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The interest of the world community in the ranking of countries in terms of living standards is not weakening. The countries in this list are shuffled depending on economic indicators, but their movement "up and down" is insignificant. It will not be difficult to name the top ten leading countries, especially for those who follow the UN annual report. This organization has been doing research for 18 years, based not only on statistical data, but also on surveys.

To be as accurate as possible in this global study, the UN has data on a number of core indicators. For example, it would be difficult to judge the standard of living of the population in any country without understanding the income of working citizens, their ability to consume goods and food, without knowing the country's budget and how much of this money goes per person.

Important criteria are also social protection, the quality and availability of medical services, housing, education, and even the state of the environment, crime, the existence of rights and freedoms. As a result, countries are ranked according to the main indicator - the human development index. If it is high, then the country is more likely to get into the top lines of the world ranking.

By the way, the HDI is very popular all over the world, because everyone draws their interest from it. Business, for example, sees new niches in it, migrants see jobs and everyday comfort, young people see prospects for learning. Not without reason, business and public publications are happy to publish the rating, providing it with various expert comments on the strengths and weaknesses of countries that remain outside the "circle of honor". Outside of it, ups and downs can be 1-9 points, which seems insignificant, but in fact is detrimental to the economy.

Thus, in the 2016 ranking, compiled according to the results of 2015, Syria lost four points (149th place), Ukraine - three (84th place), minus one point - Russia (49th place), Spain (27th th place), Belgium (22nd place).

Lost one point, but remained in the top ten Canada (10th), the Netherlands (7th) and Singapore (5th).

There are also those countries who added points to themselves. Uzbekistan, for example, scored plus three and came out on the 105th place, Malta - rose by two points and took the 33rd position, Australia, Denmark, Sweden added one from the top ten.

The UN report is published with a delay of a year or two, because the reason is clear - the study is too large-scale, the results of which are also subject to additional reconciliation of data in the countries participating in it.

Tic-tac-toe

To make it easier to navigate the list of more than a hundred country names, several groups have been created. There are four of them:

• "very high rating"
• "high rating"
• "average rating"
• "low rating"

Determined by the sum of the index. Each has about fifty countries.

Although the concept of “standard of living” is not so much tic-tac-toe, where the cross is all this, but the zero is not. Rather, it is complex ratios, for example, 10 percent of the rich to 10 percent of the poorest, or the subsistence minimum budget to the minimum consumer budget. In general, such subtleties that it is better not to think about, but to use the scheme. It is attached to the UN report, it contains the place number, country name, index.

The UN itself explained the concept of human development twice: in 1990 and two decades later. At first, the emphasis was placed on choice as a development factor. A person should have the opportunity to live long and prosperously, study, create a family and raise children, have rights, various freedoms and strive for self-respect. The concept has changed somewhat due to threats: external and internal. Another opportunity has been added to the fundamental rule: to participate in ensuring fairness and sustainability of development on the planet.

But no matter how vague this formulation may sound, one cannot do without indicators, ratios, and calculations. The UN simplified the results of its report as much as possible by splitting the groups by continent.

For example, what is there in Europe? Yes, nothing new. Norway, Switzerland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Sweden, Great Britain, Iceland are the leading countries.

The "secret" of their stable presence on Olympus is the same index of human development. In Norway it is 0.944, in Iceland it is 0.899. No one reached the “one”, but this has not happened since the introduction of the HDI into life. It is enough to know that since 2001, Norway has only twice lost the championship to Iceland - in 2007 and 2008. Until 2001, Canada was the world leader for seven years. She also won in 1992, 1990, 1985. Japan took the palm in 1993 and 1991, and in 1980 Switzerland managed to break through to the very top of the ranking - once.

The most stable and mysterious is the Norwegian model. Its well-being is based on oil production (the country is the second, after Saudi Arabia, the exporter of "black gold"), aluminum, magnesium, titanium ore and other resources. In terms of GDP, it is in the top thirty richest countries. The life expectancy of the population is high, the average annual income is impressive, there are no poor people there. If you take an interest in the rules of residence, the laws of this country, it becomes clear why Norwegians live on five plus. By the way, a plus for the fact that oil revenues are divided among citizens.

The Scandinavian countries do not leave the "golden ten" at all. For example, Sweden is known as a country of innovation, it exports natural resources (timber and iron ore) and develops knowledge-intensive sectors of the economy. Few people know that the Swedes produce the most bearings in the world, and they travel with a passport without any visas.

Denmark rose in animal husbandry, radio electronics and medicines. Who does not know - the designer "Lego" comes from this amazing country. It is also called the best suited for private business.

In Iceland, there is no class stratification, treasury revenues are evenly distributed across the provinces, and social security occupies the top lines of European ratings. The economy is based on fishing, agriculture, and science. A bonus to a small state adds a minimum number of crimes - this is the safest country.

Personal freedoms and freedom of choice, along with the high social security of citizens, put the Netherlands on the pedestal of the most tolerant country, which, of course, added points to it. She is in fourth place in the ranking.

Anti-rating is also stable over the past years. It was again earned by Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Armenia, Albania, Ukraine, Macedonia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey and Serbia. Half of this list are the former republics of the USSR. Yield to Russia in the ranking of the standard of living of the former fifteen - only Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia.

Do not measure with a common yardstick

What is good for small countries is not good for big ones. Russia, whose territory includes 44 Norway, is very clumsy and contradictory. But still, with an indicator of 0.804, our country entered the group with a high HDI, where it could not get into for a long time - since 1990.

The lowest index in Russia was recorded at the beginning of the century (0.710). However, a slow rise began from the 2000s. Every year, slowly but surely, the country added points.

The breakthrough happened only in 2015. Maybe because Russia entered the top ten in terms of the number of patents, overtaking Canada, Australia and Brazil, which rounded out the top ten countries in this indicator.

The country showed good dynamics in research activities and development of e-government. She has no other breakthrough indicators.

The main figures that are pulling back are life expectancy (just over 70 years), gross national income (more than $22,000 per capita per year), and duration of education (more than 14 years). In the minus our country was taken into account socio-economic inequality, ecology, industrial decline, more than thirteen percent of the poor and the continuing decline in income. If in the top ten countries it is enough for a family to spend 12 percent of their income on food, in Russia it is a third. Experts conclude that if a country is able to turn national wealth into the well-being of citizens, then this will play an important role in its economy and bear fruit.

General background of world development

The UN in its report draws several conclusions that characterize the general state of the level of development of countries. Since 1990, for example, averages have improved somewhat on all continents.

The best position is in Eastern Europe, Southern Europe and Central Asia.

Latin America and the Caribbean are developing well and raising the standard of living of their population. Mauritius, Seychelles, Algeria, Libya and Tunisia broke into the "African" group with a high development index.

In South America, two countries made it into the first group: Chile and Argentina, both of which outperform Russia. In North America, the undisputed leaders are Canada and the United States, both countries have an index of 0.920.

In Asia, a dozen countries have left Russia far behind. The undisputed leader is Singapore (0.925), followed by Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Israel (0.899) and further: Brunei, Cyprus, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

However, according to the UN, about a third of the inhabitants of our planet are below the minimum acceptable level. Basically, these are citizens of African states. The top three rankings are the Central African Republic, Niger and Chad. First of all, food security is deteriorating in them, despite the humanitarian aid that is regularly sent from all continents. In 16 other countries, which included Ukraine, there is a threat of famine. It begins when more than a quarter of the population faces this problem. And the reasons can be very different: military conflicts, natural disasters, a weak economy.

The report also provides some advice. So to speak - for the future. In particular, it talks about the need for strategic planning and political measures in such an area as labor activity. In the era of globalization and the Internet, out of 7.3 billion people on Earth, only 3.2 billion people have the opportunity to work. From the point of view of the UN, it is important not only to create jobs, but also to increase the level of human development in other areas, such as volunteering, home services, creative work. Moreover, not only the presence of a workplace will tell about the positive development of the country, but also its safety, comfort and prospects for the professional growth of an employee.

In general, the standard of living for any state is an important issue, it shows the state of the economy and political institutions, and each government decides it in its own way. For some, the main thing is to keep it, not to let it go down, others create conditions for improving the well-being of the population and move forward. While some are discussing the topic: what is generally considered an indicator of the quality of life, others are asking citizens about it and “winding their heads”. Why in Australia, 73 percent of the population is employed, the average life expectancy is 85 years and 80 percent of those surveyed are in excellent health? Because state programs are created with the participation of citizens, they work in all areas on which this very standard of living depends. And this is not only material well-being, but also the satisfaction of spiritual (education, culture, travel, creativity) and social needs (social activities, self-expression).

Experts believe that the higher the standard of living, the greater the needs that states are called upon to satisfy. If it works out, then it is more realistic to keep company with those countries that have topped the UN rating for decades. If not, then there is nothing to be proud of.

How to identify countries with a strong economy among the huge number of countries in the world? To identify highly developed countries, let's pay attention to the ratings - the results of comparative studies made by international experts and organizations to rank countries according to various indicators. Every year, studies are published showing which country has risen to the TOP, which has fallen. Consider the main indicators that determine which countries in 2019 became the most influential in the economic field, have the highest standard of living, prosperity and freedom.

Level of economic development

The level of economic development assesses the efficiency and maturity of the country's economy. It is not for nothing that only countries with a high level of economic development are included in the group of developed countries, while the rest are called developing. This level is determined by various ratings.

Country ranking by GDP

The key indicator is the level of gross domestic product (GDP). This is the name of the total value of goods, services and other results of the activities of enterprises, firms, companies, institutions, organizations, individuals. This is the result of the work of all residents of the country in question during the year. It is calculated in two ways. The first is when all the income received during the year is added up: interest, profit, salary, and so on. The second is when expenses are summed up (government purchases, investments, consumption, export minus imports). The official source of such information is the World Bank database. The statistics are updated every year and published in autumn. The indicator is also kept by the International Monetary Fund and the UN.

The backbone of the world's GDP is produced by only a few countries, mostly large in territory and population.

If all goods and services produced in monetary terms (GDP) is an absolute value, then by comparing the gross domestic product with the population, we get a relative indicator indicating the well-being of citizens.

According to the World Bank and the IMF, the United States of America has the best GDP indicators. Based on countries, the first places in this indicator are occupied by:

№	A country	2016	2017
1	USA	18624	19391
2	China	11222	12015
3	Japan	4949	4872
4	Germany	3479	3685
5	Great Britain	2661	2625
6	India	2274	2611
7	France	2466	2584
8	Brazil	1793	2055
9	Italy	1860	1938
10	Canada	1536	1652
11	Russia	1285	1578
12	The Republic of Korea	1411	1538
13	Australia	1265	1380
14	Spain	1238	1314
15	Mexico	1077	1149
16	Indonesia	864	932
17	Türkiye	859	857
18	Netherlands	751	771
19	Switzerland	671	660
20	Saudi Arabia	652	640

The presented table with indicators is an actual value that does not take into account the difference in prices for homogeneous goods and services. As a consequence of this omission, the GDP of developed countries is often overstated, while that of developing countries is lower.

Since purchasing power parity is more important, as it gives an idea of ​​the quality of life in the countries of the world, another rating based on PPP is more credible.

According to the International Bank, the level of GDP at PPP for the countries of the world is:

№	A country	2017	2018	2018
1	China	23190	25270	18,69
2	USA	19485	20494	15,16
3	India	9597	10505	7,77
4	Japan	5427	5594	4,14
5	Germany	4199	4356	3,22
6	Russia	4027	4213	3,12
7	Indonesia	3250	3495	2,59
8	Brazil	3255	3365	2,49
9	Great Britain	2930	3038	2,25
10	France	2854	2963	2,19
11	Mexico	2464	2570	1,90
12	Italy	2324	2397	1,77
13	Türkiye	2186	2293	1,70
14	The Republic of Korea	2035	2136	1,58
15	Spain	1778	1864	1,38
16	Saudi Arabia	1777	1858	1,37
17	Canada	1764	1837	1,36
18	Iran	1640	1611	1,19
19	Thailand	1240	1320	0,98
20	Australia	1254	1318	0,98

The International Bank evaluates all the economies of the world with the exception of Syria (due to active hostilities), Somalia (since the state actually broke up into several separate parts) and Venezuela (domestic politics is extremely closed, it is impossible to accurately assess the level of GDP by PPP).

economic freedom

The most important indicator of a country's development is the level (or index) of economic freedom. Since 1995, it has been defined by the American research center "Heritage Foundation" and published annually on its website and in the Wall Street Journal.

Based on the theories of Adam Smith, experts at the Heritage Foundation define economic freedom as the level of non-interference by the state in the process of production, distribution and consumption, except in situations where this is necessary to protect citizens.

The index is calculated by the arithmetic mean of ten criteria of freedom - property, absence of corruption, the government's share in regulating the economy, freedom of trade, investment, labor, entrepreneurship, monetary, fiscal, financial. For each of them, an evaluation scale is developed from 0 to 100 points, which are summed up as a result. The higher the score, the higher the level of economic freedom.

free
1.	Hong Kong	90,2
2.	Singapore	89,4
3.	New Zealand	84,4
4.	Switzerland	81,9
5.	Australia	80,9
6	Ireland	80,5
Mostly free
7.	Great Britain	78,9
8.	Canada	77,7
9.	UAE	77,6
10.	Republic of China	77,3
11.	Iceland	77,1
12.	USA	76,8
13.	Netherlands	76,8
14.	Denmark	76,7
15.	Estonia	76,6
16.	Georgia	75,9
17.	Luxembourg	75,9
18.	Chile	75,4
19.	Sweden	75,2
20.	Finland	74,9
21.	Lithuania	74,2
22.	Malaysia	74,0
23.	Czech	73,7
24.	Germany	73,5
25.	Mauritius	73,0
26.	Norway	73,0
27.	Israel	72,8
28.	Qatar	72,6
29.	The Republic of Korea	72,3
30.	Japan	72,1
31.	Austria	72,0
32.	Rwanda	71,1
33.	North Macedonia	71,1
34.	Macau	71,0
35.	Latvia	70,4

Thus, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland and Switzerland are considered countries with a free economy (from 80 points and above) in 2019.

As for the countries of the former USSR, in most cases the level of economic freedom in them is weak. Most states are characterized by the active influence of the state on all spheres of life, which often creates some inconvenience and hinders the free development of the economy.

As an example, here are data from 2 studies conducted in 2016 and 2019 for comparison:

2016 Countries with predominantly free economy 9. Estonia 77,2 14. Lithuania 75,2 23. Georgia 72,6 36. Latvia 70,4 Countries with moderate free economy 54. Armenia 67 68. Kazakhstan 63,3 91. Azerbaijan 60,2 Countries with predominantly not free economy 96. Kyrgyzstan 59,6 117. Moldova 57,4 149. Tajikistan 51,3 153. Russia 50,6 Countries with non-free economies 157. Belarus 48,8 162. Ukraine 46,8 166. Uzbekistan 46,0

2019 Countries with predominantly free economy 15. Estonia 76,6 16. Georgia 75,9 21. Lithuania 74,2 35. Latvia 70,4 Countries with moderate free economy 47. Armenia 67,7 59. Kazakhstan 65,4 60. Azerbaijan 65,4 79. Kyrgyzstan 62,3 Countries with predominantly not free economy 97. Moldova 59,1 98. Russia 58,9 104. Belarus 57,9 122. Tajikistan 55,6 140. Uzbekistan 53,3 147. Ukraine 52,3

Prosperity Rating

The economic achievements of the countries of the world are also measured by the level of prosperity. This indicator is offered by the English analytical center Legatum Institute. He has been calculating it since 2006. This index is determined by the level of social well-being of countries in the field of economic development, entrepreneurship, governance, health, security, education, personal freedoms and social capital. Each of the eight criteria is calculated on the basis of statistical research by the United Nations, the World Bank, sociological data from the Gallup Institute and other authoritative centers. According to the results of comparative studies, a rating of states is published annually. In 2019, such results were published for 142 countries of the world.

RATING	A COUNTRY	INDEX
1	Norway	80.98
2	New Zealand	80.90
3	Finland	80.58
4	Switzerland	79.71
5	Denmark	79.33
6	Sweden	79.15
7	UK	79.12
8	Canada	79.02
9	Netherlands	78.99
10	Ireland	78.95
11	Iceland	78.47
12	Luxembourg	78.15
13	Australia	78.10
14	Germany	77.72
15	Austria	76.64
16	Belgium	76.00
17	United States of America	76.00
18	Slovenia	74.65
19	Malta	74.10
20	France	74.06
21	Singapore	73.73
22	Hong Kong	72.93
23	Japan	72.79
24	Portugal	72.61
25	Spain	72.49
26	Estonia	72.44
27	Czech	72.08
28	Cyprus	70.53
29	Mauritius	69.76
30	Uruguay	69.72
31	Costa Rica	69.33
32	Slovakia	68.84
33	Poland	68.33
34	Italy	68.27
35	South Korea	67.82
36	Lithuania	67.72
37	Israel	67.66
38	Chile	67.59
39	United Arab Emirates	67.01
40	Latvia	66.71

Norway, Switzerland, Denmark, New Zealand, Sweden, Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands have the best indicators on the prosperity index.

Other indicators

There are other indicators by which the rating of a country's economic development is measured. This is the level of GDP per capita. It is not considered a strict characteristic, but is considered an important indicator.

Recent studies of the level of GDP per capita (nominal) according to World Bank estimates show the following results:

№	A country	$
1	Luxembourg	104103
-	Macau	80893
2	Switzerland	80190
3	Norway	75505
4	Iceland	70057
5	Ireland	69331
6	Qatar	63506
7	USA	59532
8	Singapore	57714
9	Denmark	56307
10	Australia	53800
11	Sweden	53442
12	San Marino	49664
13	Netherlands	48223
14	Austria	47291
-	Hong Kong	46194
15	Finland	46703
16	Canada	45032
17	Germany	44470
18	Belgium	43324
19	New Zealand	42941
20	UAE	40699
60	Russia	10743
-	World	10714

A more accurate characteristic is the level of the same indicator in terms of parity (the ratio of several currencies) per capita purchasing power to a certain set of services or goods.

Here the first places are occupied by:

№	A country	2017	2018
1	Qatar	127755	130475
-	Macau (PRC)	110592	116808
2	Luxembourg	103298	106705
3	Singapore	95508	10345
4	Brunei	78971	79530
5	Ireland	73215	78785
6	Norway	72170	74356
7	UAE	68639	69382
8	Kuwait	66197	67000
9	Switzerland	62131	64649
-	Hong Kong (PRC)	61529	64216
10	USA	59895	62606
11	San Marino	68624	60313
12	Netherlands	53933	56383
13	Saudi Arabia	54595	55944
14	Iceland	53834	55917
-	Taiwan (PRC)	50593	53023
15	Sweden	51180	52984
16	Germany	50804	52559
17	Australia	50609	52373
18	Austria	50035	52137
19	Denmark	50643	52121
20	Bahrain	49035	50057
49	Russia	27964	29267

The Human Development Index, which has been published in the reports of the United Nations Development Program since 1990, is another traditional comparative indicator of living standards and the economy. Norway, Australia, Switzerland, Netherlands, USA, Germany, New Zealand, Canada, Singapore, Denmark have a very high human development rating, according to the latest 2014 report.

Based on all these indicators, the world's strongest and most efficient economies for 2019 are:

2. Hong Kong

3. Australia

4. Germany

5. Switzerland

7. Netherlands

8. New Zealand

9. Singapore

10. Japan

Corruption Perceptions Index

Since 1996, the rating of the level of corruption has been recognized as the most important indicator of the state of the country's economy. The official name is the Corruption Perceptions Index. It was introduced by the international non-governmental organization Transparency International. It takes into account how widespread corruption is in the public sector. This ranking is calculated by analyzing surveys and statistical data. Corruption in the framework of the study is understood as any extraction of personal gain through abuse of office.

Interestingly, the study is not based on the statistics of criminal cases or sentences, but on the opinion of those who suffer from corruption or study this phenomenon.

To determine this index, we developed a scale from zero to one hundred, where 0 means the maximum level of corruption, and 100 - its absence. Although the methodology by which the rating is determined is the object of criticism, in general it is recognized by experts as relatively reliable.

2018	A country	2018	2017	2016	2015	2014	2013
№		№	№	№	№	№	№	№
1	Denmark	89	90	91	91	91	90
2	New Zealand	88	90	91	92	91	90
3	Finland	85	89	90	89	89	90
4	Sweden	85	85	87	86	86	85
5	Switzerland	85	86	86	86	85	86
6	Singapore	84	88	89	87	89	88
7	Norway	84	84	85	84	86	87
8	Netherlands	82	83	87	83	83	84
9	Canada	82	82	83	81	81	84
10	Luxembourg	82	81	81	79	78	79
11	Germany	82	81	81	78	76	74
12	Great Britain	81	81	81	82	80	80
13	Australia	77	77	75	74	75	77
14	Iceland	75	78	79	79	78	82
15	Hong Kong	75	77	77	76	75	75
16	Austria	75	79	79	80	81	85
17	Belgium	75	75	76	72	69	69
18	Ireland	75	74	76	74	73	73
19	Japan	74	73	75	74	72	69
20	Estonia	73	72	75	76	74	74

The most difficult situation with corruption is observed in the following countries:

170	Sudan	17	18	18	18	20	25
171	Yemen	17	16	17	19	19	25
172	North Korea	17
173	Syria	17	14	16	18	15	21
174	South Sudan	17	12	8	8	8	8
175	Somalia	16	14	12	11	11	13
176	Yemen	16	14	18	19	18	23
177	Afghanistan	15	15	11	12	8	8
178	Syria	14	13	18	20	17	26
179	South Sudan	12	11	15	15	14
180	Somalia	9	10	8	8	8	8

Credit ratings

The economic "health" of the country is also assessed by financial or credit ratings. They are calculated taking into account the financial history of the state, the size of its property and the ability and desire to pay debts. Such an index is needed in order to make it clear to potential creditors or investors how safe it is to deal with the country. Financial ratings are assessed by international agencies. Moody's, Standard and Poor's and Fitch have the most serious reputation. They work all over the world and help to distinguish reliable partners from unreliable ones. Each of them has its own naming system, but in general, countries with a high degree of obligation are designated by the letter A, medium and lower - Ba, risky - B, high risk and close to default - C.

№	A country	Long-term rating	Short term rating
1	USA	AAA	F1+
2	Great Britain	AA	F1+
3	Germany	AAA	F1+
4	France	AA	F1+
5	Japan	A	F1
6	Spain	A-	F1
7	Italy	BBB	F2
8	Portugal	BBB	F2
9	Greece	bb-	B
10	Ireland	A+	F1+
11	Andorra	BBB+	F2
12	UAE	AA	F1+
13	Armenia	B+	B
14	Angola	B	B
15	Argentina	B	B
16	Austria	AA+	F1+
17	Australia	AAA	F1+
18	Azerbaijan	BB+	B
19	Bangladesh	bb-	B
20	Belgium	AA-	F1+
21	Bulgaria	BBB	F2
22	Bahrain	bb-	B
23	Benin	B	B
24	Bolivia	bb-	B
25	Brazil	bb-	B
26	Belarus	B	B
27	Canada	AAA	F1+
28	Congo	CC	C
29	Switzerland	AAA	F1+
30	Ivory Coast	B+	B
31	Chile	A	F1
32	Cameroon	B	B
33	China	A+	F1+
34	Colombia	BBB	F2
35	Costa Rica	BB	B
36	Cape Verde	B	B
37	Cyprus	BB+	B
38	Czech	AA-	F1+
39	Denmark	AAA	F1+
40	Dominican Republic	bb-	B
41	Ecuador	B	B
42	Estonia	A+	F1+
43	Egypt	B	B
44	Ethiopia	B	B
45	Finland	AA+	F1+
46	Gabon	B	B
47	Georgia	bb-	B
48	Ghana	B	B
49	Gambia	CCC	C
50	Guatemala	BB	B
51	Hong Kong	AA+	F1+
52	Croatia	BB+	B
53	Hungary	BBB-	F3
54	Indonesia	BBB	F2
55	Israel	A+	F1+
56	India	BBB-	F3
57	Iraq	B-	B
58	Iran	B+	B
59	Iceland	A	F1
60	Jamaica	B	B
61	Kenya	B+	B
62	South Korea	AA-	F1+
63	Kuwait	AA	F1+
64	Kazakhstan	BBB	F2
65	Lebanon	B-	B
66	Sri Lanka	B+	B
67	Lesotho	B+	B
68	Lithuania	A-	F1
69	Luxembourg	AAA	F1+
70	Latvia	A-	F1
71	Libya	B	B
72	Morocco	BBB-	F3
73	Moldova	B-	B
74	Macedonia	BB	B
75	Mali	B-	B
76	Mongolia	B	B
77	Malta	A+	F1+
78	Maldives	B+	B
79	Malawi	B-	B
80	Mexico	BBB+	F2
81	Malaysia	A-	F1
82	Mozambique	RD	C
83	Namibia	BB+	B
84	Nigeria	B+	B
85	Nicaragua	B	B
86	Netherlands	AAA	F1+
87	Norway	AAA	F1+
88	New Zealand	AA	F1+
89	Oman	BBB-	F3
90	Panama	BBB	F2
91	Peru	BBB+	F2
92	Papua New Guinea	B+	B
93	Philippines	BBB	F2
94	Pakistan	B	B
95	Poland	A-	F2
96	Paraguay	BB	B
97	Qatar	AA-	F1+
98	Romania	BBB-	F3
99	Serbia	BB	B
100	Russia	BBB-	F3
101	Rwanda	B+	B
102	Saudi Arabia	A+	F1+
103	Seychelles	bb-	B
104	Sweden	AAA	F1+
105	Singapore	AAA	F1+
106	Slovenia	A-	F1
107	Slovakia	A+	F1+
108	San Marino	BBB-	F3
109	Suriname	B-	B
110	Salvador	B-	B
111	Thailand	BBB+	F2
112	Turkmenistan	CCC-	C
113	Tunisia	B+	B
114	Türkiye	BB	B
115	Taiwan	AA-	F1+
116	Ukraine	B-	B
117	Uganda	B+	B
118	Uruguay	BBB-	F3
119	Venezuela	RD	C
120	Vietnam	BB	B
121	South Africa	BB+	B
122	Zambia	B	B

Rating	Rating value
AAA	lowest risk, highest creditworthiness
AA+	moderate risk, very high creditworthiness, first level
AA	moderate risk, very high creditworthiness, second tier
AA-	moderate risk, very high creditworthiness, tier three
A	moderate risk, high creditworthiness, second level
A-	moderate risk, high creditworthiness, third level
VVV+	moderate risk, sufficient creditworthiness, first level
VVV	moderate risk, sufficient creditworthiness, second level
VVV-	moderate risk, sufficient creditworthiness, third level
CCC	high risk and threat of default, significant credit risk

Index with a "human face"

The last few years have demonstrated the importance of such an indicator of economic development as social progress. The previous indicators corresponded to economic theories, but they did not show how the growth of the economy affects people's lives. Therefore, in 2013, the Social Progress Index was developed as an alternative to economic indicators. Its author is Harvard University professor Michael Porter. This rating is calculated based on the analysis of sociological survey data, expert opinions and statistical information from international organizations. Determining the achievements of each country in this area, the researchers took into account more than fifty factors.

1. This is the satisfaction of basic needs - food, water and medical care, housing, a degree.
2. Then the fundamental foundations of well-being are taken into account - access to education and information, the level of literacy and communication.
3. And, finally, development opportunities are analyzed - the level of protection of civil and political rights and self-realization is determined.

RATING	A COUNTRY	INDEX
1	Norway	90.26
2	Iceland	90.24
3	Switzerland	89.97
4	Denmark	89.96
5	Finland	89.77
6	Japan	89.74
7	Netherlands	89.34
8	Luxembourg	89.27
9	Germany	89.21
10	New Zealand	89.12
11	Sweden	88.99
12	Ireland	88.82
13	UK	88.74
14	Canada	88.62
15	Australia	88.32
16	France	87.88
17	Belgium	87.39
18	South Korea	87.13
19	Spain	87.11
20	Austria	86.76
21	Italy	86.04
22	Slovenia	85.50
23	Singapore	85.42
24	Portugal	85.36
25	United States of America	84.78
26	Czech	84.66
27	Estonia	83.49
28	Cyprus	82.85
29	Greece	82.59
30	Israel	82.47
60	Russia	70.16

From the results of the studies we analyzed, it is clear that there is a direct relationship between economic freedom, financial security, standard of living, and social progress. Countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Norway, the Netherlands are leading among those who provide their citizens with dignity and at the same time respect civil and political rights, and also pay their bills honestly. Little Asian "tigers": Singapore or Hong Kong, as well as oil "millionaires" (UAE, Qatar) are "ahead of the rest" in terms of economic freedom and per capita income. But countries with a strong and efficient economy - the USA, China, Japan, Great Britain, Germany - are distributed in different positions in the ranking, because. far from always being able to provide the people living there with a high level of income and opportunities for development.

GDP growth during the crisis, the state of the economy, the increase in the average wage are the factors that have allowed some countries to maintain leadership positions in terms of the quality of life of the population. At the end of 2016, which countries became more comfortable for life, which left the TOP-10 and which still remain dream countries? About this - in our article!

A good country is a healthy country. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN and the World Bank, the TOP-10 states with the healthiest population looks like this:

1. Iceland. Its superiority is due to the maximum number of health workers (more than 3.6 per 1 thousand population), the minimum number of people diagnosed with tuberculosis (only 2 per 1 thousand people) and the highest life expectancy in the world (over 72 years for men and 74 for women).
2. Singapore. The minimum number of people suffering from obesity (1.8%) and high life expectancy (average - 82 years) allowed this city-state to take a high place in the ranking.
3. Sweden. A small number of tuberculosis patients (only 3 per 1,000 people), coupled with a minimal infant mortality rate, allowed her to take an honorable 2nd place.
4. Germany. More than 11% of the state's GDP goes to healthcare (Germany spends more than 3,500 euros annually on the treatment of citizens).
5. Switzerland. The high place in the rating is due to the large number of doctors (3.6 per 1 thousand people)
6. Andorra. Health care expenditures in Andorra amount to more than 8% of GDP, and the average life expectancy of the population exceeds 82 years.
7. Great Britain. This country is the only state in the West, which owns 95% of medical facilities operating on its territory. More than 9.8% of GDP is spent on healthcare.
8. Finland. In this country, about 300 people a year fall ill with tuberculosis, while 30 thousand people are diagnosed with cancer every year (over 75% of patients are completely cured).
9. Netherlands. The country has a low incidence of tuberculosis (5.4 people per 1,000 inhabitants) and sufficient life expectancy - more than 81 years.
10. Canada. The Medicare healthcare system is the pride of this North American state, because it guarantees almost free medical care to every inhabitant. Health expenditures account for over 10% of GDP, and the life expectancy of citizens exceeds 80 years.

The worst countries in terms of the health of citizens are African states: Swaziland, Somalia, South Sudan, Chad, the Central African Republic, Mali, etc. The rating is based on data from researchers at the University of Seattle and the Bloomberg news agency.

WHO uses a special indicator to determine the quality of health care - life expectancy at birth. According to the rating of the World Health Organization, Russia ranks 110th in terms of medical care. And although the healthcare system leaves much to be desired, the Russian Federation is ahead of other CIS countries, such as Kazakhstan (111th place), Tajikistan (115th), Armenia (116th), Uzbekistan (117th), Ukraine (151st), losing only to the Republic of Belarus (98th place) .

TOP 10 countries ideal for business

A strong economy is unthinkable without a successful business. The Forbes edition in 2016 compiled a list of countries that are most convenient for doing business. It is noteworthy that out of 10 participants in the rating, 6 are EU countries:

1. Sweden;
2. New Zealand;
3. Hong Kong;
4. Ireland;
5. Great Britain;
6. Denmark;
7. Netherlands;
8. Finland;
9. Norway;
10. Canada.

The American edition has been forming the rating for 11 years, taking into account the level of bureaucracy, taxes, corruption, economic growth, financial and personal freedom of citizens - a total of 11 factors were taken into account. For 7 of them, Sweden was in the top ten, because its economy grew by 4.2 percent at the end of the year with a GDP of 493 billion US dollars. The data for the assessment was obtained from the reports of the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, the non-governmental international anti-corruption organization Transparency International, etc.

In terms of the level of economic development, Russia took 40th place, and in terms of the complexity of starting a business, it was in 26th position. In terms of the availability of electricity, the Russian Federation became 30th, in terms of the availability of loans it became 44th, in terms of taxation - 45th, in terms of the complexity of obtaining construction rights, our country became 115th. According to the World Bank, the ideal country for doing business (without taking into account additional criteria, such as economic growth) is New Zealand, because in it "paying taxes is as easy as writing a check."

The most prosperous countries in the world

Well, where we do not? The British non-profit organization The Legatum Institute has published a world ranking study of the most prosperous countries in the world. The most "prosperous" countries are determined taking into account economic and social indicators, business opportunities, the level of education and health care, social capital and personal freedoms of citizens. Experts evaluated 149 countries, giving them scores in the range of 0 - 10 on 89 criteria.

Based on the results of the analysis conducted in 2016, the following rating was compiled:

1. New Zealand (prosperity index - 79.28);
2. Norway (78.66);
3. Finland (78.56);
4. Switzerland (78.10);
5. Canada (77.67);
6. Australia (77.48);
7. Netherlands (77.44);
8. Sweden (77.43);
9. Denmark (77.37);
10. UK (77.18).

The purpose of the study is to study the public welfare of the states of the world on a global scale. The Prosperity Index is a composite indicator that measures the achievements of states in terms of well-being. In this list, Russia occupies 95th position (prosperity index - 54.73). The closest "neighbors" in the rating are Nepal and Moldova (94th and 96th places, respectively). Among the CIS countries, Russia has the best indicators: 25th place in terms of the quality of education, 56th in terms of environmental safety, and 69th in entrepreneurship.

Russia's achievements are obvious - every year it moves to the top lines of the rating. At the same time, the results should be viewed through the prism of political sentiments: the report of the Legatum Institute repeatedly uses liberal clichés “Putin's Russia”, “Soviet heritage”, “communist past”, etc. When compiling the rating, the British organization uses survey data from the previous year, which does not allow a 100% objective reflection of reality.

Ranking of countries in the world in terms of living standards

The United Nations (UN) has been publishing a report on the quality of life of the population in various countries of the world since 1990. The rating is based on the Human Development Index, or Humanity Development Index (HDI). This index allows you to measure the achievements of states in the field of healthcare, incomes of the population, education, social services, etc.

The report was last published in 2015, and the best countries to live in were distributed in the UN rankings as follows:

1. Norway (0.94);
2. Australia (0.935);
3. Switzerland (0.93);
4. Denmark (0.923);
5. Netherlands (0.922);
6. Germany (0.916);
7. Ireland (0.916);
8. United States of America (0.916);
9. Canada (0.913);
10. New Zealand (0.913).

Russia is among the countries with a high human development index (0.798) on a par with Belarus. Our country is somewhat ahead of Oman, Romania, Uruguay, slightly yielding to Montenegro. The countries with the worst HDI index are located in Africa: Niger, CAR, Eritrea, Chad, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Mozambique and Mali.

1. Denmark (201.53);
2. Switzerland (196.44);
3. Australia (196.40);
4. New Zealand (196.09);
5. Germany (189.87);
6. Austria (187);
7. Netherlands (186.46);
8. Spain (184.96);
9. Finland (183.98);
10. United States of America (181.91).

The index was calculated without the use of government data and official reports, so it can be considered subjective and depoliticized. For calculations, a formula was used that takes into account such factors as the purchasing power of the population, the ratio of the cost of real estate to the income of citizens, the safety and cost of living, the quality of healthcare, the climate, and even the situation on the roads (the less traffic jams, the better).

Russia ranks 55th in this list with a quality of life index of 86.53. It is somewhat ahead of Ukraine and slightly inferior to Egypt and Singapore. Russia showed good results in the field of real estate: the housing affordability index is 13.3 (this is only a little more than that of Austria, France, Estonia, and South Korea). The purchasing power index of Russians is half that of citizens of the leading countries of the list - only 52.6. But the cost of living index in Russia is one of the lowest (35.62). For comparison: in Switzerland it is 125.67, in Norway - 104.26.

The table of indices that determine the position of the listed countries looks like this:

A country	Purchasing power index of citizens	Healthy security	The ratio of the cost of housing and income of the population
Denmark	135.24	78.21	6.33
Switzerland	153.90	69.93	9.27
Australia	137.26	74.14	7.54
New Zealand	108.61	72.17	6.80
Germany	136.14	76.02	7.23
Austria	103.54	78.80	10.37
Netherlands	120.12	69.19	6.47
Spain	94.80	76.55	8.70
Finland	123.42	74.80	7.99
United States	130.17	68.18	3.39

Along with a high standard of living, relative affordability of housing, and high purchasing power of citizens, the leading countries in terms of living standards are also the most expensive to live in. The ranking of the most expensive countries to live in looks like this:

1. Switzerland - 126.03;
2. Norway - 118.59;
3. Venezuela - 111.51;
4. Iceland - 102.14;
5. Denmark - 100.06;
6. Australia - 99.32;
7. New Zealand - 93.71;
8. Singapore - 93.61;
9. Kuwait - 92.97;
10. Great Britain - 92.19.

TOP-10 is based on data from the research company Movehub (UK). The index used (the Consumer Price Index, or CPI) takes into account the cost of food, utilities, transportation, gasoline and entertainment. An interesting fact: the index reflects the ratio of the cost of living in New York (if it is 80, then living in the country is 20% cheaper than in the Big Apple).

The most affordable countries for life are mainly the countries of Asia and Africa: India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Egypt, Algeria. The states of Europe and North America are still attractive, but quite expensive to live in. The attractiveness is due to the excellent quality of medical and educational services. The best universities in the world are located on their territory: Harvard, Princeton and Yale, Oxford and Cambridge universities.

Many leaders of the listed ratings are countries with excellent ecology. According to Forbes, Switzerland, Sweden and Norway are the top three cleanest and most livable countries in terms of climate and ecology. There are practically no harmful industries on their territory, and endless green meadows, mountains and the purest natural reservoirs make living and relaxing in them as beneficial to health as possible.

It should be noted that many states are absolute leaders that excelled in all indicators. So, Norway, Iceland and Sweden can be safely called ideal for living, working, and tourism. And which countries, in your opinion, have provided their citizens with optimal living conditions and the highest possible standard of living? Share your personal experience and opinions in the comments!

We look forward to your feedback, reposts and comments, thank you.

The standard of living of the population, or the level of well-being of the population, is a separate bar in meeting the financial and spiritual needs of the population of any country.

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Needs that are used a certain time of their use. Often, they use data on the consumer basket, that is, the ratio of its use by the population.

Initial Aspects

Non-material indicators also affect this indicator, therefore it is important to take into account, for example, the state of health of the population of citizens, or the environmental indications of the regions of the country, because the psychological indicator of the population depends on this, which is an important indicator.

That is, according to these indicators, you can see how satisfied citizens are with their material and spiritual condition, a certain period of time is taken into account. Often, the rules take a period of time for one year.

Evaluation criteria when compiling

To find out the standard of living in each country, different evaluation criteria are used. The human development index is based precisely on the sum of the incomes of the population.

At the top of the world are those countries that have the highest index. When compiling the calculation of the standard of living, the following criteria influence:

1. The income of residents, in this case, indicators are taken on the minimum wage, living wage, GDP growth.
2. The amount of income that residents spend on basic necessities is calculated, as well as given to buy food.
3. The level of medical care is taken into account, what is the price for the services of doctors, the properties of medicinal preparations, what is the attitude towards the elderly, what is the attitude towards people with disabilities, as well as to incapacitated citizens.
4. The state of health of citizens is an equally important factor - the average life expectancy of people, how many percent of the population have chronic diseases, alcohol-dependent percentage of the entire population, from smoking, as well as drug addiction of part of the population.
5. The level of educated citizens, as well as how accessible education is at universities, and what is its quality.
6. Social support of the population, the effectiveness of the use of various social projects.
7. What is the cost of housing.
8. What is the unemployment rate.
9. The quality of drinking water, its price, as well as the food product is evaluated.
10. What about freedom of speech in the country, as well as its demographic choice, mass media.
11. The level of pollution in the country, as well as environmental indicators.
12. There is no discrimination.

Characteristics of states (table)

Top states by standard of living:

Switzerland	The Swiss, according to general statistics, for the second time occupy the first position of "the best countries in the world." It is best to create corporations, this is what the respondents say. In addition, Switzerland ranks second in the position of “citizenship”, while taking into account an important point that shows that in this country the government treats its residents with special respect for their rights, in the environment, the right to freedom of speech. Switzerland enjoys great success in the economy, as well as an open environment for doing business. As well as one of the best conditions for pensioners. The average salary of workers is 5 thousand euros per month. Ecological environment is one of the best in the world
Canada	The example of this country shows that there are still countries that care about the environment, as well as the social development of the country. Canada is also a leader among countries in terms of living standards. It should be taken into account that Canadians work only 1702 hours a year. Canada may also be famous for its Canadian oil reserves.
Germany	Germany occupies a leading position for entrepreneurs. Germany displaced the UK, and it moved to fourth place, because Germany is famous for its reputation, as well as its openness to citizens. The government also takes care of the health of its citizens, and allocates 11% of GDP for the treatment of the population.
Great Britain	Experts highly appreciate education in the UK. This year, the UK has fallen one position, thereby letting Germany go ahead.
Japan	This country is open to entrepreneurs, and also has a high economy, as well as rich traditions. Its competitors may be Singapore, as well as China - which, in principle, occupy a leading position in terms of GDP per capita growth. These three countries show rapid growth in economic development
Sweden	According to the level of ecology, it occupies a leading place in the top 10. A survey was conducted in which the feedback from women was more positive, which can be said to be more comfortable for women in it. However, every year there are more and more migrants, which can affect the economic level and the general standard of living of the population.
Australia	Previously, this country was the one to which convicts were exiled, and at the moment it has become one of the most developed. The government has created good conditions for families to live in it, study, and travel. What is also important is the fact that there are favorable conditions for pensioners, it is in the top 3 countries. Success factors - a small level of taxes with low wages - 8%, most citizens live on the coast of Australia, there is a warm and mild climate
USA	He can boast that he has a direct influence on the political government of many countries, as well as influence in military operations. Just as important is the fact that the United States is no longer considered to be such a politically balanced country, as well as a demographic one. Some analysts argue that this may be the reason for the election of a new president, Donald Trump, as well as his decisions about the US position in Syria regarding Jerusalem.
France	Included in the top 10 countries, and famous for its cultural influence, traditions, education, and France is still popular among tourists
Netherlands	One of the most modern countries in the world. Favorable conditions have been arranged for creating a family, giving birth and raising children. No gender discrimination

To date, these countries are in the top 10.

Main macroeconomic indicators

Macroeconomic indicators are determined by the aggregate of all households in the country per capita.

Macroeconomic indicators include:

Gross domestic product (GDP)	That is, the price of goods and services created to meet social needs
Household income in cash	Which contain the maximum amount of expenses of the population for final consumption without attracting their own money, income from the sale of assets and increasing their own liabilities
Primary income of resident households	Which contain wages for work, gross income, balance of property
Balance of current transfers, as the difference between transfers received and paid	Transfers received include pensions, allowances, scholarships, insurance compensations. Current transfers paid are income and property taxes, social security contributions, voluntary contributions, loan repayments.
Real disposable household income	Which are considered as the amount of available income, adjusted for the consumer price index

Situation in Russia

In the list of 142 countries of the world, Russia occupies 61st place, as recent studies show. If you look at the closest countries - neighbors, then Russia gave way to Belarus, which took 58th position, Greece 54th place, China 51st bar.

In the modern world, it is not a secret for a long time that in every state people live differently. This applies not only to traditions and cultural characteristics, but also to the standard of living in general. So, everyone has long been accustomed to the fact that in some states life is better. It is in these countries that most people want to move to a permanent place of residence. It is about where the population lives best that we will talk today, presenting the rating of the end of 2018.

Evaluation criteria for the ranking of countries in the world in 2019

It should be said right away that there is no single and undeniable rating that would sum up how the inhabitants of individual countries lived in a particular year. First, the compilers of the ratings are inclined to some extent to trust individual indicators, taking into account which the places of states in the ratings are distributed. Someone pays more attention to the economic sphere, someone - to the cultural one, and someone tries to evaluate all possible indicators as objectively as possible. Secondly, it is impossible to speak unambiguously about life in a particular country as a whole. The fact is that in absolutely every state there are less developed regions and provinces, where the standard of living is significantly lower than in the major financial and cultural centers of the country. In addition, the situation in cities and villages can also differ significantly.

The best countries in terms of living standards in 2019 are, according to many, the best corners of the planet in which you can live a carefree wonderful life

We will consider the lists of countries taking into account a number of indicators that affect the country's position in the ranking. These include:

• the level of security in the country. This includes not only statistical data on the level of crime, but also the feeling of security of the inhabitants of the country themselves;
• financial component: the level of wages, GDP per capita, the unemployment rate, the ratio of incomes of citizens of the country and local prices;
• infrastructure development;
• political stability;
• social guarantees, provision by the state of residents with the necessary support;
• environmental factor;
• cultural life of the country;
• science and level of education.

However, the most objective, perhaps, criterion is the satisfaction of permanent residents of the country with the situation in their state.

Ranking of countries by standard of living

So, it cannot be said that in 2019 the overall picture of the world has changed significantly. The first positions of the rating belong to the same states as in previous years.

Norway

In first place is Norway - a small state with a population of just over five million people. It must be said that the name of this country rarely appears in the news reports, while the state itself is reluctant to interfere in the course of world politics, preferring to lead a more measured and calm life. Perhaps this is some secret of why the citizens of Norway are so happy with their country and their government. Meanwhile, according to the UN, in the ranking of countries in the world by HDI (human development index), it was Norway that took the honorable first place.

HDI world map, data for 2019

The Human Development Index is a comprehensive comparative indicator of life expectancy, literacy, education and standard of living in individual states. These data are often used in compiling world rankings.

The high standard of living in Norway is explained by the following factors:

• high level of medical care;
• low cost of local housing, various support programs for young families;
• good lending conditions for secondary and higher education, as well as a decent level of education itself in the country;
• provision of social guarantees by the state;
• low crime rate;
• good benefits for unemployed citizens (although it is worth noting that not everyone is eligible to receive it);
• high wages, fully providing citizens with the opportunity to provide for themselves;
• good ecological situation, developed tourism sector.

Breathtaking view of Bergen at night

Everything is absolutely diverse - there are just less capable and more capable. And so, the education system is so cleverly arranged that all children develop mentally very quickly and even somewhat early. If in the CIS countries a child throughout his school life in a mathematics or chemistry lesson looks into a book and sees ...., then everything is very accessible and interesting for them to be presented to schoolchildren - there children do not “cram” anything because “it is necessary” - there they just understand it all! Even if you look at their textbooks and in general books for children and schoolchildren - it's super - everything works for the desire to learn and learn (which is most important) how smart everything is - both pictures and writing styles. Everywhere, in all countries, children with different levels of academic achievement. But, again, in Norway, all this is controlled in schools and “customized” if anything

Cirstenhttp://valhalla.ulver.com/f187/t10324–6.html

However, the standard of living in a country can be assessed not only with the help of statistical data. Local residents support the policy of the Norwegian government primarily because the statesmen care about the well-being of the new generation. Thus, the oil funds that provide financial assistance to young people play a big role in this. By the way, Norway is the largest producer of oil and gas in Northern Europe; local resources are enough not only to meet the needs of the country's inhabitants, but also for export.

Oslo, the capital of Norway

Table: data by country

Video about the life of the population

Australia is a state whose territory is the sixth largest in the world. The population is just over 24 million people. This continental state ranks second in the world ranking of countries in terms of the quality of life of citizens. This position is due to the following factors:

• low tax rates. Much lower than in most developed countries (taxation at the minimum wage is only about 8%);
• high wages. Thus, the average hourly wage of a local resident is about seventeen euros - this is one of the highest rates in the world;
• developed agricultural sector and light industry;
• developed tourism industry;
• the majority of the population is satisfied with their lives, as they live on the coast of Australia, where the climate is quite mild and comfortable. In addition, the country's ecology is at a fairly good level, since the government annually allocates large sums to combat environmental pollution.

The coasts of the country are very attractive for tourists.

Table: indicators by state

By the way, Australia today is very attractive for immigrants, as the country is sorely lacking in labor. The state not only provides foreigners with jobs (many of which are simply not attractive to local residents), but also guarantees a number of social benefits to immigrants. In addition, after four years, a foreigner, if desired, can obtain citizenship of the country.

Video: feedback from immigrants after a year of living in Australia

Sweden

Sweden is a neighboring country to Norway. It ranks third in the world in terms of the quality of life of the population. It is believed that the ancestors of modern Swedes were the Vikings - a warlike and purposeful people. And, if one can easily argue with the militancy of modern Swedes (the country tries not to participate in international conflicts, even during the First and Second World Wars Sweden maintained neutrality), then there is no doubt about the purposefulness and desire for independence of the descendants of the Vikings. So, even Swedish girls prefer to realize themselves first in terms of a career or business, only after that they think about a family. According to statistics, women in this country, on average, acquire their first heir only by the age of thirty - this is the highest figure in Europe.

The capital and largest city of Sweden is Stockholm.

• developed manufacturing sector;
• stable economic and political situation - the country's GDP is steadily increasing every year;
• provision by the government of a full package of social guarantees;
• low unemployment;
• availability of education both for citizens of the country and for immigrants;
• freedom of expression of the population;
• low crime rate, almost complete absence of corruption.

Video: moving to Sweden

Sweden is one of the most "generous" countries in the world. Its annual donations to needy countries and states faced with disasters and cataclysms is about 1% of the total GDP - this is an absolute world record.

Table: indicators by country

Switzerland is a small European state that has a number of features that can surprise a foreigner. So, despite the small territory of the country, it has several official languages ​​at once: German, French, Italian, Romansh (Swiss Romansh). There is no capital of the country as such (formally), in fact, the city of Bern is considered the capital and cultural center of Switzerland. The population density of the country is quite large - more than eight million people live on 41,000 square kilometers.

The Russian name of the country goes back to the name of the canton of Schwyz, which was the core of the first unification of the cantons in 1291

On postage stamps and not only you can find such a name as Helvetia. This is another name for Switzerland. In Russian, it can also be used, but not as often as the name we are used to. In the Russian version, Helvetia will sound like Helvetia.

Factors affecting the position of Switzerland in the world rankings:

• low crime rate;
• developed tourism industry. Even despite the fact that the country's territory is small and has no access to the sea, in Switzerland you can find many recreation centers and tourist places where both residents of the country and foreign tourists can go on vacation;
• high wages and availability of employment (low unemployment rate);
• high quality products;
• quality medical care - people from all over the world come to Switzerland to improve their health;
• good ecology - the best in Europe.

Table: indicators by country

Video about prices and salaries in the state

Netherlands

The Netherlands is one of the founding states of the European Union. More than seventeen million people live on a relatively small territory of the country (just over 41 thousand square kilometers). It should be noted that the economy of the state is steadily growing every year, and the standard of living of the population continues to improve. This makes the Netherlands a desirable relocation destination for many immigrants. Among the factors contributing to attracting foreigners to the country is the pleasant warm climate of the state.

Amsterdam - the capital of Holland (Netherlands), the city of freedom, where there are no restrictions

Despite the fact that the state is officially called the Netherlands, the name "Holland" is widely entrenched among people. However, the latter should be understood only as a number of certain provinces; to use it in relation to the entire state would be a factual inaccuracy.

Rotterdam is a city in the Netherlands and the largest European port

The high quality of life of the population is determined by the following factors:

• developed local industry (the country produces world-class cars, chemical and textile products, as well as a developed metal mining and processing industry);
• high employment of the population;
• creation of favorable conditions for doing small and medium-sized businesses (conditions are gentle even for foreign businessmen);
• a developed agricultural channel - the country is fully self-sufficient in food, and also exports a lot of dairy products, meat, vegetables, flowers, and so on;
• low crime rate;
• good ecology.

The last two factors, by the way, favorably affect the life expectancy of the population. Last year, this figure reached 81 years - this is one of the highest rates in the world.

Table of indicators

Germany

Germany is one of the most influential countries in Europe and in the world. It conducts an active foreign policy and participates not only in resolving issues directly related to Germany itself, but also takes part in the settlement of external conflicts. This policy is not always supported by the inhabitants of the country, so it is impossible to talk about the complete confidence of the population in their government. Nevertheless, social guarantees are well provided in Germany, and the unemployment rate is actively decreasing.

Berlin - the capital and cultural center of the country

• high wages, which are enough for the average German to provide himself with everything he needs;
• social guarantees;
• high quality medical care;
• great attention is paid to science;
• providing citizens with a decent education;
• good ecological situation (although in some regions of the country this could be argued);
• freedom of expression of citizens.

Video: Germany. Expectations and reality

Parameter table

Denmark

The Kingdom of Denmark is a small country in Northern Europe, the main values ​​​​of which the Danes themselves consider their original culture and fertile lands. Today, the kingdom ranks first in terms of foreign trade turnover per unit of population living in the country. The agricultural sector is very developed in the country, and the attitude towards rural labor among local residents differs significantly from that of Europe or Russia. So, the Danes respect the work of farmers much more than the work of office workers or artists. It is the work in the fields that in our time is devoted to many works by Danish authors.

Every year a lot of research is carried out in the world on the subject of which people consider themselves the happiest. In the course of many of them, it turns out that the inhabitants of Denmark fall into the top ten countries where the happiest people live. So, according to research conducted at the University of Leicester in England, it turned out that the happiest people in the world are Danes, and their closest neighbors in the rating were residents of Norway.

Fabulous streets of the country's capital Copenhagen

Interesting fact: Denmark is very tolerant of people who somehow do not look like others. Denmark was the first European country to legalize same-sex marriage.

Table: country information

Video: facts about life in Denmark

Singapore is, without exaggeration, one of the most developed and promising Asian states.. It is located on islands in Southeast Asia. The state has a very small territory - only 719 square kilometers, but since 1960 a program of land reclamation has been operating. This has become a necessary measure for Singapore, as the country's population is increasing all the time, so many regions of the state are heavily overpopulated. According to statistics, Singapore ranks second in the world in terms of population density - more than four and a half million people live in such a small area. The state consists of 63 islands, they are surrounded on all sides by water. Therefore, perhaps one of the main sources of budget revenues is the tourism industry. It must be said that the state is developing at an unusually rapid pace. So, after gaining independence (in 1965 from Malaysia), Singapore was a very poor state that lagged behind the technological progress of that time. Today, Singapore is one of the financial centers of Asia, and the architecture of local cities amazes even tourists from developed countries with its beauty and grandeur.

Singapore fascinates with its architecture

Singapore cannot be called a country with affordable prices for food or housing. However, the local population receives enough to be able to afford everything they need and even more. Moreover, about 3% of the local population are dollar millionaires.

This small island state is distinguished by attractive conditions for foreign businessmen - a company can be opened here in just 10 minutes. As a rule, both foreigners and citizens of Singapore prefer to invest in the tourism industry, as the cultural identity and mild warm climate are extremely attractive for tourists.

Information table

Video: the richest city in the world - Singapore

Canada

Canada is the second largest country in the world by area. It has the longest coastline in the world. Despite the vast area of ​​the country, its population is just over 36 million people - this is 6 million less than in modern Ukraine. Since the population density, as we see, is small, many Canadians have the opportunity to lead a quiet measured life, doing agriculture. It is the agricultural sector in the country that is one of the leading ones. Canada is a technologically and industrially developed state, it has close trade ties primarily with the United States, but in recent years it has been actively presenting its products on the global market.

Ottawa is the capital of Canada and one of its main cultural centers

Canada is a multicultural country. Here they are quite tolerant towards national, religious or cultural minorities. In addition, at the legislative level of the country, two languages ​​\u200b\u200bare fixed as state languages ​​- English and French.

Information table

Video: difficulties of a Russian woman when moving to Canada

New Zealand

New Zealand is a small island state that has long been isolated from foreign policy processes due to its remoteness from other countries. Thus, the nearest neighbors of New Zealand Australia and New Caledonia are located at a distance of 1700 and 1400 kilometers, respectively. Since the state was under the rule of Great Britain for a long time, local residents adopted many everyday moments and elements of culture from the British. English is the first state language on the island. Maori and the unique New Zealand Sign Language are also recognized as official languages. New Zealand is a country of extraordinary landscapes, and for the last couple of decades it has been actively working on the development of the tourism sector. Also, the state is famous for its excellent ecology, low crime rate and the almost complete absence of corruption.

Information table

The situation with Russia and the CIS countries

Despite the fact that after the collapse of the USSR, all the states that gained unexpected independence began their own individual development path, none of the former Soviet Union countries can boast of special achievements against the background of other developed states.

Thus, according to the rating presented by the UN, Russia ranks 49th in the world in terms of the quality of life of the population. I must say, this is one position higher than last year. It is fair to say that the UN specialists were primarily guided by three criteria when compiling the world ranking:

• public health and the state of the local ecology;
• the availability of education, the general cultural situation in the country (freedom of expression, active cultural and social movements, the interest of the state in supporting artists, and so on);
• the standard of living of the population (primarily in terms of wealth).

Thus, according to the rating, Ukraine and Armenia took 84th place in the world, closing the number of countries with a high HDI. By the way, Ukraine has dropped significantly in the ranking compared to 2016 - then it was in 55th place. There is no need to talk about the reasons - the aggressive policy of the state, military conflicts and financial difficulties have significantly affected the quality of life of the ordinary population.

Video: which country is the happiest

As you can see, the situation in the world is quite predictable. As a rule, the first positions in the ranking of countries in terms of living standards go to those states that have a strong financial foundation. They usually boast the presence of natural resources and developed industry. The tourism sector often plays an important role, significantly replenishing the budgets of states that are attractive to tourists. Nevertheless, it is worth understanding that the situation in the world can change in the shortest possible time, therefore, if you are interested in ratings, you should regularly be interested in the situation in the world and find out new relevant information on this issue.