STANDARD OF LIVING BY COUNTRY

Every year various international agencies carry out large-scale studies and publish rankings of countries by standard of living. This concept includes such indicators as purchasing power of the population, safety, access to medicine and education, cost of living, price-to-income ratio, environmental pollution, climatic conditions, and some other factors.

In addition to the above categories, states with high living standards usually have strong economies and dynamic labor markets, stable political situations, and well-developed institutions of democracy. The best countries to live in offer good conditions for potential immigrants, in terms of employment, business, education, family reunification, and other benefits.

Based on the official data of the UN and other international organizations, as well as relevant research and surveys of authoritative publications, we will allocate the rating of countries of the world on the standard of living in 2024.

RATING OF COUNTRIES BY THE STANDARD OF LIVING – TABLE

â„– COUNTRY
1. Canada
2. Denmark
3. Sweden
4. Norway
5. Australia
6. Netherlands
7. Switzerland
8. New Zealand
9. Finland
10. Germany

Note. The ranking of countries by living standards was based on research by BAV Group, VMLY&R, and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

TOP 10 COUNTRIES IN TERMS OF LIVING STANDARDS

1. CANADA

Canada

For the past several years, Canada has deservedly held the top position in the ranking of countries with the highest standard of living. It is an economically developed country with rich natural resources, a huge area and a population of just over 38 million people. It is in the bottom three countries in terms of oil reserves (after Venezuela and Saudi Arabia). Immigrating to Canada is a dream for millions of foreigners from all over the world, many of whom achieve their goal.

The best cities to live in Canada are Vancouver, Ottawa, Burlington, Toronto and Calgary.

2. DENMARK

Denmark

According to the Intelligence Unit, Mercer and Monocle, the Danish capital Copenhagen is among the world's best cities to live in 2024. Denmark as a whole is a very comfortable country to live in, with a high level of welfare, ideal infrastructure and universal health care system. It has a very good environment, minimal crime rate, high wages and reliable social security.

The best cities to live in Denmark are Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense, Aalborg and Esbjerg.

3. SWEDEN

Sweden

Sweden is a country with high social standards, advanced democracy and a large economy. Along with good incomes, local workers are heavily taxed. For example, the income tax rate in Sweden reaches 52.1%. At the same time, the Swedes are some of the most generous people in the world, donating about 1% of the gross national product annually to humanitarian aid programs. Life expectancy in Sweden exceeds 82 years.

The best cities to live in Sweden are Stockholm, Malmö, Gothenburg, Uppsala, and Lund.

4. NORWAY

Norway

Norway is one of the richest countries in Europe with vast natural resources. The country has the cleanest air, a quality system of free higher education and a large economy. Large oil and gas reserves allow to maintain the highest standard of living today and take care of the well-being of future generations of Norwegians. With stunning scenery, including fjords and the Northern Lights, Norway is considered one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

The best cities to live in Norway are Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Tromsø and Olesund.

5. AUSTRALIA

Australia

The Australian continent is a significant distance from the rest of the planet, but that doesn't stop the local population from maintaining a very high standard of living. Numerous immigration programs in Australia are recognized as one of the most effective in the world. The country has a comfortable climate and clean air, stunning nature, excellent food, many interesting attractions, regularly held cultural and sporting events.

The best cities to live in Australia are Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Hobart and Canberra.

6. THE NETHERLANDS

Netherlands

The Kingdom of the Netherlands has one of the most developed economies of the European Union, which provides the local population a high quality of life. It is a very democratic, free and tolerant country with open and friendly people. It has a transparent legal system and there is almost no corruption. Dutch cities are very beautiful, with many canals running everywhere and well-kept parks for outdoor activities.

The best cities to live in the Netherlands are Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam, Maastricht and Eindhoven.

7. SWITZERLAND

Switzerland

According to the Environmental Performance Index, developed by scientists at Yale and Columbia Universities, Switzerland is the cleanest country in the world. It is an excellent place to live with beautiful nature and a favorable climate. However, it is one of the most expensive countries in the world. Especially when you consider cities such as Geneva and Zurich, where the cost of living is 35-45% higher than in Paris. Switzerland is one of the three countries with the best medicine in the world.

The best cities to live in Switzerland are Bern, Zurich, Geneva, Basel and Lugano.

8. NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand

According to many tourists and immigrants from all over the world, New Zealand is one of the countries with the best climate to live in. It is an incredibly beautiful island nation, whose residents enjoy 2,000 hours of daylight a year. In the annual report of Doing Business agency New Zealand ranks first out of 190 countries in the ease of doing business. In addition, it is one of the safest countries in the world.

The best cities to live in New Zealand are Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Napier.

9. FINLAND

Finland

Finland has very happy residents who are guaranteed a high level of social security, decent wages, and quality education. The air is clean and the nature is beautiful, with many comfortable places for outdoor activities. In every city you can find a cozy cafe and restaurant with excellent cuisine. Finland holds high positions in the field of civil rights, freedom of the press and quality of life.

The best cities to live in Finland are Tampere, Turku, Helsinki, Espoo and Oulu.

10. GERMANY

Germany

At the bottom of the ranking of countries by standard of living economic and political engine of Europe – Germany. The state has one of the largest economies in the world. It has a very qualified workforce, low unemployment and a stable labor market. In Germany, free higher education operates, one of the highest quality health care systems in Europe, ideal infrastructure was built and optimal conditions for quality of life were created.

The best cities to live in Germany are Munich, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt and Hamburg.

In conclusion, we note that according to the UN report – World Happiness Report, which collected data on 137 countries in the world, the happiest countries in 2024 are Finland, Denmark and Iceland.

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