At the Olympics, people often wonder how countries would rank if medals were counted per capita instead of just by total numbers.
This idea is popular in New Zealand, a country that has competed in the Olympics since 1908. Recently, many New Zealanders have been searching for “per capita medal tally” on Google. The official medal tally ranks countries based on the total number of gold medals, followed by silver and bronze, with larger countries like the United States and China usually leading the count.
New Zealand is ranked 12th in the official medal count at the Paris Olympics. However, when medals are calculated per capita, New Zealand ranks much higher, at fifth place. This method of counting shows how countries with smaller populations, like New Zealand, can achieve significant Olympic success compared to larger nations.
Interestingly, Caribbean nations Dominica and Saint Lucia top the per capita medal list, with Saint Lucia celebrating its first Olympic gold medal won by Julien Alfred in the women’s 100 meters.
In contrast, some American news outlets calculate the medal tally by counting all medals equally, regardless of the type. This method places the United States at the top with 103 total medals, ahead of China with 73. However, this approach has faced criticism. Many countries, including Australia, argue that gold medals should be valued more highly, as they represent the highest achievement in an event. Overall, the debate over how to count Olympic medals continues, with different countries preferring methods that highlight their own successes.