Canada No. 4 on UN quality of life rankingVancouver Sun: Canada ranks among the top places to live in the world, according to the United Nations quality of life index, placing Canada fourth among 182 rated countries. Canada was bested by Norway, which took the top spot, followed by Australia and Iceland. Canada ranked third last year, but has placed at the top spot eight times.
Officially called the human development index, the report measures criteria such as life expectancy, literacy, school enrolment, gender parity and the economy, to get a snapshot of a country's quality of life...
Coming fifth on the list behind Canada was Ireland, followed by the Netherlands, Sweden, France, Switzerland and Japan. The US ranked 13th. Niger ranked last. Canada last placed first in 200o.
The report's authors said the index looks beyond the country's gross domestic product to a broader definition of well-being. 'For that reason, it is important to examine changes in the human development index over time. The human development index trends tell an important story in that respect. Between 1980 and 2007 Canada's HDI rose by 0.31 per cent annually from 0.890 to 0.966 today. HDI scores in all regions have increased progressively over the years.'
