A newly published international study has placed Britain among the least “nature-connected” countries in the world, whereas Nepal leads the global ranking. The research, published in the journal Ambio, surveyed 57,000 individuals across 61 nations and sought to assess how closely people feel connected to the natural environment.
In the results, Britain ranks 55th out of 61 countries measured. The study defines “nature connectedness” as the psychological and emotional relationship individuals have with other living species and the natural world. At the top of the list sits Nepal, followed by Iran, South Africa, Bangladesh and Nigeria. Among European nations, only Croatia and Bulgaria made it into the top 10, with France placing 19th. Meanwhile, nations such as the Netherlands, Canada, Germany, Israel, Japan and Spain fell below Britain in the rankings, with Spain ranking lowest of all the countries surveyed.
The research team — led by Miles Richardson of University of Derby in the UK in collaboration with colleagues in Austria — found that the strongest predictor of nature connectedness was the level of “spirituality” in a society. In more religious cultures or those where faith plays a stronger role than science, individuals tended to report higher levels of connection to nature. On the other hand, indicators such as ease of doing business — a measure of how business-friendly a country is — correlated with lower levels of nature connectedness.
One unexpected result was that Britain’s high rate of membership in environmental organisations did little to raise its nature-connectedness score. Instead, the study found that more concrete social and economic factors — such as rates of urbanisation, average income and internet usage — were more strongly associated with lower connection to nature. Richardson commented that the findings did not come as a surprise: as societies become more rational, economic and scientifically oriented, the value placed upon nature can diminish. He emphasised the challenge of reintegrating an awareness of the natural world into the fabric of modern, technological societies.
The implications of the study are manifold. Previous research has linked stronger nature connectedness with improved well-being and greater likelihood of engaging in environmentally friendly behaviours. Conversely, the study highlights that low levels of nature connectedness are among the three key factors driving biodiversity loss—alongside inequality and the prioritisation of individual material gain.
To address this shortfall, the researchers suggest several pathways: integrating natural environments into public health treatments, recognising rights of nature in law, and embedding nature-focused thinking into business decision-making, including the boardroom. Creating meaningful urban nature spaces — not just parks, but places with a deeper sense of value and reflection — was cited as one way to rebuild connection in highly urbanised societies.
For Britain, the findings raise urgent questions about the state of public engagement with nature. Despite a strong environmental-organisation presence and global leadership in many green sectors, the psychological attachment of the public to the natural world appears comparatively weak. Developing cultural shifts that promote nature as a part of daily life, rather than an optional or peripheral concern, may be central to boosting both human well-being and environmental stewardship.
In an era of escalating biodiversity decline and climate challenges, the study underscores that connecting people with nature is not only desirable for individual health but fundamental to broader ecological resilience.
