With the semi finals done and dusted for another year, it’s time for one of our most popular annual articles – let’s find out which countries have had their qualification rates improved the most by reaching the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 and who has taken a knock with their DNQ from Tuesday or Thursday night.

Wondering how these rates have fluctuated over the last almost half decade? Take a look here and find out! You can find the rates for 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022 here.

Just to remind you, the formula for working out the percentages is:

Country:  (number of qualifications/potential number of qualifications) x 100 = percent qualified for

Any countries with the same percentage have been listed alphabetically. Take a look below to see whose rate has improved following 2023, who has dented their odds and for who staying home might have been a better idea!

Ukraine (17/17) = 100% (no change)

Sweden (17/18) = (18/19) = 94.73% (+0.29%)

Russia (15/16) = 93.75% (no change)

Bosnia & Herzegovina (9/10) = 90% (no change)

Turkey (8/9) = 88.88% (no change)

Australia (7/8) = 87.50% (+1.79%)

Azerbaijan (13/15) = 86.66% (-6.19%)

Greece (16/19) = 84.21% (-4.67%)

Norway (16/19) = 84.21% (+0.88%)

Armenia (12/15) = 80.00% (+1.43%)

Serbia (12/15) = 80.00% (+1.43%)

Romania (14/18) = 77.77% (-4.58%)

Hungary (10/13) = 76.92% (no change)

Moldova (13/19) = 68.42% (+1.76%)

Denmark (12/19) = 63.15% (-3.51%)

Israel (12/19) = 63.15% (+2.04%)

Lithuania (12/19) = 63.15% (+2.04%)

Cyprus (11/18) = 61.11% (+2.29%)

Albania (11/19) = 57.89% (+2.34%)

Finland (11/19) = 57.89 (+2.34%)

Iceland (11/19) = 57.89% (-3.22%)

Austria (8/15) = 53.33% (+3.33%)

Malta (10/19) = 52.63% (-2.92%)

Belgium (9/19) = 47.36% (+2.92)

Estonia (9/19) = 47.36% (+2.92)

The Netherlands (9/19) = 47.36% (-2.64%)

Croatia (8/17) = 47.05% (+3.30%)

Poland (8/17) = 47.05% (+3.30%)

Portugal (8/17) = 47.05% (+3.30%)

Georgia (7/15) = 46.66% (-3.34%)

Czechia (5/11) = 45.45% (+5.45%)

Ireland (8/19) = 42.10% (-2.34%)

Switzerland (8/19) = 42.10% (+3.22%)

Belarus (6/16) = 37.50% (no change)

Slovenia (7/19) = 36.84% (+3.51)

Bulgaria (5/14) 35.71% (no change)

North Macedonia (6/18) = 33.33% (no change)

Latvia (6/19) = 31.57% (-1.76%)

San Marino (3/13) = 23.07% (-1.93%)

Montenegro (2/12) = 16.66% (no change)

Andorra (0/6) = 0% (no change)

Slovakia (0/4) = 0% (no change)

Monaco (0/3) = 0% (no change)

The 10 countries (well, 11 as there was a tie!) who saw the biggest increase in their qualification rates thanks to the results of the Eurovision 2023 semi finals were:

1. Czechia (5/11) = 45.45% (+5.45%)
2. Slovenia (7/19) = 36.84% (+3.51)
3. Austria (8/15) = 53.33% (+3.33%)
4. Croatia (8/17) = 47.05% (+3.30%)
5. Poland (8/17) = 47.05% (+3.30%)
6. Portugal (8/17) = 47.05% (+3.30%)
7. Switzerland (8/19) = 42.10% (+3.22%)
8. Belgium (9/19) = 47.36% (+2.92)
9. Estonia (9/19) = 47.36% (+2.92)
10. Albania (11/19) = 57.89% (+2.34%)
11. Finland (11/19) = 57.89 (+2.34%)

With their 2nd consecutive qualification, Czechia’s qualification rate gets boosted by 5.45% and makes them the biggest gainer of the 2023 season. Joker Out saw Slovenia reach the final for the first time since 2019 and also sees their rate increase by just over three and a half percent. Croatia, Poland and Portugal are all approaching a 50% qualification rate, while Käärijä and Albina and the Kelmendi family both reaching the final saw Finland and Albania edge closer to having appeared at 60% of Eurovision finals. Interestingly, only Albania, Croatia, Austria and Slovenia did not qualify for the 2022 grand final, meaning that most countries in this list have improved their qualification rate 2 years running – or 3 years in the case of Portugal and 4 for Switzerland!

Sadly, not everyone can do so well at the Eurovision Song Contest. Where there are qualifiers, there are going to be countries that didn’t make the cut. The following countries had their rates impacted the most by missing on on Saturday’s Grand Final.

1. Azerbaijan (13/15) = 86.66% (-6.19%)
2. Greece (16/19) = 84.21% (-4.67%)
3. Romania (14/18) = 77.77% (-4.58%)
4. Denmark (12/19) = 63.15% (-3.51%)
5. Georgia (7/15) = 46.66% (-3.34%)
6. Iceland (11/19) = 57.89% (-3.22%)
7. Malta (10/19) = 52.63% (-2.92%)
8. The Netherlands (9/19) = 47.36% (-2.64%)
9. Ireland (8/19) = 42.10% (-2.34%)
10. San Marino (3/13) = 23.07% (-1.93%)

Missing out on the final for only the second time in their Eurovision history, Azerbaijan take the biggest knock to their percentage, seeing it fall over 6%. Greece and Romania usually find themselves among Saturday’s finalists, so their rates have also fallen somewhat, though remain over 75% overall. Georgia, The Netherlands and Ireland all languish at under 50% of finals reached, while poor San Marino have now reached less than a quarter of finals they’ve entered! Exactly half of these countries (Greece, Azerbaijan, The Netherlands, Iceland and Romania) all made the final last year, while the others had to sit out of Europe’s favourite television show two years running – it’s also worth noting that half of the countries on this list have won Eurovision at least one – which proves that past success is no promise of future success!

12 countries didn’t budge this year and their qualification ratings remained the same – but admittedly only one of them was actually taking part in the contest and even then, they were guaranteed a spot in the final as last year’s winner!!

1. Ukraine (17/17) = 100% (no change)
2. Russia (15/16) = 93.75% (no change)
3. Bosnia & Herzegovina (9/10) = 90% (no change)
4. Turkey (8/9) = 88.88% (no change)
5. Hungary (10/13) = 76.92% (no change)
6. Belarus (6/16) = 37.50% (no change)
7. Bulgaria (5/14) 35.71% (-2.75%)
8. North Macedonia (6/18) = 33.33% (no change)
9. Montenegro (2/12) = 16.66% (no change)
10. Andorra (0/6) = 0% (no change)
11. Slovakia (0/4) = 0% (no change)
12. Monaco (0/3) = 0% (no change)

Ukraine are the only country to retain a 100% qualification, having never been absent from the final of the Eurovision Song Contest since the introduction of the semi finals almost 20 years ago!

What do you think? Do any of these rates surprise you? Who do you think will keep a steady qualification rate in the years to come?

Let us know what you think!

Author: James Scanlan
Source: Eurovision Ireland
Image Source: YouTube