10 Best Countries to Live in 2016

Standard of living is defined as

“The degree of wealth and material comfort available to a person or community”

While wealth is a good indicator of standard of living, when you’re choosing a place to live, there are so many other factors to consider. This article examines quality of life; namely, which countries on this planet of ours offer those things like security, stability, ample activity, and education that enrich our lives as human beings. We will look at the following criteria for each country,

• Employment Rate
• General Health of Residents
• Education
• Civic Engagement
• Pollution
• Work/ Life Balance
• Crime Rate
• Disaster Risk

Using these criteria we have come up with this list of the 10 best countries to live in 2016.

10.) The Netherlands

Coming in at number 10 on our list of the 10 best countries to live in 2016 is The Netherlands

• The Netherlands score the highest in education, freedom, health, and infrastructure
• 1.42 Million Total Crimes reported over the course of a year may seem like a lot… but not when you compare it to the 13.46 Million Reported by the US
• The average level of education completed is a Master’s Degree
• Add on top of that a 4 day work week, and their work to life balance is above ours

9.) New Zealand

• Did you know only 5% of the life on this island is human? 95% are animals.
• 5.3% unemployment rate
• Breathtaking scenery, and tons of attractions to keep its citizens entertained.
• New Zealand also leads the world in the least corrupted countries in 2015.
• Ranked 7th in the world for science and 13th for math- the education system is very effective

New Zealand comes in at number 9 on our 10 best countries list- and for good reason. The inhabitants live in little to no pollution, the education system is ranked beyond our own, and combined with freedom, a negligible unemployment rate makes New Zeakland an unexpected entry on our list!

8.)  Qatar

Probably the most unexpected on our list, Qatar ranks at number 8. Why? Qatar is the second wealthiest country in the world. In addition to this:

• It has a 0.1% unemployment rate.
• In 2013 it ranked as having the lowest illiteracy rate in the Arab  speaking world.
• It has one of the lowest tax rates in the world
• K-Highschool is mandatory

What keeps this dazzling city from climbing higher on our list is the strict manner in which the law is carried out and implemented.

7.) Switzerland

Switzerland often makes it to top 5 list of most stable governments.  Political stability and long-term monetary security have made Switzerland a safe place for investors.

• Since the country has higher labor specialization and is known to be small (in size), trade and industry are keys to its economic livelihood.
• The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) has its headquarters in Switzerland.
• Swiss Banks are well-known for protecting the privacy of their clients.
  If you are a mountaineer, this country should be your pick, as it has some of the highest peaks and glaciers in Central Alps.
• Known as the “Pride of Switzerland” Zurich city has the best quality of life and wealthy aspects in every form.
• Home to European Organization for Physics Research (CERN), the Large Hadron Collider was designed in 2008 for getting a reply to the formation of Universe and the Big Bang Theory.

Its no surprise Switzerland ranks high on our list of 10 best countries to live in 2016

6. Luxembourg

What this small EU country lacks in size- it more than makes up for in wealth and quality of life-

• Luxembourg has the highest GDP in the world
• It does not have any navy as it is bordered by North East Germany in the East, France in the South and Belgium in the West.
• Skype, the Internet free message and call software, has its headquarter stationed in Luxembourg.

Unfortunately,  havinga moderate crime rate prevents them from making the number one spot on out list.

 

5.) Iceland

We could go on and on about the amazing statistics produced by Iceland; but really beyond the obvious beauty of this isolated island-

• The states of Iceland offer 9 months of fully paid maternity leave for moms. This leave duration could also be shared by both the parents as they please.
• The crime rate in Iceland is merely zero, which is exactly why their banks hardly have any police officers.
• World’s cleanest air can be breathed in Iceland. Safety and health measures have made Iceland to be in the list of top 10 best countries to live in.
• Societies in Iceland provide an overwhelming priority in nurturing happiness among people. However, none of these can be possible without their self-confidence.
• Iceland can be described as a country having active volcanoes and geysers. The word “Geyser” has originated from the age-old first described hot water in
• Iceland called as “Geysir”. This country is the 18th largest island in the world.
• Recently, the country achieved the rare honour of being named as “the most peaceful country in the world for the seventh consecutive year” by The Institute of Economics and Peace.
• The Icelanders have fiercely protected their language for over 1000 years and have retained the same dialect with minor modifications.
• The national game is handball. Icelanders got a shot in the arm when their team got the second place in 2008 Summer Olympics.
  The Icelanders travel mostly by car as there is no railway system.
  They have won the Miss World title four times and their Parliament is more than one thousand years old.

I could go on and on, but really it can be boils down to this:

The literacy rate is 99.9%

Enough Said.

4.) Australia

Number 4 on our list of the 10 best countries to live is Australia.  Despite vast, uninhabitable desert, and being full of countless toxic plants and deadly animals, Australia ranks high in happiness

• According to the 2015 reports, Australia is claimed to be one of the biggest capitalist economies in the world. It has an overall GDP of $1 trillion.
• In 2003, the literacy rate in this country was estimated to be 99 percent. Schooling is compulsory from the age of five to sixteen (the duration can vary among different states).
• The main form of social security assistance for elderly or aged people are the wife pension, partner allowance, aged pension and mature age allowance.
• It is full of unique wildlife and beautiful natural wonders

3.) Norway

Yes- we know according to the UN, Norway should  top this list- but we didnt base our ranking solely on monetary factors

• The US has an 87% higher crime rate than that of Norway
• The life expectancy is nearly 15 years longer than our own
• Pollution is almost non existent
• Ranked 13th over all for education

Norway has a very strong infrastructure and operated on a socialist based government.

2.) Sweden

• Sweden offers 16 months of parental leave and pays 80% of their salary too. Without any doubt, parents get loads of time to spend with their children. It is the reason Sweden is considered as one of the best countries to live and see your kids grow up.
• Sweden offers a complete free day care service. In other words, we can state that it is heavily subsidized. Although, the day care costs around $120 per month, you can reimburse it with the Government’s child benefits plans.
  Sweden’s economy is aided by hydro-power, iron ore and timber. However, their major industries include telecommunications, industrial machines, chemical goods, motor vehicles, pharmaceuticals, precision equipment, home appliances, steel, iron and forestry.
• The National Institute of Economic Research anticipates Sweden’s GDP growth to be 1.8%, 3.1% and 3.4% for the years 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively.
• Surprisingly, people of Sweden are not affected even by its extreme weather conditions. They are still seen ice skating, running down, skiing, sledding, taking long walks and sipping a yummy hot coffee in the cold times.
  Sweden serves as the best country for women too. If it is safer for women to live here, then it is obviously best for others too.
• Throughout Sweden, you can breathe fresh and clean air. Sweden is admired for its blissful nature.
• Sweden has a sound public transportation system. Trains and buses cover each and every place, right from big cities to remote Swedish villages.
• Sweden has a strong independent media and this results in most transparent politics.
• Volvo, the car has its headquarters in Sweden.
  It is a fact that certain parts of the country do not get sunlight in winter and so you have to drive with your headlights in the middle of the afternoon.

AND FINALLY OUR NUMBER 1 PICK

1.) DENMARK

That’s right- Denmark. Why?

• 492,000 crimes reported in a year compared to our 11.48 Million 
• Higher per capita income with same cost of living as US average
• As of January 2016, Denmark is one of the countries with top credit rating. Main exports from Denmark include machinery, meat products, chemicals, fuels, instruments.
• Every Danish family enjoys a total of “52 weeks of parental leave”, where mothers are given 18 weeks of paid leave and fathers are allowed to take 2 weeks of fully paid leave.
• After giving birth, nearly 79% of women rejoin their previous level of employment. This figure is quite higher when compared to that of American women, which is only 59%.
• Children are given access to either free or low-cost childcare.
• Healthcare is a basic right
• Denmark regularly ranks in the list of top 10 countries when it comes to gender equality.
• 50% of Danish people contribute to the betterment of their cities by doing voluntary community service
•  The government offers an amount of 7.8 cents per kilometer to people traveling by bicycle instead of a car.
• It has over 14 Nobel Laureates, 4 in English Literature, in Physiology and Medicine it has secured 5, and Peace Prize is 1. It also holds the second position in the world for freedom of the press.

In Closing:

Happiness is not quantifiable- it can’t be measured. This list of 10 best countries to live in 2016  is based on various factors beyond just which country is the richest. Keep this in mind should you ever decide to relocate to a new country- and keep Aris Moving in mind for all of your international shipping needs.