And the best country to live in is ...

[jayem]

"Norway enjoys the world's highest quality of life, while Niger suffers the lowest, a U.N. agency said Monday, as it released a ranking that highlights the wide disparities in well-being between rich and poor countries.
The annual Human Development Index, unveiled in Bangkok by the United Nations Development Program, takes into account life expectancy, literacy, school enrollment and per capita gross domestic product in 182 countries..."

UN index rates life best in Norway, worst in Niger - World news- msnbc.com

The US ranked 13th.

Not sure about Japan, but the rest of the top 10 are all strongly to moderately socialistic. More so than the US anyway. Here's the full list:

Statistics | Human Development Reports (HDR) | United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)#

 

[wpiman2]

The UN? The same organization which give people like Kadaffi a public stage?

Please..... the US is the best place to live. Everyone knows that; especially the coasts.

 

[Cimejes]

I can understand your nationalism but have you actually visited the website.

 

[exotic walrus]

The UN? The same organization which give people like Kadaffi a public stage?

I feel embarrassed for you if you think that is going to pass for logical thinking.

Please..... the US is the best place to live. Everyone knows that; especially the coasts.

Oh you said it so therefore it must be true and everyone knows it except a primary institution that the majority of the world willingly participate in which found the exact opposite to be true.

 

[azmurath]

The UN? The same organization which give people like Kadaffi a public stage?

Please..... the US is the best place to live. Everyone knows that; especially the coasts.

I prefer Sweden.

 

[Maren]

The UN? The same organization which give people like Kadaffi a public stage?

Please..... the US is the best place to live. Everyone knows that; especially the coasts.

Every study of this type that I've seen, even those not done by the UN, tend to rank the countries in a similar order. For example, a 2004 poll by the Economist Intelligence Unit (a part of The Economist magazine) had similar results with Ireland at number one, the Scandinavian countries in the Top 10, and the US at 13. Sorry, most of the world doesn't "know", much less believe that the US is the best place to live.

 

[Maren]

I prefer Sweden.

Sweden was #7, so still pretty good, and they seem to be in the Top 10 of all of these best countries to live in lists.

The top 20 from this study were 1) Norway, 2) Australia, 3) Iceland, 4) Canada, 5) Ireland, 6) the Netherlands, 7) Sweden, 8) France, 9) Switzerland, 10) Japan, 11) Luxembourg, 12) Finland, 13) United States, 14) Austria, 15) Spain, 16) Denmark, 17) Belgium, 18) Italy, 19) Liechtenstein, 20) New Zealand.

 

[Mahammad]

most of the people will prefer there country and will say it is the best place to live in, including me.

 

[bigbadwilf]

especially the coasts.

Bring on the fjords...

 

[Tower Crane Driver]

most of the people will prefer there country and will say it is the best place to live in, including me.

Not me!

I live in the UK, and I agree with the report, the UK is worse than 20 other nations, rightly sitting in a shameful 21st.

This country is on a downward spiral, and with the Conservatives likely to seize power next year we will surely decline further.

 

[peadar1987]

most of the people will prefer there country and will say it is the best place to live in, including me.

If thta was the case, surely China would come out on top every time!

 

[wpiman2]

Well; I'd guess I will admit I'd much prefer to live in Sweden than the US South or Midwest. When I think of the US; I think of California and the Northeast.

I think I'd take living in Communist China over Texas.

 

[Fantine]

Statistics | Human Development Reports (HDR) | United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Here's the whole list.

I did love the summer I spent in Ireland (#5)...what a beautiful, friendly, peaceful, artsy country.

 

[peadar1987]

Statistics | Human Development Reports (HDR) | United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Here's the whole list.

I did love the summer I spent in Ireland (#5)...what a beautiful, friendly, peaceful, artsy country.

 

[Phylogeny]

Notice that the top countries are typically small. I think that's something which needs to be pointed out. Larger countries are typically harder to govern and have pockets of poverty which lowers the standard of living index. This isn't to say that Norway isn't a great place to live, but to point out that the US is probably lousy not because the average American is worse off than Norwegians (or Swedes etc) but that there are pockets of deep poverty in the US which has yet to be eradicated. Truth to tell, I'd be surprised if any large size countries make it to the top of the list. Ok, Japan is ranked relatively high because they are much more homogeneous and have a smaller number of traditionally oppressed minorities (as compared to the US).

 

[Museveni]

Notice that the top countries are typically small. I think that's something which needs to be pointed out. Larger countries are typically harder to govern and have pockets of poverty which lowers the standard of living index. This isn't to say that Norway isn't a great place to live, but to point out that the US is probably lousy not because the average American is worse off than Norwegians (or Swedes etc) but that there are pockets of deep poverty in the US which has yet to be eradicated. Truth to tell, I'd be surprised if any large size countries make it to the top of the list. Ok, Japan is ranked relatively high because they are much more homogeneous and have a smaller number of traditionally oppressed minorities (as compared to the US).

In that case Australia should logicly be much lower. but guess they're the exception that proves the rule Also read in a swedish newspaper that the numbers they are basing this on is from 2007 so it's befor the current economic problems hit.

 

[SpiritualAntiseptic]

Not sure about Japan, but the rest of the top 10 are all strongly to moderately socialistic. More so than the US anyway. Here's the full list:

Statistics | Human Development Reports (HDR) | United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)#

That's sort of a big "duh" - because the poll is setup to give socialist countries a higher ranking. One of the major factors are disparities in income between classes, which has nothing to do with the overall quality of life.

I don't mean to be a jingoist, but the United States consistantly has one of the higher qualities of life when you actually measure the quality of life for an average citizen. However, because there are many more millionaries in the US per capital than Norway, that somehow affects my quality of life. Basically, the folks that set the standards for the poll attempt to make up for the fact that nations that punish success (by reducing the upper class) end up hurting their overall productivity... so they balance it by adding income disparity.

 

[exotic walrus]

Just when you think the thread can't get more absurd...

 

[SpiritualAntiseptic]

Just when you think the thread can't get more absurd...

I'm not sure what you are finding absurd. Greater income disparity is a negative factor in these quality of life ratings... when in fact, it has nothing to do with quality of life. I can't tell how half the factors in these studies have anything to do with my quality of life.

Most people would consider that quality of life is based on the goods and services utilized by the average citizen. Typical countries are compared based on the statistics of fixed prices and purchasing power... but that isn't what is measured here.

For what it is worth, I think the statistics are all subjective in the end. If what you value is quiet time and a vacation, Sweden is the place. If what you like is bigger houses, more toys- then go to the US. A lot of it comes down to the values of the culture itself being judged.

 

[exotic walrus]

I'm not sure what you are finding absurd. Greater income disparity is a negative factor in these quality of life ratings... when in fact, it has nothing to do with quality of life.

Levels of class difference in society have no relation to quality of life? :o

Most people would consider that quality of life is based on the goods and services utilized by the average citizen.

Most people, if we mean it literally, would probably assume that quality of life measurements start with very relative hierarchies like - Am I able to feed my children, is there any fresh water and am I likely to be killed tomorrow.