U.S. News & World Report A ranking of the best countries in the world based on quality of life was recently released.
To rank the 89 countries/regions on the list, U.S. News & World Report, global marketing and communications services company WPP and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania conducted a global survey from March 22 to May 23, 2024. Nearly 17,000 people took the survey.
Countries with the best quality of life are rated according to the following indicators:
- Affordable price
- Good job market
- economic stability
- Suitable for families
- income equality
- political stability
- safe
- Complete public education system
- Complete public health system
The United States is one of the countries conspicuously absent from the top ten. It ranks 22nd among the best countries for quality of life, but its ranking is indeed its highest ever, at No. 3, in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Countries overall rankings.
Elliot Davis, a reporter for U.S. News and World Report, told CNBC Make It that the United States ranks poorly in the ranking of countries with the best quality of life, ranking 57th in affordability, and second in the list of countries with the best quality of life. Countries considered unbureaucratic ranked 49th.
“In terms of a good job market, they’re doing really well, ranking 13th,” Davis said. “In terms of perceptions, they are not seen as providing as good a quality of life to their people as other countries.”
Denmark is the country with the best quality of life
Denmark moved from fourth place in 2023 to first place this year.
Denmark, along with Sweden and Norway, is part of the Nordic Scandinavian cultural area.
“Denmark is a country that performs well overall in rankings in areas such as education, health care, political stability, economic stability,” Davis said. “Denmark is seen as a country that provides a good life for its citizens and provides a high level of education for its residents. A place for quality living.”
Although Danes pay some of the highest taxes in the world, up to half of their income, this is offset by the fact that most health care in the country is free, childcare is subsidized, and university students pay no tuition fees and receive grants. One influence.
Denmark
Nick Pedersen | Stone | Getty Images
Denmark was also rated Number one country where expats are most satisfied with their jobsAccording to an expat insider survey conducted in July 2024 by InterNations, a global online community for expats, they have many problems with employment opportunities and work-life balance.
Some 84% of Danish expats are satisfied with their work-life balance, compared to the global average of 60%.
Denmark was also ranked the second happiest country in the world in this year’s World Happiness Report. The country’s high ranking is partly due to its level of equality and responsibility for social welfare. The country’s official website. According to the World Happiness Report, these two things are closely related to happiness.
Top 10 countries in the world for quality of life
- Denmark
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Norway
- Canada
- Finland
- Germany
- Australia
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
This year, Sweden’s quality of life fell from first to second in the world.
Sweden
Michael Robinson | Corbis Documentary | Getty Images
Similar to Denmark, Sweden provides residents with free healthcare and university education. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the country’s people have one of the longest life expectancies, with an average age of 82.8 years. CIA World Factbook.
Davis said that although Sweden fell down the rankings this year, it performed well in other categories. It ranks second in caring for human rights and the environment. The only downside is that, similar to Denmark, the country ranks near the bottom for affordability.
Sweden also offers a unique parental leave policy. Parents are entitled to 480 days Paid leave is available upon the birth or adoption of a child, and if there are two parents, each is entitled to 240 days of paid leave.
According to statistics, the average cost of living in Sweden is 9.4% lower than in the United States, and rent is 47.5% lower. Nubeo.
Davis also highlighted that Sweden is one of four countries from the Nordic region ranked in the top ten this year.
“The area is considered to offer a high quality of life to its people,” he said.
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