18. Hong Kong
Since it was occupied by British forces in 1841, Hong Kong has moved on a path separate to the rest of China. Even after the former colony was returned to the Chinese in 1997, it has been treated as a special administrative region with its own laws.
According to report creators Legatum, Hong Kong has the best economic fundamentals in the world, coupled with good health care, governance, safety and security. Fans of freedom will be let down though, with Hong Kong scoring poorly for personal freedom (67th in the world) and democratic institutions (60th).
