The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has once again ranked Norway as the best country in the world in which to live. Norway scored highest on the UN’s annual index measuring longevity, education levels and gross income per capital.
Switzerland ranked second on the UN’s list, followed by Australia, Ireland, Germany, Iceland and Hong Kong. The countries ranking lowest on the list were Niger, the Central African Republic, South Sudan and Chad, all of them suffering the effects of war or other conflicts.
The UNDP pointed out that there still are great differences among countries on the list, but that quality of life is gradually getting better around the world. In 2010, reports Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) 49 countries were listed in the category of “low human development,” for example. This year that number had fallen to 38.
Ireland scored the greatest advancement on the UNDP list. It rose from 13th place in 2012, when it was still suffering the effects of the finance crisis, to 4th place now. Syria, meanwhile, has fallen 27 places since 2012, because of the ongoing civil war in the country.
newsinenglish.no staff
