Data from U.S. News & World Report ranked 10 countries based on their overall quality of life—with Denmark at the top spot.
Every country has its beauties and pitfalls—there’s no such thing as a “perfect paradise” to live in, and what makes a country a “great place” is mostly a matter of subjectivity. That said, there are still countries that go above and beyond to provide most, if not all, their citizens and residents with the things they need to live good, dignified lives. Recently, the U.S. News & World Report released its list of top Countries for Quality of Life 2024, ranking 10 based on factors like cost of living, well-developed public health and education systems, a robust job market, income equality, political and economic stability, and safety.
Here’s a summary of the countries that emerged at the very top of the order overall:
At The Very Top
Three Northern European countries dominated the top five, with Denmark at first place, followed by Sweden at second, and Norway at fourth. Finland also made it to the top 10 at sixth place, adding a fourth Northern European country to the list.
The presence of many Nordic countries on the list doesn’t come as much of a surprise, since they have consistently found top spots in other quality of life rankings, including the World Happiness Report. This has much to do with the shared culture of these territories, which is built on trust as the Business Review at Berkley details in a report. Such trust leads to better social cohesion, which leads people to support leaders and policies that prioritize providing quality public services and championing equality in all aspects of life, including income. This emphasis of social welfare causes a positive cycle, leading to a higher level of happiness among citizens, which in turn promote a stronger sense of generosity and social connectedness, share academics Frank Martel, Bent Greve, Bo Rothstein, and Juho Saari in their piece on Nordic Exceptionalism for the World Happiness Report.
While Denmark’s score in the rankings for affordability is low (at 5.6 out of 100), the rest of its quality of life factors garnered scores between 83.4 to 100. Yet its low affordability score is mainly caused by higher taxes (used for excellent public services)—and it’s important to note that salaries in the country match these amounts, so citizens experience very low levels of income inequality. At present, the country holds a population of more than five million, with a total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $404 billion.
Europe Continues To Rank High
Meanwhile Switzerland—which lies mainly in Central or West-Central Europe—makes it to the top five at an impressive third place. It has long remained a very neutral territory even in times of conflict, lending it its political stability and overall high quality of life. With stunning natural surroundings, low unemployment rates, and a very skilled workforce, it also boasts one of the highest GDP per capita in the world ($92,980, and $885 billion in total) as the U.S. News & World Report details in its profile of the country.
Germany, also a part of Central Europe, ranks seventh in overall best quality of life. With a population of more than 84 million people, it has a total GDP of $4.46 trillion, mainly thanks to its excellent social services—which produce some of the world’s most skilled and affluent workforces. However, while it scores high in most quality of life indicators like well-developed education and health systems, its income equality isn’t perfect, as wealth distribution still remains a pressing concern today.
The Netherlands, part of Northwestern Europe, follows Germany closely at ninth place on the list. The coastal lowland has a population of more than 17 million people, with a GDP of $1.12 trillion. Like other European countries with high scores, affordability is low due to high taxes for social services, yet the return is high: with impressive scores across different quality of life indicators like public health and education, safety, political and economic stability, and the job market.
Non-European Countries
Meanwhile, Canada remains the only non-European country in the top five. With a population of more than 40 million people, it has a GDP per capita of $61,582 and a total GDP of $2.14 trillion. “Canada is a high-tech industrial society with a high standard of living. Trade agreements in the 1980s and 1990s dramatically bolstered trade with the U.S., and now the two counties are each other’s largest trading partner,” writes the the U.S. News & World Report in its profile on the country. “While the service sector is Canada’s biggest economic driver, the country is a significant exporter of energy, food and minerals. Canada ranks third in the world in proven oil reserves and is the world’s fourth-largest oil producer.”
Neighboring countries Australia and New Zealand are also part of the quality of life list, with the former at eighth place and latter at tenth place on the top 10. Both Oceania countries are known for their strong economies, idyllic environments, and admirable government policies.
“Australia is considered a wealthy nation with a market-based economy that has a comparatively high gross domestic product and per capita income. Its economy is driven by the service sector and the export of commodities,” writes the U.S. News & World Report.
On New Zealand, the report states: “The export market, abounding with dairy, sheep, beef, poultry, fruit, vegetables and wine, was opened beyond the U.K., and manufacturing and tourism were expanded. Per capita income remains high and education expenditures as a percent of gross domestic product are some of the highest in the world.”
Banner photo by Razvan Mirel via Unsplash.
