The 10 Best Countries To Live In Around The World

10. New Zealand

People in New Zealand have a high life expectancy, living an average of 82 years.

> Human Development Index score: 0.910
> Gross nat’l income per capita: $32,569 (30th highest)
> Life expectancy at birth: 81.1 years (17th highest)
> Expected years of schooling: 19.4 years (2nd highest)

A typical New Zealander starting school in 2012 was expected to receive more than 19 years of education, higher than in every country except for neighboring Australia, and perhaps an indication of the country’s strong education system. New Zealand invested 7.2% of its GDP on education in 2012, one of the highest expenditures worldwide. And while spending does not always yield strong outcomes, New Zealand students consistently performed above-average on international assessment tests. Like most livable countries, New Zealand residents also enjoy one of the world’s highest life expectancies. A newborn was expected to live more than 81 years as of last year.

9. Canada 

 Tying with New Zealand, Canada ranks high in education level. More than half of its residents graduate from college.

> Population: 35.5 million
> GNI per capita: $42,155
> Life expectancy at birth: 82.0 years
> Pct. of pop. with at least some high school: 99.9%

Canada has one of the better-educated populations in the world. Nearly all adult citizens — 99.9% of residents 25 and over — have a at least some secondary education. The nation’s students also score among the best in the world on standardized math, science and reading exams for 15 year olds. The United States often compares its own health care system to Canada’s public system. Based on life expectancy at birth, it appears that Canadians are healthier on average than citizens of most other countries. Also, just 81 males and 51 females out of every 1,000 people are not expected to live past 60 years in Canada, one of the lowest adult mortality rates among nations reviewed by the HDI.

8. The United States 

 The U.S. ranks high in financial wealth. Americans earn an average of $52,947 per year.

> Population: 322.6 million
> GNI per capita: $52,947
> Life expectancy at birth: 79.1 years
> Pct. of pop. with at least some high school: 95.0%

With a GDP of $16.2 trillion, the U.S. economy is the largest in the world. Workers in the United States are also among the world’s most productive. On average, each U.S. worker contributes $91,710 to the economy, third in the OECD after only Luxembourg and Norway.

Younger American students lag behind many of their peers abroad. U.S. students rank 22nd in the world in reading performance, 34th in math, and 26th in science. One potential explanation for the relatively poor academic performance may be a lack of investment in education. The United States spends only 5.2% of its GDP on education, a lower expenditure than most OECD nations. However, based on the tertiary enrollment rate, Americans are more likely to pursue higher education than residents of every other country except for Greece and South Korea.

7. Ireland 

 Crime is low in Ireland. The homicide rate stands at only 1.2 per 1,000 people, according to the most recent data available.

7. Ireland
> Population: 4.7 million
> GNI per capita: $39,568
> Life expectancy at birth: 80.9 years
> Pct. of pop. with at least some high school: 79.6%

Like in many of Western Europe’s wealthier nations, Ireland has relatively strong medical institutions and its residents are healthy. Just 3.2 out of every 1,000 newborns die before age 1, for example, almost half the infant mortality rate of 6.48 deaths per 1,000 newborns across all OECD nations. Similarly, just 82 males and 49 females per 1,000 Irish residents die before the age of 60, each significantly less than the OECD male and female mortality rates of 60.5 and 112.5, respectively.

Ireland residents spend 12.2 years in school on average, one of the higher mean years of schooling in the world. If current enrollment trends continue, Irish children can expect to receive an average of 18.6 years of education, the fifth most of countries reviewed.

6. Germany 

 This country ranks high in overall health. People live to age 81 on average and have a relatively low risk for diseases like malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis.

> Population: 82.7 million
> GNI per capita: $43,919
> Life expectancy at birth: 80.9 years
> Pct. of pop. with at least some high school: 96.6%

The 1990 Human Development Report ranked Germany as the 12th most livable country. The 2015 report ranks Germany sixth in the world for the third consecutive year. The Western European nation does especially well in educational measures. The average number of years of schooling among German citizens is 13.1, higher than in every other country reviewed. German students also rank among the top 20 countries in the world in reading, math, and science. Germany, which is one of a minority of countries with a female head of state, is ahead of most countries in gender equality. Roughly 36.9% of parliament seats are held by women, a larger share than in all but 21 other countries.

Germany is also a relatively safe country. With fewer than 1 homicide for every 100,000 residents reported each year, it has one of the lowest murder rates of the 188 countries examined. By contrast, it is significantly lower than the 4.7 homicides for every 100,000 U.S. residents annually.

5. The Netherlands 

 This country has one of the lowest rates of income inequality in the world, and it's been continually decreasing since the mid-1990s.

> Population: 16.8 million
> GNI per capita: $45,435
> Life expectancy at birth: 81.6 years
> Pct. of pop. with at least some high school: 89.0%

The Netherlands, like many other Western European nations, has a high life expectancy and a strong education system. The Netherlands spends 12.9% of its $755.3 billion GDP on public health, a higher share than any country other than the United States. Partially as a result, Dutch citizens have remarkably good health outcomes. The Netherlands’ infant mortality rate of 3.3 deaths per 1,000 newborns is almost half of the infant mortality rate across OECD nations. Similarly, the country’s 81.6 year life expectancy at birth is among the highest worldwide.

A higher share of Dutch children are enrolled in secondary school than in all but two other countries. If current enrollment patterns continue, a Dutch child can expect to receive about 18 years of schooling, the seventh highest of any nation.

4. Denmark 

 The gender wage gap is now at only 15%, a percentage that is declining due to mounting protests by workers. For comparison, the gap hovers at 64% in the US.

> Population: 5.6 million
> GNI per capita: $44,025
> Life expectancy at birth: 80.2 years
> Pct. of pop. with at least some high school: 96.1%

High public spending on education helps Danish citizens enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world. Denmark spends 8.8% of its $235.7 billion GDP on public education, compared to the average OECD expenditure 5.1%. Partially as a result, Denmark has a higher share of students enrolled in secondary school than in all but three other countries. If current enrollment patterns continue, Dutch children can expect to receive 18.7 years of education, a longer period than in all but three other countries.

Compared to most advanced economies, Denmark is relatively safe. There is less than one homicide per 100,000 Danes, much less than the 4 murders per 100,000 persons across all OECD nations.

3. Switzerland 

 People in Switzerland enjoy low-cost tuition; students can go to college for less than $1,000 per semester.

> Population: 8.2 million
> GNI per capita: $56,431
> Life expectancy at birth: 83.0 years
> Pct. of pop. with at least some high school: 95.7%

Switzerland is home to one of the healthiest populations in the world. Life expectancy at birth in the nation is 83 years, higher than in all but three other countries. A long life expectancy may be attributable to higher than average investment in public health. Switzerland spends 11.5% of its total GDP on public health, one of the largest shares in the world. Switzerland is also a relatively safe country. With roughly 0.6 homicides for every 100,000 residents, the country’s murder rate is one of the lowest of countries reviewed.

Along with health and safety, the Swiss also do well by several education-related measures. The country’s schools are proving effective as Swiss students rank seventh in the world in mathematics. They also rank among the 20 top in reading and science.

2. Australia 

 In the past 10 years, the Australian government increased its investment in education by more than 25%. The UN found that most students go to school for around 20 years.

> Population: 23.6 million
> GNI per capita: $42,261
> Life expectancy at birth: 82.4 years
> Pct. of pop. with at least some high school: 94.4%

By international standards of wealth, health, and education, Australia is the second most livable country. Australia currently has the highest share of children enrolled in secondary school of any nation. Australian children are expected to spend over two decades getting an education in their lifetimes, the highest years of expected schooling worldwide.

Relatively few adults in Australia die prematurely. Just 45 females and 78 males for every 1,000 Australians die before reaching the age of 60, much lower than the adult mortality rates of 61 females and 113 males for every 1,000 people who die prematurely across all OECD nations. At the age of 60, the average Australian can expect to live for about 25 more years, the third highest old-age life expectancy on the planet.

1. Norway 

 For the 12th consecutive year, Norway ranked highest in life expectancy, education, and standard of living. Thanks to the country's robust healthcare system, the average life expectancy is 82 years.

> Population: 5.1 million
> GNI per capita: $64,992
> Life expectancy at birth: 81.6 years
> Pct. of pop. with at least some high school: 97.1%

While each of the Scandinavian nations has historically done very well in the HDI, Norway has ranked first in each of the last five years of the report’s release. Like most other nations with a high quality of life, Norway’s population tends to be very wealthy. The country’s GNI per capita of $64,992 is among the highest in the world. It is also more than $12,000 per person higher than the U.S. GNI per capita. Like its Scandinavian neighbors, wealth and other aspects, such as employment and political power, are relatively evenly distributed throughout the population based on gender. The country ranks as one of the best of countries reviewed in the HDI gender equality index.