Lucas Beaumont
The following factors have been considered to decide the quality of living in the nations: cost of living, environment, freedom, national economy, infrastructure and the climate.
(1) France: It is the best nation to live in, as a survey done by a United Nations agency found out in 2010. It is the fifth consecutive year that France is on the top spot. Although the country is expensive by any standards but a subsidised health system and education system, literate population along with some of the best museums and cuisines in the world make it the best country to live in.
(2) Australia: Australia is the sixth largest nation in the whole world and it is famous for its sandy beaches. Its proximity to Asia provides it with many economic opportunities. Agriculture and mining are the major job providers. The culture is great, the food is excellent and the cost of living is lower than many other cities in the developed world.
(3) Switzerland: This landlocked country in the Alpines has been rated the third most desired country to live in. The country has never been at war in the past 500 years. There are four major languages – German, French, Italian, Romansh, virtually no natural resources, no link to the sea; but the country is prosperous and has earned notoriety in several nations because of its famous secret banks.
(4) Germany: The country is the second biggest exporter in the world and the Germans are famous for their thirst for perfection. The country has some of the world’s best universities; even small towns offer great sports facilities and the art is great. Germany is the biggest economy in the European Union and most of the industry is high-tech.
(5) New Zealand: It is one of those few developed nations which still have a pristine landscape. The land is expensive and getting a permanent residency permit is difficult unless one is an investor. The country is the world’s least corrupt nation.
(6) Luxembourg: According to the World Bank, approximately 420,000 inhabitants of Luxembourg earn more than any other nation in the whole world on per capita basis. The nation was among the founding members of the European Union. The nation is only 82 kilometres long and 56 kilometres across. Lëtzebuergesch is the official language but English, French and German are also widely spoken and the capital is among the main financial centres in the world.
(7) United States: It is the world’s richest nation and six of the top ten universities in the world are in the United States. It is a great place to learn and there are ample employment opportunities. The country is liberal but the society is much more violent than in many developed nations.
(8) Belgium: The capital of Belgium, Brussels, is considered the greenest capital in the world and the country also hosts the European Union and NATO headquarters. The country is divided into French-speaking and Flemish-speaking populations. The cities are clean and the environment is serene.
(9) Canada: It is the second largest country in the world and the living standards in Canada are among the highest in the world. The people are warm and welcoming and there are two main languages – English and French. Vast natural resources support the national economy and the country is investing heavily in the renewable energy resources.
(10) Italy: The government officials are, perhaps, the most corrupt in the developed world, strikes are common and the country is mostly Catholic. But all this doesn’t matter much when you consider that 60% of the art treasures in the world are in Italy. Italian is considered by many as the sweetest language in the world, couple this with the old museums, libraries, parks and other natural wonders and you will understand the meaning of le dolce vita.
