Precedence in Each Realm
As the Order of Merit is open to the citizens of sixteen different countries, each with their own system of orders, decorations, and medals, the order's place of precedence varies from country to country. While, in the United Kingdom, the order's postnominal letters follow those of Knights and Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, membership in the Order of Merit itself gives members no place in any of the orders of precedence in the United Kingdom. However, it has been claimed by Stanley Martin, in his book The Order of Merit 1902-2002: One Hundred Years of Matchless Honour, that the Order of Merit is actually the pinnacle of the British honours system. Similarly, though it was not listed in the Canadian order of precedence for honours, decorations, and medals until December 2010, except relating to those who were appointed to the order prior to 1 June 1972,. Christopher McCreery, an expert on Canadian honours and secretary to the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, stated that the Order of Merit was the highest civilian award for merit a Canadian could receive.
Some orders of precedence are as follows:
| Country | Preceding | Following | |
| Australia |
Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath | Knight/Dame of the Order of Australia | |
| Canada |
Cross of Valour | Companion of the Order of Canada | |
| New Zealand |
Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath | Member of the Order of New Zealand | |
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