Best Countries in the World

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With such a huge range of nations in the world, the question of whether there is a best place to live seems both simple and elusive. With that idea in mind, NEWSWEEK offers this list of best countries. Given that there are so many ways to measure achievement, we chose the five we felt were most important--health, economic dynamism (the openness of a country's economy and the breadth of the size of its corporate sector), education, political environment, and quality of life. And because it's easier to improve quality of life if you're tiny and rich like Finland, for example, the list also accounts for income and size with rankings by subcategories. Like all lists, this one is not perfect, but it offers surprising and fascinating answers and plenty of insight into which country is healthiest, why Scandinavian countries always come out on top, and why the title of best country has more than one winner.

Best Overall: Finland

(Honorable mention: best small country, best high income, best education)

Despite the long winter, Finland is a pretty great place to be--the best actually. It ranked the highest overall and also comes in as the best small country, the best high-income country, and the best country for education. Its students scored first in science and second in both reading and math in the 2006 (the most recent data available) Program for International Student Assessment, a test of 15-year-olds' education skills by the OECD. Finland's schoolkids enjoy a laid-back and inclusive learning environment where shoes are optional, all teachers have master's degrees, and extra help is the norm: every year about one in three students gets individual time with a tutor.

Best Medium-Size Nation: Australia

With a relatively low unemployment rate--5.6 percent in 2009--and an economy that's one of the healthiest even during the global recession, Australia has a lot more to offer than just beaches and Hugh Jackman. In the overall index Australia ranks fourth. In the other categories for medium-size countries, it claims the top spot for political environment and ties Spain at No. 1 for best health care. With its high standard of living, safe cities, sunny climate, and outdoorsy citizens, Australia also has the best quality of life among medium-size countries.

Best Large Nation: Japan

(Honorable mention: best health care)

The innovative country that brought the world sushi, Nintendo, and the Kyoto Protocol is also in the country with the most healthy citizens. The average person in Japan lives until 82 and the average woman lives until nearly 86. (Japanese women are the longest-living women in the world.) What explains their longevity? No one knows for sure, but its likely a combination of preventative medicine, diet, health education, high standard of living during old age, and universal health care. Japan also ranks first among large countries in education and fourth in quality of life.

Best Low-Income Nation: Albania

(Honorable mention: best education)

Albania rarely makes headlines and seems an unlikely model for other countries, but this new democracy actually outperforms all other low-income countries. Among the countries in its category Albania consistently ranks highest in education, health, and quality of life. Nearly 99 percent of Albanians are literate. Despite being a citizen of one the poorest countries in Europe, the average Albanians can expect to live until 78 and the average Albanian woman until 81--a pretty good statistic considering that the average citizen of wealthy Germany will live until only 79.

Best Upper-Middle-Income Nation: Poland

As a member of the EU (it joined in 2004), Poland is increasingly leaving its communist past behind--and for the better, it seems. As the top upper-middle-income country, Poland is pretty much a winner across the board. Its political environment is the best in its category and it's in the top 10 for economic dynamism, education, health, and quality of life. In August of 2010, Poland elected its fourth democratically chosen president; its large cities, such as Krakow and Warsaw, are becoming increasingly vibrant and wealthy.

Best Quality of Life: Norway

Given its breathtaking natural landscape and a laid-back atmosphere--most stores are still closed on Sundays--it's no wonder Norway has the highest quality of life. But the Scandinavian country of 4.8 million also has hard figures to back its ranking: it scored the highest on standard of living for five years in a row, according to the U.N. Human Development Report. Norwegians also live in one of the most socially and economically equal societies with one of the healthiest environments.

Best Economic Dynamism: Singapore

Don't be fooled by Singapore's tiny size. Its population is little more than half that of New York City, but it still enjoys a high GDP per capita and has one of the fastest-rebounding economies of the recession. The bite-size island's flourishing economy--thanks in part to low levels of regulation and low taxes--is even prompting the government to recruit foreign talent. With its open economy, low levels of corruption, and high government and business efficiency, Singapore no doubt deserves the title of the most economically dynamic country.

Best Political Environment: Sweden

In a competition for most neutral country Sweden could give Switzerland a run for its money: Swedes haven't fought a war in nearly two centuries, and even though they joined the EU in 1995, they have not adopted the euro. Transparency International ranks Sweden among the top three least corrupt countries in the world. The cartoonist Lars Vilks--who was attacked for drawing the prophet Muhammad as a dog--embodies Sweden's commitment to freedom of speech as well as freedom of religion. All religious places of worship in Sweden receive some funding from the government, for example. Perhaps it's the open environment that inspires about 80 percent of Swedes to vote

Best Education

Low income: Ukraine

Middle income: Kazakhstan

Medium size: South Korea

Large size: Japan

Among low-income countries, Ukraine is the best for education, with a 99 percent literacy rate. When it comes to math and science, Kazakh students are earning high marks, too, and not just among middle-income countries; they outperformed the United States and many others in math on the 2007 TIMSS (The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study). South Koreans are also among some of the highest-performing students in science, and they're the highest in reading among the world's wealthy countries. It seems their educational success continues into adulthood, making South Koreans the most likely to have university degrees out of any other students in developed countries. Despite only spending about 3.5 percent of its GDP on education, (the U.S. spends a little more than 5 percent), Japan still ranks best in education among large countries. Nonetheless, its top spot is at risk; after being criticized for its harsh academic atmosphere, Japan turned to a more relaxed curriculum only to see its students' performance slip in the past few years.

Best Health Care

Low income: Tunisia

Middle income: Chile

Small size: Switzerland

Medium size: Spain

Though you can't count on Tunisia for education, it's tied with China for the No. 1 spot on the health index among poor countries. Chile, which performs fairly well across the board, ranks No. 1 for health among middle-income countries, and Switzerland is the winner among small countries for best health, beating out Sweden and the Netherlands. Spain and Australia share beautiful beaches and weather but also the title of healthiest medium-size countries.

Best Quality of Life

Low income: Ukraine

Middle income: Cuba

Medium size: Australia

Large size: Germany

Germany has the highest quality of life among large countries and ranks in the top 10 for quality of life among wealthy states. Two of its cities--Munich (pictured) and Berlin--are often ranked as some of the most livable in the world. With its active citizens and high standard of living, Australia comes in first among medium-size countries. In the category of low-income countries, Ukraine comes out on top and Cuba outdoes its fellow middle-income countries in quality of life. Cuba also ranks No. 3 in education among upper-middle-class countries.

Best Economic Dynamism

Low income: China

Middle income: Malaysia

Medium size: South Korea

Large size: United States

Though the United States beats out China for most economically dynamic large country, China ranks the highest in that category among low-income nations. And though Malaysia's export-driven economy has recently become sluggish, it's still the best out of all middle-income countries in this category. Among medium-size countries, South Korea has the strong corporate sector and open markets needed to claim the top spot.

Best Political Environment

Low income: Ghana

Middle income: Poland

Medium size: Australia

Large size: Germany

Though Ghana may not have a stellar economy, its political environment is the best among low-income countries like India, Albania, and Morocco. Poland wins in the middle-income category. Australia is a winner on many fronts, including its democratic freedom and voter participation, making it No. 1 in this category among medium-size nations. And Germany tops the list for large countries with the best political environment.

http://www.newsweek.com/photo/2010/08/15/best-countries-in-the-world.html

[The_Dude 1,142]

Quality of life be damned, at least we have guns.

[웃 910]

It's all lies and propaganda. America is number 1 in everything.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Communist propaganda.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

What about Qatar? It's way better than Norway.

[MalaysianGirl 26]

Just gotta say this: HUZZAH, Malaysia made the list in some way!

[TBoneTX 47,548]

Finns are purportedly the most "glum" people in the world, their country's benefits notwithstanding.

I'm surprised that Albania was able to recover at all from the oppressive, repressive dictatorship of Enver Hoxha, who completely closed off the country from everything, except trade with (if I recall correctly) Cuba. From the information that I've gleaned, Hoxha was right up there among the most evil of the Communist dictators.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

The New York Times and Politico report that the Washington Post Co will sell Newsweek to Dr. Sidney Harman, a 91-year old stereo equipment magnate, philanthropist, and husband of U.S. Rep Jane Harman (D-Calif.). The NYT reports that Harman began selling FM radios in the 1950s. Now, he'll have to prove that a print newsweekly isn't the equivalent of the phonograph. He'll do it without longtime editor Jon Meacham, who's going to leave. Harman is paying $1, and absorbing Newsweek's "considerable financial liabilities". Newsweek, which has been redesigned as it switched from hard news to trends and analysis, lost nearly $30 million last year alone,

The definition of RAG! :rofl:

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Makes sense to me. Glad to see the old homeland make the top spot twice and my adopted homeland make it where it matters most to me right now - Economic Dynamism.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

To newsweek Best Economic Dynamism must be defined by the ability of how many trillions that can be spent.

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To newsweek Best Economic Dynamism must be defined by the ability of how many trillions that can be spent.

America's economic dynamism is best experienced in a large metropolitan area. You wouldn't know.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

To newsweek Best Economic Dynamism must be defined by the ability of how many trillions that can be spent.

If you'd ever bother to read what you pretend to comment on, you'd know how economic dynamism was defined.

[Tunisia216 2]

Having experienced health care in Tunisia I'm going to say a big NO on that one lol

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Having experienced health care in Tunisia I'm going to say a big NO on that one lol

It's on top amongst the low income countries. What other low income countries have you experienced in terms of health care to come up with that judgement?

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

If you'd ever bother to read what you pretend to comment on, you'd know how economic dynamism was defined.

Excuse me, the words were coined so its definition could be used in defense of a point someone was trying to make.