Quality of life and much more than money. Therefore, the United Nations (UN) created the Human Development Index (HDI), which evaluates several important areas of life, such as health, education and the economy. The system is not perfect, but it gives us a good idea of which countries have the best standard of living. Find out in this list which countries are on the right path, according to the HDI ranking:
20. Austria
- HDI: 0,914
- GDP per capita: $45.415
- Life expectancy: 81,8 years
- Average years of schooling: 12,1
In the heart of Europe, Austria has the advantage of being connected with many other rich countries and a very popular tourist zone. The country has no beach but its mountains attract many tourists for winter sports and the capital, Vienna, is known for its beauty. Austrians are very proud to be from the land of the famous composer Mozart, who revolutionized classical music in the XNUMXth century.
19. Japan
- HDI: 0,915
- GDP per capita: $38.896
- Life expectancy: 83,9 years
- Average years of schooling: 12,8
Japan is the country with the highest proportion of centenarians in the world! The secret? Healthy eating and an active lifestyle. But this is more so in rural places, where life is less hurried. In big cities there are many opportunities but there is also much more stress and pressure at work. The high rate of suicides in Japan proves that a good HDI is not always a guarantee of happiness.
18. Liechtenstein
- HDI: 0,917
- GDP per capita: $97.336
- Life expectancy: 80,4 years
- Average years of schooling: 12,5
If you want to impress your friends, learn how to find Liechtenstein on a map. Liechtenstein is a microstate hidden in the center of Europe, between Austria and Switzerland. The country does not have many natural resources but it makes a lot of profit from two things: tourism and the financial sector. Being a tax haven gives a lot of profit, but then it causes diplomatic problems with neighboring countries…
17. Belgium
- HDI: 0,919
- GDP per capita: $42.156
- Life expectancy: 81,3 years
- Average years of schooling: 11,8
As the political center of the European Union, Belgium attracts a lot of international investment. The capital, Brussels, serves as a second home for many European politicians, as it concentrates the main institutions in which they work, such as the European Parliament. The country has 3 official languages, French, German and Dutch, and the Dutch-speaking community is the richest.
16 U.S
- HDI: 0,920
- GDP per capita: $54.941
- Life expectancy: 79,5 years
- Average years of schooling: 13,4
Americans like to do everything big and many say that the United States is the best place in the world, but the country only takes 16th position in the HDI ranking. There are many opportunities in the United States and the average salary is good, but there is also a lot of inequality. As the US does not have a free and universal healthcare system like the SUS, access to healthcare is a serious problem for low-income families.
15 United Kingdom
- HDI: 0,920
- GDP per capita: $39.116
- Life expectancy: 81,7 years
- Average years of schooling: 12,9
The UK is a relatively small country but it has a huge influence on the world. In the past, England controlled one of the largest empires in the world, but nowadays its dominance is mainly economic and cultural. But immigrating to the UK is not very easy. The government has an increasingly restrictive policy against foreigners entering the country.
14. New Zealand
- HDI: 0,921
- GDP per capita: $33.970
- Life expectancy: 82 years
- Average years of schooling: 12,5
Known worldwide for being the place where The Lord of the Rings was filmed, New Zealand is currently a very popular place to produce films with fantastic landscapes. In addition to the film industry, the country's economy is heavily focused on the export of agricultural products, supplying many other countries with food and essential raw materials.
13. Canadá
- HDI: 0,922
- GDP per capita: $43.433
- Life expectancy: 82,5 years
- Average years of schooling: 13,3
A lesser-known cousin of the United States, Canada is a larger country with fewer people. About half of the adult population has a university degree and everyone has access to a free national health service. Canada also has a very open policy towards immigrants, receiving thousands of new residents every year.
12. Finland
- HDI: 0,925
- GDP per capita: $41.002
- Life expectancy: 81,5 years
- Average years of schooling: 12,4
Who said that the cold is bad for health? Several of the countries with the highest Human Development Index are from northern Europe, which is very cold. Finland is right next to Russia and has a sparse population, so there's plenty of room for everyone! Land of the famous Nokia mobile phone, Finland is currently betting heavily on the digital world, with great access to the Internet and smartphones.
11. Dinamarca
- HDI: 0,930
- GDP per capita: $47.918
- Life expectancy: 80,9 years
- Average years of schooling: 12,6
Denmark is the birthplace of Lego, one of the most popular and creative toys of all time. For those who are fans, the Danish city of Billund has a theme park entirely dedicated to Lego! Danes have free access to higher education and healthcare, but they also pay some of the highest taxes in the world - almost 50% of salary goes to the state.
