Britain has been named one of the least “nature-connected” countries in the world, according to a major new global study examining how people across 61 nations relate to the natural world.
The research, involving 57,000 participants and published in the journal Ambio, found that the UK ranked 55th — placing it near the bottom of the international table. Only countries such as the Netherlands, Canada, Germany, Israel, Japan, and Spain scored lower, with Spain emerging as the least connected nation.
At the other end of the scale, Nepal was identified as the most nature-connected country, followed by Iran, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Nigeria. Croatia and Bulgaria were the only European countries to make it into the global top 10.
Nature connection and wellbeing
“Nature connectedness” is a psychological measure of how emotionally and spiritually linked people feel to the natural environment and other living things. Previous studies have shown that people with higher levels of connection to nature tend to enjoy better wellbeing and are more likely to act in environmentally responsible ways.
According to researchers, societies that are highly industrialised, urbanised, and digitally dependent tend to score lower on this measure — factors that may help explain Britain’s position near the bottom of the list.
Miles Richardson, professor of nature connectedness at the University of Derby and lead author of the study, said the results were “disappointing but not surprising.”
“We’ve become a very rational, economic, and technological society,” he said. “That’s brought huge progress, but it’s also distanced us from nature. The challenge now is to find ways to bring nature back into our everyday lives — to make it something we value, respect, and even see as sacred.”
Spirituality linked to nature connection
The research team, which included academics from Austria and the UK, found that the strongest indicator of a close relationship with nature was spirituality. Countries where religion and faith played a more central role tended to show deeper connections to the natural world.
By contrast, nations that scored highly on the World Bank’s “ease of doing business” index — often those with more market-driven and urban economies — tended to have lower levels of nature connection.
Despite Britain’s strong environmental movement and high levels of membership in conservation groups, Richardson said such indicators had little measurable effect on how emotionally connected people felt to nature.
Economic and social influences
The study also found that income levels, urbanisation, and internet use all contributed to weaker ties to nature.
“Nature connectedness isn’t about how much time we spend outdoors,” Richardson explained. “It’s about how we feel and what we value in the living world. That’s something society has gradually lost.”
He suggested that initiatives such as integrating nature into NHS treatments, embedding biodiversity in corporate decision-making, and recognising the “rights of nature” in law could help rebuild this connection.
“There’s a tension between business and the environment,” he said. “We still need a strong economy, but we also need to recognise that nature isn’t just a resource — it’s a stakeholder in our future.”
Faith leaders call for cultural change
The study’s findings have also resonated with faith leaders. The Bishop of Norwich, Graham Usher, who leads environmental affairs for the Church of England, said reconnecting with nature was vital for both spiritual and emotional health.
“In the Gospels, we see Jesus spending time in nature — noticing the birds of the air and the lilies of the field,” he said. “When we notice something, we begin to love it; when we love it, we protect it. Rebuilding that relationship starts with children and community spaces like forest schools and wild churches.”
A nation drifting from nature
Britain’s low ranking underscores how far urbanisation and technology have reshaped daily life — and how difficult it may be to reverse that trend.
As Professor Richardson put it: “It’s not just about planting more parks. It’s about creating spaces that truly connect people to something bigger — to the living world itself.”
