) based organization called ‘money.co.uk’ in a study released last year.

One of the main criteria to rank the countries is because they are homes to the most natural sights such as mountains, volcanoes, coral reefs, natural forests and more.

Its understood Solomon Islands is part of the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) which connects Papua New Guinea (PNG), Indonesia and other countries like Philippines.

Indonesia is the top most beautiful country in the country according to the ratings.

Of the Melanesian country PNG is ranked 9th and Vanuatu at 13.

This new study from the website ‘money.co.uk’ was able to rank the 50 most beautiful countries in the world by analyzing the amount of natural wonders in each location, from coral reefs and tropical rainforests to volcanoes, glaciers and more.

“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,” said Sal Haqqi, personal finance editor at money.co.uk.

Coming in at the top of the list as the most beautiful place on earth is Indonesia, which has a natural beauty score of 7.77 out of 10. Indonesia is home to more than 17,000 islands.

“And just off the shores of these islands, you’ll find over 31,000 square miles of coral reef, teeming with life, much of which can be explored from the popular province of Bali,” said Haqqi.

Some of the other natural attractions that helped propel Indonesia to the top of the list include Komodo National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Sumatra (which is covered with tropical forests) and Kalimantan (home to an orangutan reserve).

Second on the list of the world’s most beautiful places: New Zealand, which has a natural beauty score of 7.27 out of 10 and is known for its mountain peaks, rolling hills and a number of glaciers and active volcanoes. It’s no surprise that so many movies—including The Lord of the Rings—have been filmed here.

Next up is Colombia, which scores 7.16 out of 10 on the natural beauty scale. Like Indonesia and New Zealand, Colombia has a long coastline. It also has varied landscapes, from the Amazon to the Andes. 

Despite its long Pacific and Atlantic coastlines, as well as its myriad natural attractions and national parks ranging from the Grand Canyon to Yellowstone, the United States didn’t make it into the top 10. With a score of 6.04 out of 10, the country ranks number 12. Countries besting the U.S. range from Mexico (at number 5) to France (at number 8).

According to the tourism promotional brochures, Solomon Islands is being blessed with white sandy beaches, natural forest, volcanoes on land and undersea, natural lakes, natural lagoons, and beautiful coral reefs which offered a lovely spot for scuba diving and surfing.

The 50 Most Beautiful Countries in the World.

  1. Indonesia
  2. New Zealand
  3. Colombia
  4. Tanzania
  5. Mexico
  6. Kenya
  7. India
  8. France
  9. Papua New Guinea
  10. Comoros
  11. Ecuador
  12. United States
  13. Vanuatu
  14. Japan
  15. Solomon Islands
  16. Italy
  17. Phillipines
  18. Peru
  19. Australia
  20. Costa Rica
  21. Norway
  22. Argentina
  23. Grenada
  24. Malaysia
  25. Tonga
  26. Iran
  27. Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
  28. Saint Kitts & Nevis
  29. Chile
  30. China
  31. Samoa
  32. Bolivia
  33. Nicaragua
  34. Eritrea
  35. Jamaica
  36. Cape Verde
  37. Greece
  38. Thailand
  39. Venezuela
  40. El Salvador
  41. Myanmar
  42. Uganda
  43. Iceland
  44. Russia
  45. Dominican Republic
  46. Switzerland
  47. Northern Mariana Islands
  48. Haiti
  49. Panama
  50. Sweden

By MOFFAT MAMU
Solomon Star, Gizo