Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
88 Times Other Countries Totally Outclassed The U.S. With How They Do Things
Once upon a time, the U.S. was the greatest country in the world. But, with the advent of technology, other countries caught up and started doing some things better. According to the 2026 Best Countries in the World ranking, the U.S. didn’t make the top 10, while Switzerland was named the best country in the world.
Several categories caused the U.S. to fall behind, including health, infrastructure, and civic health. But there’s still time to learn and catch up! Here are some things that people online have noticed in other countries that make the U.S. feel like it’s still in the Dark Ages: solar-powered public benches, sidewalks for smartphone users, and emergency toilets in elevators are just a few.
Check out more cool things other countries have that the U.S. should steal immediately, and maybe then they’d have a chance of becoming the greatest country in the world again!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
My Australian Tax Return Shows Where My Money Went
RELATED:
#2
Traffic Light With Shining Pole
#3
This Pizza Box In Japan That Has A Handle In The Middle To Keep The Pizza Flat
#4
Projected Markings In Oulu, Finland, When Snow Covers The Ones Painted On The Street
#5
This Burger King In Norway Has A Spot For You To Empty Your Sodas In Before You Throw The Cup Away
#6
When You Turn 18 In Sweden, You Get This Guidebook For How To Be An Adult
Russell Bowman 4 weeks ago
We have an similar old Soviet book for girls turning 18. Hilarious read
#7
Modern Icelandic Houses Are Built With Geothermally Heated Water Pipes Under Their Sidewalks So Icelanders Never Have To Shovel In Winter
#8
This Solar-Powered Bench In Croatia Lets You Charge Your Phone And Emits WiFi
#9
In Order To Start A Positive Change, Supermarkets Across Asia Have Started Using Leaves To Pack Their Vegetables
#10
This Is The Medicine I Take Once Every Two Weeks, Which Allows Me To Live A Fairly Normal Life. If I Had To Pay Myself, They Would Cost 6,129 Dkk/1,126 USD. Thank You Universal Health Care
#11
Japanese Police Cars Can Raise Their Blinking Lights To Be More Visible
#12
There’s A Solar Farm In China Shaped Like A Panda
#13
Today In Copenhagen There Was Car Free Sunday
BarkingSquirell 3 weeks ago
We have that on certain streets for different events and some last a month or more.
#14
In Amsterdam, You Can Spot These Little ‘Menstruation Stations’ Where Anyone In Need Can Grab Tampons, Napkins, And Cups For Free
#15
Here's My Awesome Korean School Lunch! Schools Have A Qualified Nutritionist To Plan The Lunch Menu
Trophy Husband 3 weeks ago
I wonder if it's free... School lunch debt is a real problem in the US and politicians ignore it. Florida started a program to give free lunch, but only in a few areas that are very poor.
#16
Lights To Get Your Waiters Attention Silently In Maastricht, Netherlands
#17
In Belgian Train’s Toilets There Is A Sos Button Close To The Ground In Case People Fall And Can’t Get Up
Multa Nocte (she/her 8647) 3 weeks ago
I always think of the episode in The IT Crowd where Roy accidentally pulls the cord in the handicap accessible restroom.
#18
Public Air Shower In Tokyo To Blow Pollen Off Hay Fever Sufferers
#19
This Car Park In France Has Soft Barriers Between Parking Spaces To Stop People Scratching Other Cars
#20
Lisbon Consists Of 7 Hills. In Order To Make It Easier For Residents And Tourists To Move Between The Different Neighbourhoods, This Open-Air Escalator Was Installed
Ixanga Cancun 4 weeks ago
They have a very famous one in Hong Kong, Mid-Levels Escalator, where it goes down in the morning for people to get to work and then up again in the afternoon in time to go home. It's the longest one in the world at 800 metres.
#21
If You’re An Elderly Or Disabled, You Will Receive A Card That Enables You To Cross The Road With A Longer Countdown Time (Singapore)
#22
‘Pay Phones’ In Australia Are All Free
#23
A Hands Free Sunscreen Machine That Rotates As It Sprays Your Body With Sunscreen
#24
This Medal My Dad Received From His Hospital For Beating Cancer
The medal in Korean says that his treatment for cancer has ended. It was prostate cancer.
He no longer needs yearly check ups. I didn't ask him if the medal was gold plated.
WindySwede 3 weeks ago (edited)
Came to think [of] the episode in Futurama, but here it was better "not d***h by snuhsnuh"! (Sorry! 😬)
#25
This Scaffolding In Amsterdam Has A Mural Of The Building It's Covering
Dont listen to me 3 weeks ago
Yes well it's one of Amsterdams most expensive hotels so I guess they can afford it.
#26
These Two Different Sets Of Shopping Baskets At A Department Store In Bangkok - For Those That Need Help Or Want To Be Left Alone
Michael Largey 3 weeks ago
I should carry one of the the pink ones with me at all times in all places.
#27
Lift Emergency Button At Floor Level Too Should You Collapse (Or Are Incredibly Short). UK
#28
UPS In Italy Uses These "Bicycle Trucks" To Deliver Packages To Places In Narrow Streets Of Rome
#29
In Sweden We Have Trash Cans With WiFi To Attract People To Throw Some Trash
#30
For Anyone Curious, This Is What A Birthing Suite Looks Like In A Public Danish Hospital
#31
Shopping Cart Cleaning Machine In Germany
#33
This Heated Bench With A Wireless Charging Pad For Your Phone At A Bus Stop In South Korea
#34
The French Supermarket I'm In Started Warning Its Customers About Shrinkflation And Which Specific Brands Are Doing It
#35
This Emergency Elevator Toilet In Japan
#37
This Bill In Turkey Tells You How Much Each Person Would Need To Pay If You Split It Equally
#38
Mascots On Sugary Cereal (And All Candy) Censored In México To Fight Childhood Obesity
#39
The Elevators In My Office Building Have An Umbrella Sign That Lights Up If It's Raining Outside (Osaka, Japan)
#40
They Have Pet Carts In Grocery Stores In Italy
#41
These Sprinklers On The Road Near The Ski Resort I’m At In Japan To Keep The Road From Freezing Over. (Salt Water If You Were Wondering)
#42
To Encourage More Young People To Donate Blood, Sahlgrenska University Hospital In Gothenburg, Sweden, Sends A Text To Donors When Their Blood Plasma Has Been Dispensed To Someone In Need
Rusty’scate 3 weeks ago
I used to get extra credit in college once a semester for donating blood/plasma.
#43
There’s A Privacy Button That Plays Sound In The Toilet In The Background In Japan So Your Bombing Sound Wouldn’t Be Heard
#44
This Is How Much An Emergency Ambulance Ride Ended Up Costing Me In Germany (10.00€)
Phil Green 3 weeks ago
My wife needed an ambulance. We live at the end of a dirt track (very potholed, too), 35 miles from the hospital. The ambulance ride, treatment (broken ribs, morphine etc) cost us nothing.
#45
This Stall For Your Dog Outside A Super Market In Copenhagen!
#46
In Norway The Packed Meat Has A "Thermometer" That Tells You How Many Days Are Left Until Its No Longer Safe To Eat It
#47
This Belgian Supermarket Has A Parking Spot Just For Pregnant Women
Trophy Husband 3 weeks ago
This is common in some parts of the US. In Miami it is required for some types of businesses.
#48
Cakes Sold In South Korea Usually Come With Free Candles And Matches Hidden In The Plastic Cake Knife
#49
Robot Lawn Mower In A Hospital In Denmark
Jonas Fisher 3 weeks ago
My neighbor has one (US). A college I was at yesterday has a fleet of them (US).
#51
This Crosswalk Pedestrian Pushbutton Has A Tactile Display Of The Intersection
#52
In Morocco, Utility Poles Are Disguised As Palm Trees
#53
Knee-Activated Water Taps At A Supermarket, Italy
#54
The Airport In Seoul Has A Robot Which Will Carry Your Luggage To Your Gate For You
Dont listen to me 3 weeks ago
Rather have one to take me to the gate. Some airports are very big.
#55
The Trains In Japan Have Women Only Cars
#56
They Have Built In Child Seats In The Madrid Bus
#57
I Saw A Scottish Mobile Cinema Today. People Go In The Front And The Screen Is At The Back
#58
This Quiet Room At Narita Airport For People With Autism
Debby Keir 3 weeks ago
Spoiler alert - there's no flight info in there so you can miss your flight...
#59
These Bins In Sweden Show You What To Recycle
TheElderNom 4 weeks ago
I've never seen bins like these and I've lived in Sweden my entire life.
#60
This Bus In Edinburgh Translates Announcements Into Sign Language
#61
This Supermarket Has Confectionary Free Checkouts For Parents Unwilling To Have Children Demanding That They Buy Some
#62
Height Adjustable Headrest In Denmark
BarkingSquirell 3 weeks ago
Everyone here uses the pillow things that go around the neck (look a bit like life preservers.)
#63
Adult And Child Sized Toilets In A Single Stall - Auckland International Airport
#64
This Toilet In Japan Has A System Of Occupied/Vacant Toilets Information
Debby Keir 3 weeks ago
A bit of overkill - surely you can tell by whether it's red/locked, green/open. Other than knowing that there are free cubicles, explore...
#65
This Mcdonalds Has A "Drive-Thru" For Boats. Located In Hamburg, Germany
Debby Keir 3 weeks ago
Lots of canal boat cafés have have shore and boat serving hatches. Some supermarkets on Brit canal have a dock for boats - if you're by a canal, it makes good business sense.
#66
The Toilet In My Hotel In Filled With Seawater
General Anaesthesia 3 weeks ago
Occasionally there might be a distinctive sea water ... and I expected "taste" so maybe they should mention "do not drink". :)
#67
Tokyo Train Station Has A Face-To-Face “Live” Translation Window With 12 Languages
#68
This Train Has An Information Screen Which Shows How Full Each Carriage Is
#69
Paris Has Sparkling Water Fountains
#70
They Have Umbrella Vending Machines In Hong Kong
AtMostAFabulist 4 weeks ago
Doesn't Hong Kong have vending machines for just about everything?
#71
Solar Power On Buses In Hong Kong
Ixanga Cancun 4 weeks ago
Again, many countries have these, why are these being presented as unique?
#72
This Sidewalk For Smartphone Users In Warsaw, Poland
#73
This Cinema In Croatia Has Beds Instead Of Seats In The Last Row
Ixanga Cancun 4 weeks ago (edited)
I would have liked these as a teenager when we used to sit in the back row and kiss.
#74
This "Pick Up, Drop Off" Machine At Yokohama Station Lets People Transfer Goods Without Meeting In Person
#75
My Country Has Both A Handicap And Elderly Parking Spots
#79
In China, Urinals Can Conduct A Health Check-Up For You, For A Fee
#80
Scaffolding In Hong Kong Is Made Of Bamboo
Ixanga Cancun 4 weeks ago
It is much of the South East Asia and other countries that grow bamboo. In Bhutan they put it up differently with two pieces standing and crossing and tied together, looks really nice.
#81
These Helpful Robots That Wander Incheon Airport, Seoul, That You Can Use To Check Flight Information
#82
In South Korea, China, And Germany, They Have Specific Painted Parking Spots For Women
Elladine DesIsles 4 weeks ago
Are these about safety (located in a well-lit area, close to exits/elevators and security or other staff)? Or are they about misogyny (the stereotype that women are less skilled drivers and need more space to park)?
#83
Microsoft (Copenhagen) Has Tablet/Phone Holders In Their Toilet Stalls
BarkingSquirell 3 weeks ago
A huge-gross out for me is people sitting on the toilet whilst talking on their phones. Just ick.
#84
Bahrain Airport Offers Actual Functional Strollers For Kids!
Ixanga Cancun 4 weeks ago
Many airports do this, mostly it's free but not always, in Hong Kong there is a rental fee.
#85
A New Type Of Pedestrian Crossing Light Indicators Found In Hong Kong
#86
Weird Plastic Finger Covers To Eat Chips With In Korea
Daisydaisy 3 weeks ago
I think we need to stop inventing more and more "wonderful" things made of plastic
#87
Decent Public Transportation, And Bike Friendly Cities. The City I Live In Is Supposedly On Of The Most Bike Friendly Cities In The Country, And It Still Sucks. Also, Bus Routes Are Virtually Non Existent
#88
Robot Tourist Information In Tokyo
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Jeolas1 3 weeks ago
Why single out the USA as outclassed here? I bet most of these "hacks" are not common in many other countries, too. I know they are not in mine.
Onan Hag All 3 weeks ago
No other nation goes about bragging how they are the greatest on earth.
Load More Replies...
Jerusalem Cat Syndrome 2 weeks ago
For all the folks suggesting an invention couldn't possibly work, or work as you think it must: right-click and choose Google Lens to learn why the inventors already thought of that.
Jeolas1 3 weeks ago
Why single out the USA as outclassed here? I bet most of these "hacks" are not common in many other countries, too. I know they are not in mine.
Onan Hag All 3 weeks ago
No other nation goes about bragging how they are the greatest on earth.
Load More Replies... Jerusalem Cat Syndrome 2 weeks ago
For all the folks suggesting an invention couldn't possibly work, or work as you think it must: right-click and choose Google Lens to learn why the inventors already thought of that.
Related on Bored Panda
