Let’s face it, we’ve, at least once, thought about living in another country. Whether it’s to look for better opportunities, expose yourself to a brand new setting, start fresh, or something in between altogether, living abroad can be a fantastic idea. But with literally a hundred countries to choose from, how can you tell which ones are the best ones to live in?
Let me introduce you to something called “quality of life.” You may have come across this term at least once in your life, but what does it really mean? This article will cover all you need to know about quality of life and the six best countries to live in based on that measure.
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What is quality of life?
Quality of life is a broad and multidimensional concept that puts together several crucial factors to come up with an overall score or grade for a country. The basic factors it accounts for may include access to the following:
- food
- housing
- quality education
- healthcare
- employment.
It may also consider more intangible qualities, such as:
- job security
- political stability
- individual freedom
- environmental quality
Now that we’ve covered that important detail let’s move on to what we really came for. Here are the six best countries to live in, according to their quality of life in descending order.
The Best Countries To Live In
Switzerland
We start off this list with the country that brought us the world-famous chocolate Lindt, Switzerland. Switzerland boasts one of the largest gross domestic products (GDP) per capita in the entire world. In addition to that, it is also home to extremely skilled workers, contributing to its low unemployment rate.
Its powerful economy owes the bulk of its success to the country’s low corporate tax rates in conjunction with its highly-advanced service industry led by financial services and its high-tech manufacturing industry.
Of course, besides its economic prowess, it is a cultural melting pot as well. It is home to many different cultural identities, made evident by the fact that German, French, Italian, and Romansh are recognized as national languages.
Canada
The next country is our very own neighbors across the border: Canada. The United States may be the more popular of the North American nations, but Canada is the larger, ranking only behind Russia in size. However, despite its vast territory, the country is sparsely populated, with a large chunk of its people living relatively near the U.S. border.
One of the things Canada is best known for is its welcoming nature towards immigrants. Like Switzerland, its population comprises a diverse set of cultural identities, each contributing a unique flair to Canada’s awesomeness. French nationals and speakers should be thrilled to know that about 21% of Canadians speak the language fluently.
Canada is a highly industrialized country, richly integrated with technology. An advantageous trade agreement with the United States originating in the 1980s helped bolster this country’s economy before the two become each other’s primary trading partner at present.
Japan
The next is the land of the rising sun: Japan. While bringing us Sony and Nintendo, Japan remains one of the most technologically advanced nations globally. Japan brings the best of both worlds culturally by blending its rich tradition with urbanized Western influences.
As for its government, Japan has a parliamentary form of government with a constitutional monarchy. Like England’s royalty, Japan’s emperor serves a ceremonial purpose, holding no influence on decision-making activities. This East Asian nation possesses the world’s third-largest economy, owing much of its success to the motor vehicle, steel, and technology manufacturing.
But despite all these, perhaps some of Japan’s greatest contributions are in the art (e.g., poetry, calligraphy, flower arrangement, and of course, anime) and culinary field (e.g., ramen and sushi).
Germany
The land renowned for its beer and sausages, Germany makes this list at number four. As the most populous country in the European Union, Germans share their land with many people of varying descents. This cultural mix is because Germany is an incredibly popular migration spot with its open-door policy.
This Central European country is home to one of the world’s largest economies, and it is one of the leading importers and exports globally. The most significant contributors to its economy are in the service sector, which most notably includes industries like telecommunications, tourism, and healthcare. The other major contributors are industry and agriculture.
Like Switzerland, Germany’s workforce is largely made up of highly-skilled and affluent citizens. If that’s not enough to convince you, think about some of the German greats in the fields of music, literature, and philosophy. You have guys like Ludwig van Beethoven, Immanuel Kant, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johann Sebastian Bach, and many others.
Australia
Greetings from the land down under; Australia is calling for you. Like the United Kingdom, Australia follows a parliamentary form of government, with the prime minister serving as its head. Australia is a wealthy nation with a relatively high GDP per capita. Its economy is a market-based one, and akin to Germany, a large chunk of its success is owed to the service sector and the export of commodities.
Australia is quite a liberal nation, as in 2017, its voters showed overwhelming support for same-sex marriage. The primary drawback that might scare you off is the collection of wild critters that are potentially lethal. Of course, this shouldn’t stop you from having a “shrimp on the barbie.”
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is made up of four countries, including England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales. The U.K. is one of the most influential nations in the world in many aspects – economic, social, political, and cultural.
Its form of government is also parliamentary, similar to a few countries on this list. One of the most notable contributions of the U.K. is the industrial revolution, which originated there. The nation’s powerful economy owes much of its strength to the service sector, as the manufacturing sector has been slowly declining as of late.
One of the most attractive things about this country is that it’s been attracting all sorts of immigrants for centuries now. This migrant population is mostly scattered, with representatives from all over the world, ranging from Asia to Africa to different parts of Europe.
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About The Author
Terrence Tan Ting is an industrial engineer by profession but a full time writer by passion. He loves to write about a wide range of topics from many different industries thanks to his undying curiosity.