http://www.sirened.com/un-names-iceland-as-the-best-country-to-live
http://www.financialjesus.com/2008/05/27/top-10-happiest-countries/

and heres a few things that could go into making one of these. these are from back in 2007 so I bet we have fallen a some in everything

human development index top 22- basically the way un measures quality of life and its what they use to determine aid and if a nation is developing or developed. i think zimbabwe is last.

1 ? (1) Iceland ? 0.968
2 ? (1) Norway ? 0.968
3 ? (0) Australia ? 0.962
4 ? (2) Canada ? 0.961
5 ? (1) Ireland ? 0.959
6 ? (1) Sweden ? 0.956
7 ? (2) Switzerland ? 0.955
8 ? (1) Japan ? 0.953
9 ? (1) Netherlands ? 0.953
10 ? (6) France ? 0.952
11 ? (0) Finland ? 0.952
12 ? (4) United States ? 0.951
13 ? (6) Spain ? 0.949
14 ? (1) Denmark ? 0.949
15 ? (1) Austria ? 0.948
16 ? (2) United Kingdom ? 0.946
17 ? (4) Belgium ? 0.946
18 ? (6) Luxembourg ? 0.944
19 ? (1) New Zealand ? 0.943
20 ? (3) Italy ? 0.941
21 ? (1) Hong Kong ? 0.937
22 ? (1) Germany ? 0.935


gdp per capita top 22-basically how much the average person makes. this is a little messy but the rankings are to the right of the name and the 3 numbers are 3 different estimates(i think).

Luxembourg 1 104,673 1 99,879 2 104,452
Norway 2 83,922 2 81,111 3 84,595
Qatar 3 72,849 — N/A 4 83,152
Iceland 4 63,830 3 62,733 5 66,240
Ireland 5 59,924 4 58,399 6 62,934
Switzerland 6 58,084 6 55,035 8 56,111
Denmark 7 57,261 5 56,427 7 57,040
Sweden 8 49,655 7 48,584 9 50,415
Finland 9 46,602 8 46,515 10 46,769
Netherlands 10 46,261 9 46,041 11 46,389
United States 11 45,845 10 45,790 12 45,959
United Kingdom 12 45,575 12 44,693 13 45,626
Austria 13 45,181 11 45,343 14 45,599
Canada 14 43,485 15 40,222 18 43,478
Australia 15 43,312 17 39,098 16 43,798
United Arab Emirates 16 42,934 — N/A 19 43,339
Belgium 17 42,557 13 42,213 17 43,648
France 18 41,511 14 41,523 20 42,023
Germany 19 40,415 16 40,079 21 40,315
Italy 20 35,872 18 35,494 22 36,201
Singapore 21 35,163 19 35,160 24 35,427
Japan 22 34,312 20 34,254 25 34,402


I knew nothern europe had the best quality of life but I had no idea Canada, australia and ireland would be so high

10/2/2008 12:00:42 AM

Well, Canada, australia and ireland score better than America on the Economic Freedom Index, so we should expect them to score better in other measures.

Afterall, with freedom comes wealth, with wealth comes the power to improve how we live. (afterall, clear skies and clean drinking water cost money).

10/2/2008 12:28:59 AM

Canada's lower as of 2008, though just barely. The others are significantly lower. How do you explain that? Norway manages a pathetic rank 34 compared with our rank 5.

10/2/2008 12:34:09 AM

Quote :

"Canada's lower as of 2008, though just barely. The others are significantly lower. How do you explain that? Norway manages a pathetic rank 34 compared with our rank 5."

Source? Link?

Does it really matter what the rank is? I mean, if you come in 5th or 17th? There isn't any practical difference in terms of quality of life.

10/2/2008 12:42:23 AM

http://www.heritage.org/Index/

I was responding to Snark's attempt to tie quality of life to the above index.

10/2/2008 1:17:07 AM

here you go with proper formatting. btw, is this Nominal GDP, or PPP GDP? ok, just looked it up (from link below), and it is nominal GDP per capita. looked at PPP GDP per capita, and the numbers change, as they take into account the cost of living, but for the top 20 or so, the rankings don't change much.

oh, and wiki has all such rankings in one place for easy reference: (in fact, the numbers you posted in both tables are in th elink below)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Lists_of_countries
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Global_economic_classifications

Luxembourg	1* 104,673	1* 99,879	2* 104,452
Norway 		2* 83,922 	2* 81,111 	3* 84,595
Qatar 		3* 72,849			4* 83,152
Iceland 	4* 63,830 	3* 62,733 	5* 66,240
Ireland 	5* 59,924 	4* 58,399 	6* 62,934
Switzerland 	6* 58,084 	6* 55,035 	8* 56,111
Denmark 	7* 57,261 	5* 56,427 	7* 57,040
Sweden 		8* 49,655 	7* 48,584 	9* 50,415
Finland 	9* 46,602 	8* 46,515 	10* 46,769
Netherlands 	10* 46,261 	9* 46,041 	11* 46,389
United States 	11* 45,845 	10* 45,790 	12* 45,959
United Kingdom 	12* 45,575 	12* 44,693 	13* 45,626
Austria 	13* 45,181 	11* 45,343 	14* 45,599
Canada 		14* 43,485 	15* 40,222 	18* 43,478
Australia 	15* 43,312 	17* 39,098 	16* 43,798
UAE		16* 42,934			19* 43,339
Belgium 	17* 42,557	13* 42,213	17* 43,648
France 		18* 41,511 	14* 41,523 	20* 42,023
Germany 	19* 40,415 	16* 40,079 	21* 40,315
Italy 		20* 35,872 	18* 35,494 	22* 36,201
Singapore 	21* 35,163 	19* 35,160 	24* 35,427
Japan 		22* 34,312 	20* 34,254 	25* 34,402

10/2/2008 1:41:29 AM

Norway is the perfect example of when a socialist society would work.


Billions of dollars worth of natural resources, but only like 20 people in the country.

10/2/2008 1:52:36 AM

You've got it pretty damn good in America. Quit your crying.

10/2/2008 1:56:32 AM

does HK stand for Hong Kong? And if so why isn't it included with China.

10/2/2008 2:27:43 PM

Although Hong Kong is officially a part of China, they still run most of their administrative and regulatory functions separately from the mainland along the established colonial era patterns. Its the one-country, two-systems philosophy that the PRC pitches. Therefore in many ways, the quality of services and rule of law are still much more firmly rooted in the HK SAR than in any of the mainland provinces.

In other words, its effectively its own economic entity separate from the mainland.

[Edited on October 2, 2008 at 3:26 PM. Reason : Added the punchline]

10/2/2008 3:26:11 PM

I think the colder a country is, the happier it is.

10/2/2008 3:32:06 PM

Russia is a bastion of happiness.

10/2/2008 3:58:42 PM

So much for USA #1.

At least we are at the top of the list for gun freedoms and plenty of freedom as to which fastfood restaurant to eat at.

10/2/2008 5:26:04 PM

Quote :

"1. Luxembourg - $80,800 This tiny country with a total population of less than 500 000 is a true European miracle. By tiny we mean the 8 smallest country in the world. From top to bottom it’s only about 50 miles and at its widest about 30 miles. Where does the money come from? Well, there is over 250 banks crammed into the small country! It has the largest banking concentration in the European Union and probably in the world. In addition to being rich the people are smart as well. In elementary school everyone studies in German, starting from middle school they learn in French and in highchool the main language is English. Their own language - Lëtzebuergesch. When picking up a local newspaper be prepared to find articles in all languages. If your country is on the list and you have an interesting fact about it - let me know in the comments and I will add it to the list! "

why can't are students be that smart

10/2/2008 5:28:58 PM

GIVE US US [gun] FREE[doms]

^ I really hope you were being sarcastic with that commentary...

[Edited on October 2, 2008 at 5:45 PM. Reason : ]

10/2/2008 5:45:00 PM

i thought misspelling 'our' in response to all the grammatical mistakes in the quote were evident

10/2/2008 6:09:47 PM

^^^ there are many reasons why luxemborg is like that, primarily having to do with $$$.

10/2/2008 6:25:32 PM

Quote :

"i thought misspelling 'our' in response to all the grammatical mistakes in the quote were evident"

10/2/2008 6:44:01 PM

I would be interested to see a similar list that treats each state as its own economic entity.

10/2/2008 7:25:42 PM

I wonder if religious zealots push to teach Creationism in European schools.

10/2/2008 8:20:55 PM

I wonder if Bushes cut taxes on the wealthy in Europe.

10/2/2008 8:25:33 PM

I wonder if they are trying to ban abortion in Ireland.

Oh wait, abortion is already banned in Ireland.

We got a real liberal paradise there.

10/2/2008 11:54:11 PM

Quote :

"I would be interested to see a similar list that treats each state as its own economic entity."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_by_GDP_per_capita_(nominal)

Sadly, I can't find PPP figures for individual states. However, we do have this:

http://www.missourieconomy.org/indicators/cost_of_living/index.stm

Doing some rough calculations, it seems as if living here in New Mexico about matches Iceland or the Netherlands. Mississippi and West Virginia, on the hand, resemble Spain and Italy. Because of the absurd cost of living, Hawaii does worse still, approaching Cyprus and Slovenia. North Carolina has almost the exact US average, narrowly beating Ireland. DC defeats even Luxembourg and Qatar in luxury.

10/3/2008 12:32:37 AM

^that doesn't factor in quality of health care, education and overall human welfare. I am sure New Mexico's hdi is lower than that of those nations at the top.

10/3/2008 1:10:58 AM

FUCK THAT

ITS AMERICA

ITS ALWAYS BEEN AMERICA

AND FUCK ALL YOU COMMIES WHO SYMPATHIZE WITH THE REDS

10/3/2008 1:13:26 AM

Quote :

"I am sure New Mexico's hdi is lower than that of those nations at the top."

No doubt. The simple fact that DC's per capita GDP tops the charts makes me question the measure's utility. As outsider, DC has never seemed pleasant to me. A few of my trips to and through the place have been downright awful.

10/3/2008 1:26:05 AM

I'm not sure I'm buying the Economic Freedom Index argument from LoneSnark, given Singapore's prominence and that of Hong Kong. One is a special zone ultimately under the rule of a vast authoritative communist regime, and the other is a corporate police state that, from my understanding, should be a real libertarian's worst nightmare.

10/3/2008 1:31:34 AM

The HDI isn't really a better way to determine quality of life than any other.

If you make a lot of money, don't have a lot of taxes, and don't pay very much for basic needs and housing, you can afford the insurance for your own healthcare. Does that make your life worse than if you make a lot of money, but have to pay lots of taxes and pay more for food and housing, but have public health care?

10/3/2008 1:32:35 AM

Quote :

"If you make a lot of money"

10/3/2008 1:38:40 AM

exactly

And by "a lot" I mean in a worldwide sense, meaning $30-35,000 or so.

If you can't do that in America you're just not trying. Basically everyone in America who has a real job makes a lot of money.

10/3/2008 1:44:55 AM

Quote :

"If you can't do that in America you're just not trying."

10/3/2008 1:46:31 AM

Dude, fuck that. Most of the top 10 are really cold. Who wants to live in the cold.

USA ftmfw!

10/3/2008 1:46:40 AM

well the people who are less well of are much more well off in those other countries and it benefits everyone in the longrun. Much more happy/communal nations. America is themed more on greed and selfishness.

[Edited on October 3, 2008 at 1:49 AM. Reason : stepping on others to get higher]

10/3/2008 1:48:43 AM

^^^ I'm not saying that you couldn't choose to make less on your current profession, but honestly, don't tell me you couldn't make more than that if you really needed to. Cops, factory workers, construction workers, etc, all make more than that.

But if you are happy with your life making less than that, is the HDI really applicable to you?

[Edited on October 3, 2008 at 1:51 AM. Reason : ]

10/3/2008 1:49:54 AM

I see what you are saying. The HDI is not applicable to the rich. Its really only applicable to the middle class which is the topic of this entire election/political culture we have. The democrats are trying to raise the HDI and all the people happy with the HDI or who aren't affected by the HDI for reasons you stated are with the republicans who want to lower it and keep more money to themselves.

10/3/2008 1:54:55 AM

Just look at the difference in violent crime between DC and Luxembourg or Qatar.

We're doing something wrong.

(And for the record, I'm making nothing at the moment. I could be earning seven or eight bucks an hour if I really needed to. I can hardly imagine getting thirty grand a year.)

10/3/2008 1:56:07 AM

interestingly, Australia has no bill of rights. No formal freedom of speech, no free press, etc

10/3/2008 2:03:18 AM

Look at the difference in violent crime between DC and Maine

I think it's D.C. that's doing something wrong, and not something inherently wrong with America.

10/3/2008 2:04:27 AM

Well theres three Americas. Theres regular america, rich america and poorurban america. Thats the problem.

[Edited on October 3, 2008 at 2:08 AM. Reason : each of which completely disconnected from one another.]

10/3/2008 2:07:08 AM

Look man, I'm not saying that America doesn't have problems, but so does Europe. It's so annoying when people try to act like Europe is some magical mystical land where nobody ever argues.

Hell they had month long race riots in France just a few years ago. People throw bannanas and make moneky sounds at black soccer players in Spain and Italy, there is a surge in right winged nationalism all across Europe due to mass immigration by Muslims, etc.

10/3/2008 2:14:56 AM

Quote :

"interestingly, Australia has no bill of rights. No formal freedom of speech, no free press, etc"

i like to think of it as "they regulate the media".

10/3/2008 2:44:57 AM

Great Britain doesn't have a Bill of Rights, either, or a constitution as we understand it.

10/3/2008 3:04:51 AM

Quote :

"I'm not sure I'm buying the Economic Freedom Index argument from LoneSnark, given Singapore's prominence and that of Hong Kong. One is a special zone ultimately under the rule of a vast authoritative communist regime, and the other is a corporate police state that, from my understanding, should be a real libertarian's worst nightmare."

Grumpy, then you must know something that the individuals making the Economic Freedom Index must not know, since they take that into account when designing rankings.

Afterall, there is no reason to believe that a democracy automatically does better for economic freedom than a corporate police state. It has been strongly argued that Hong Kong was as economically free as it was because it was rulled by a British imposed Governor and was therefore unencumbered by either popular opinion or special interest. Following the rankings, most of the losses to Hong Kong's economic freedom since independence from Britain, and the adoption of a democratically elected leadership, has come in the form of regulations to serve special interests and taxation to pay for both social programs and special interests. While the Chinese Government has curtailed some of Hong Kong's political freedom, it has largely not interfered with Hong Kong's economic freedoms, leaving that sorry task up to Hong Kong's democratically elected local government.

10/3/2008 9:37:32 AM

Quote :

"I think it's D.C. that's doing something wrong, and not something inherently wrong with America."

Well, DC happens to be the country's capital and, apparently, about the wealthiest region of the world. While a pretty nice place, Maine lacks similar importance.

Quote :

"It's so annoying when people try to act like Europe is some magical mystical land where nobody ever argues."

I don't think that way at all. As far as I can tell, Europeans have most of the same problems as we do. Folks is folks. Yet they have a few advantages as well.

10/3/2008 10:31:35 AM

...and we have a few advantages over them. Pros and Cons to both.

10/3/2008 10:47:30 AM

Quote :

"Great Britain doesn't have a Bill of Rights, either, or a constitution as we understand it. "

I just wish we understood the Constitution as we have it.

10/3/2008 10:50:44 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_of_Rights_1689

[Edited on October 3, 2008 at 10:52 AM. Reason : .]

10/3/2008 10:52:29 AM

lets see they (northern Europe) have less poverty or shall I say thier poor has it much better, they have better educations, they are more energy independant, they pollute much less, and don't cause trouble abroad.

Quote :

"It's so annoying when people try to act like Europe is some magical mystical land where nobody ever argues. Hell they had month long race riots in France just a few years ago. People throw bannanas and make moneky sounds at black soccer players in Spain and Italy, there is a surge in right winged nationalism all across Europe due to mass immigration by Muslims, etc."

Those countries are below us so not even up for debate. We're talking about mainly iceland norway ireland sweden switzerland mainly northern europe, hell even canada can be used. France Uk and Spain are basically on our level.

10/3/2008 10:56:11 AM

Quote :

" Hong Kong was as economically free as it was because it was rulled by a British imposed Governor and was therefore unencumbered by either popular opinion or special interest."

Exactly.

Technically speaking democracy does not guarantee "Freedums!!!"

An elected legislature can just as easily trample a man's rights as a monarch or dictator. As any black man growing up in the 1st half of the 20th century could tell you.

[Edited on October 3, 2008 at 10:59 AM. Reason : a]

10/3/2008 10:57:49 AM

Quote :

"...and we have a few advantages over them."

Weather, for example. I doubt I could take living in some freezing Northern European country. Putting people and culture aside for the moment, I adore the Americas. The mountains, forests, rivers, and deserts. The cacti, palm trees, and snakes. No, I'm not ready to run off to Norway or Sweden.

10/3/2008 11:19:14 AM