And the best place in the world to live is......

[Volum]

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-11-09T132332Z_01_N09265787_RTRUKOC_0_US-UN-DEVELOPMENT-INDEX.xml&WTmodLoc=NewsHome-C1-topNews-11

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Norway, Iceland, Australia, Ireland and Sweden rank as the best five countries to live in but Africa's quality of life has plummeted because of AIDS, said a U.N. report released on Thursday.

The United States was ranked in eighth place, after Canada and Japan, in the report that rates not only per-capita income but also educational levels, health care and life expectancy in measuring a nation's well-being.

The Human Development Index, prepared by the U.N. Development Program, has been issued annually since 1990 and includes every country for which statistics are available.



Unsurprisingly, the countries at the top of the list are high income nations as people in richer countries tend to be healthier and have more educational opportunities.

People in Norway, for example, are 40 times wealthier than people in Niger, which ranks 177th, the lowest ranking country on the list. For the 31 countries with low human development, life expectancy is only 46 years -- some 32 years less than in rich nations, the report said.

But some nations have a rank above their income. Vietnam for example is poor but ranks above countries with a higher per capita income. Conversely Bahrain has an average income twice the level of Chile but ranks lower because it "under-performs on education and literacy," the report said.

However, since 1990, sub-Sahara Africa has stagnated, in part because of economic decline but mainly because of the "catastrophic effect of HIV/AIDS on life expectancy," the report said.

The list of 177 nations ends with Niger. Above it are Sierra Leone, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, the Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, Burundi, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which ranked 167th.

Thats 6 in a row baby!

 

[Pasi Nurminen]

8th? America scored that high?

 

[Urederra]

Linky, linky, linky.....

 

[sysyphus]

We still hold the record with 8.

ANd hey, we're still #1 in the Americas!

 

[Raisin Bran]

Ottawa !

edit: Complete disrescpect for the OP ...(i did not read it !)

Im just suprised that Canada is that low .... IIRC we (canada) were ranked higher before! ....damn tories

 

[Volum]

Linky, linky, linky.....

http://today.reuters.com/news/artic...ENT-INDEX.xml&WTmodLoc=NewsHome-C1-topNews-11

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

I heard Norway is all bleak and depressing, though. I will take a slightly higher AIDS rate and slightly worse working conditions over that any day.

 

[Evie]

Canada fell down during the later Chrétien years, actually.

 

[Tank_Guy#3]

Fremont Wisconsin. That is one of the best places to live, not many people, right on one of the major recreational waterways in Wisconsin (the Wolf River), short distance to bigger cities if you feel the draw of urban resources.

Even at peak times in the summer, it is still very uncongested (traffic and people-wise). Unless of course you are in a campground, then you're swarmed (they fill up quick).

 

[amadeus]

8th? America scored that high?

Refresh my memory...how many Marxist countries appeared in the top 30 again?

Wait, I think I remember. It was zero.

 

[Volum]

I heard Norway is all bleak and depressing, though. I will take a slightly higher AIDS rate and slightly worse working conditions over that any day.

Lies all lies! Its all light here and were all happy. Its like a country where everyones on ecstacy!

 

[GinandTonic]

Refresh my memory...how many Marxist countries appeared in the top 30 again?

Wait, I think I remember. It was zero.

Yet most of the countries ranked above America, you would term socialist?

Funny old world.

 

[Urederra]

I heard Norway is all bleak and depressing, though. I will take a slightly higher AIDS rate and slightly worse working conditions over that any day.

Not trying to bash Norway too, but I think the report is a bit biased. Cold countries are ranked higher because they spend more in heating their homes during the winter. If you substract from the GDP per capita the money you have to pay to keep your house warm in the winter, you'll have a slightly different picture.

Like the Arcadian said, I'd rather live in the Balearic, Canary islands or Hawaii, making 20 % less money than in Norway and having to pay big heating bills and a lot more for my fruits and veggies.

Said that, congrats to Norway for having such a good government.

Lies all lies! Its all light here and were all happy. Its like a country where everyones on ecstacy!

Oh. the government also provides free drugs too... LOL...

 

[AL_DA_GREAT]

Norway and Sweden are good for a certain type of people. But if you like adventure, capitalism and money it isn't the best.

 

[Xanikk999]

Of course socialist countries ranked higher.

I think most people would have a better quality of life with shorter work weeks and free healthcare and free college.

 

[Ramius75]

I always want to live in Playboy mansion...

 

[sysyphus]

Canada fell down during the later Chrétien years, actually.

I hear it has more to do with other countries rising rather than Canada falling. Still, it should send a message to us before we have a complete fall from grace.

 

[Xanikk999]

Not to mention prostitution is legal in some of those countries.

That makes for a better quality of life for the people who cant get laid otherwise.

 

[AL_DA_GREAT]

Of course socialist countries ranked higher.

I think most people would have a better quality of life with shorter work weeks and free healthcare and free college.

But your are eternally condemmed to the Lower middle class, no possibility of rising.

 

[Pasi Nurminen]

Refresh my memory...how many Marxist countries appeared in the top 30 again?

Wait, I think I remember. It was zero.

This is the one time that I will respond to a trolling comment of yours, and that is only because my earlier comment in this thread could be easily construed as trolling.

I have detailed in two separate threads in the last week the hardships that have exist in "Marxist" countries, and none of them have to do with Marxism itself. Similar conditions in the United States would have resulted in a murderous second Civil War.