What is the best country to live in? The UN Human Development Report 2004, published today, ranks the countries of the world according to the quality of life for their citizens.
The report, covering 177 countries, is based in part on the UN human development index, which examines income per capita, general education level, life expectancy, healthcare, equality for women, income disparities, consumption, poverty and other criteria.
The top ten countries are Norway (for the fourth consecutive year), Sweden, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium, Iceland, the US, Japan, and Ireland.
Israel is ranked in a flattering 22nd place, the same as last year. It is followed by other developed countries, including Greece (24), Singapore (25), South Korea (28), Cyprus (30), and the Czech Republic (32).
Arab countries are less salubrious for the world's citizens, at least according to the UN Human Development Report. It ranks Bahrain in 40th place, Kuwait 44th, Qatar 47th, Libya 58th, Oman 74th, Saudi Arabia 77th, Lebanon 80th, Jordan 90th, Tunisia 92nd, the Palestinian Authority 102nd, Syria 106th, Egypt 120th, Morocco 125th, and Yemen 149th.
For the seventh consecutive year, the Human Development Report ranked Sierra Leone in last place, preceded by Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Burundi. African countries continue to slide in the rankings, in part due to the AIDS epidemic in many countries.
globes.co.il
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