Georgia ranked in the top 20 in U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of best states in the country, coming in at No. 18. It also ranks among the top 15 states in the economy, infrastructure, opportunity and fiscal stability categories.

States were ranked in 71 metrics across eight main categories: health care, education, economies, infrastructure and opportunities; as well as fiscal stability, crime and corrections; and the state’s natural environment. Health care and education weighted most heavily in the survey, according to the report. 

Georgia also ranked 43rd in health care, 26th in education, 12th for economy, 11th for infrastructure, 13th for opportunity, 11th for fiscal stability, 29th for crime and corrections, and 25th for natural environment. 

In 2019 Georgia ranked No. 17. In 2018 it ranked No. 32. In 2017 Georgia came in at No. 36 in the annual report. There were no rankings in 2020 due to COVID.