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In which countries do people live better? Where is the best education, medicine? In which countries do people feel safe on the streets? If someone wants to choose another place of permanent residence (permanent residence) for themselves, think about whether it will be better to live there? Take advantage of the Prosperity Index, a popular ranking of countries in terms of living standards, compiled by The Legatum Institute researchers - this is the only ranking in the world that evaluates not only GDP per capita, but also the overall satisfaction with a person's life in a country.

What is ranked?

Traditionally, the standard of living is based solely on macroeconomic indicators such as GDP, or the average level of income per capita (GDP per capita) is taken. However, most people would agree that the standard of living is much more than just the accumulation of material wealth. Above all, a person's standard of living is a sense of security, the joy of everyday life and the prospect of being able to build an even better life in the future, not only for themselves but also for their children. This is what is taken into account in this rating (the methods are described in detail on the Institute's website - see the link above).

A total of 142 countries are represented in the ranking. The rating is compiled annually based on the results of the previous year, i.е. The 2016 rating was compiled based on the results of 2015. Let me remind you once again that the rating evaluates not economic indicators, but how satisfied a person is with his life, living in this country.

Criteria for ranking the standard of living:
- income per capita (including whether a person is satisfied with his income);
- ease of entrepreneurship;
- the effectiveness of state administration (according to citizens);
– the quality of medical care;
– the quality of education in different countries;
– safety (for example, how safe does a person feel when walking the streets at night);
- freedom of expression;
- social capital as an indicator of the culture of society in the field of relationships between people (in countries with a high social indicator, people can rely on the support of fellow citizens, even strangers; they respect other people's opinions and tolerate the shortcomings of others; people can calmly negotiate and improve their lives together) .

Where is the best place to live?

According to this rating, the happiest people live in. Life is worst in the Central African Republic. Most of all, people are satisfied with their income in. It is easiest to do business in Sweden. Australians are the most satisfied with the quality of education in their country. Quality of medical services - in the USA. People feel most secure. Freedom of expression is highest in Canada. And the most sympathetic people live in New Zealand.

Russia and other countries in the ranking by standard of living

Russia in the ranking of countries in terms of living standards takes 58th place. In general, the level of satisfaction with life in Russia has increased (from 68th to 58th place). According to polls, citizens have more confidence in the government. Despite the fact that, according to statistics, the level of income has fallen sharply, the Russians believe that their economic life has become no worse than in the last 3 years. Most of all, Russians are satisfied with the quality of education in the country (29th place).

Ukraine is in 70th place. Ukrainians are most dissatisfied with their income and how the country is run, and also consider the standard of living to be insufficient in all respects.

How do people live in other countries? India - 99th place China - 52nd place, Thailand - 48th place, Spain - 24th place, Germany - 14th place, USA - 11th place.

See full list.

The vast territory of the Russian Federation stretches from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean. It would be naive to believe that the level of development of all Russian regions is approximately the same. This indicator is determined by geographical, social, economic factors, the predominance of industry or agriculture, and so on. And the standard of living of the population of a particular region is a multifaceted concept and is assessed according to various indicators: the level of income and social benefits, the availability of work and the level of its payment, the cost of real estate and its availability, as well as many other parameters. The crisis phenomena of recent years could not but affect the quality and cost of life in Russia, and the distance between its regions in terms of these indicators has only increased. Inflation and falling energy prices have affected the well-being of almost all Russian citizens, serving as a catalyst for intensifying the process of population migration within the country. Therefore, many Russians ask a completely logical question: “Where in Russia is it good to live?”.

Level and quality of life: what affects their assessment

The assessment of the level and quality of life occurs, as a rule, on the basis of statistical indicators and a comprehensive accounting of other parameters, which include various aspects of the life of an average citizen of the country. Assessing the current state of a particular region, it is possible to predict its development both in the next few years, and with a high degree of probability to make a forecast for a more distant future. The same statement applies to the whole country as a whole.

First, let's deal with the terminology. Today, only the lazy do not talk about the standard of living, its fall or rise. But not everyone clearly understands the meaning that sociologists put into this concept. The standard of living determines the degree to which citizens of a country or residents of a certain region are provided with material goods, their financial and spiritual satisfaction with the volume of goods, services and opportunities that they can use in a given period. The basic indicator is the ratio of real income to the consumer basket.

The concept of quality of life includes non-material factors. In this case, we can talk about the degree of moral satisfaction with life, the state of health, the degree of environmental safety of living in a certain region, psychological comfort and even the degree of bureaucratization of the state apparatus in it. The standard of living is often identified with the level of well-being, but this is not true. Well-being is a broader concept, which includes not only material, but also spiritual benefits.

Indicators of the level of well-being of the population

To assess the level of well-being, the UN has specially developed and approved the main indicators that are used by sociologists and other analysts when assessing this parameter in a particular country or a certain region of it. These indicators include:

• assessment of the birth rate, mortality and average life expectancy of the population;
• sanitary living conditions, as well as a culture of hygiene among the population;
• the amount of food that is consumed by the population of a country or region;
• living conditions: housing, its cost and availability;
• the level of education;
• the degree of development of culture, the presence of cultural values, ancient architecture, museums, monuments;
• the degree of employment of the able-bodied population, as well as working conditions;
• the ratio of real average income and the average level of expenditures of the population;
• consumer price level;
• degree of development of transport infrastructure;
• the state of the recreational system;
• position with the rights and freedoms of citizens.

Despite the versatility of the assessment, experts most often use several basic parameters for a quick analysis of the situation, which are expressed in specific figures: the real income of an average resident and average life expectancy.

For a more detailed assessment, a cut is made for various segments of the population. This concept, in turn, is determined both by the level of material security and social status, as well as belonging to a certain group - workers, peasants, migrants or business representatives, etc.

Why is the standard of living in Russia falling?

The standard of living and well-being of Russian citizens is currently being seriously affected by the sanctions policy of Western countries, the fall in oil prices, the reduction in industrial production, as well as inflationary expectations of the population.

The real incomes of the average Russian have fallen significantly, many people began to look for the possibility of a better life abroad, leaving for far-abroad countries as labor migrants. The main directions of labor migration were the countries of the European Union, the USA and Canada. There are especially many Russian labor migrants today in Germany and Spain, although there are many of them in other countries of Western Europe and North America.

What will happen to the standard of living in Russia: expert opinion

Starting from mid-2018, the situation began to gradually change for the better. The level of decline in real incomes of the population has slowed down, and by the beginning of 2019 there is even a slight increase. The state carefully controls all spheres of life, which allows you to keep a fairly low level of inflation (within 4-5%). The policy of import substitution and agricultural development also contributed to the end of the crisis. Since 2015, Russia has been the largest grain producer and importer, well ahead of the European Union, the United States, Canada and Australia. Due to the huge grain reserves and relatively low cost, Russian grain is in great demand in all countries of the world.

The imposition of sanctions also contributed to the growth of some industries. The greatest growth is demonstrated by indicators of agriculture. If in 2014 Russia purchased over 60% of pork in Europe, now domestic livestock complexes are able to provide the market with more than 80%. For example, the key pork producer in Russia is the Oryol region, whose share is about 45% (according to 2018 data). At the beginning of 2014, before the imposition of sanctions, the same region provided a little more than 12% of domestic pork.

With the fall in prices for energy resources, the state began to pursue a policy of gradually moving away from the raw type of economy. Of course, it was not fully possible to do this, since Russia positioned itself as a seller of crude oil for too long, however, according to 2018 data, the share of budget revenues from the sale of oil has noticeably decreased, and is slightly more than 13%.

According to experts, by 2020 the standard of living in Russia will begin to gradually rise. However, all this will occur only within the limits of state indicators and statistics. Do not forget that Russian regions are too different, and differences in the level and quality of life in them can differ dramatically.

Standard of living in the Russian Federation: regions

If we talk about the standard of living in Russia, then it can be considered in two aspects: in terms of the standard of living in various regions and cities of the country, as well as in comparison with other countries of the world.

In 2019, studies have not yet been conducted, since their objective results may appear only at the end of the outgoing year.

Subjects of the Russian Federation with the highest standard of living (according to the results of 2018)

On the first line of the rating, predictably, was the golden-domed Moscow. With a very small margin from the official follows the Northern capital - St. Petersburg. The third place was taken by residents of the Moscow region, which was also not unexpected. The fourth place was taken by the Republic of Tatarstan. The fifth line of the rating went to the Belgorod region, the sixth - to the Krasnodar Territory. Also, the top ten further included the Voronezh region, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Lipetsk and Kaliningrad regions.

If you look at the top ten regions of the country in terms of the standard of living rating, then there have been no special surprises in it for quite a long time. In the latest rating, the Sverdlovsk region is not in the top ten, which for several years in a row it has been demonstrating negative dynamics and at the end of 2018 it dropped to 13th position (11th position in 2017). Characteristically, the Leningrad region is only in 12th place, although St. Petersburg itself ranks second in the ranking.

The level of well-being of the top ten regions is due to their industrial potential, the presence of high-tech industries and a high level of wages. It is also impossible not to say about the developed service sector and the social sphere. The transport infrastructure of most of these regions is much better developed than, say, in Siberia or Transbaikalia, which also cannot be ignored.

Regions with the lowest standard of living

It should also be said about those regions that are located at the bottom of the list. The bottom line of the rating is occupied by the Republic of Tuva, the two previous lines are occupied, respectively, by the Trans-Baikal Territory and the Karachay-Cherkess Republic. Both the group of leaders and the group of outsiders practically retain their main composition for several years. In general, the greatest problems with the well-being of citizens and the standard of living, in addition to the regions listed above, are observed in Kalmykia, the Republic of Gorny Altai, the Kurgan and Arkhangelsk regions, the Jewish Autonomous Region and Buryatia. These regions have closed various ratings for several years, occasionally changing positions among themselves.

Standard of living in the Russian Federation: cities

Factors that constantly determine the comfort of life for citizens are also taken into account: the condition of roads, the efficiency of public utilities, the availability of housing, and much more. Of no small importance in assessing the rating of a particular city was the immigration situation that prevailed in it. The results of the study of sociologists were somewhat unexpected for the uninitiated.

Tyumen has risen to the first place of the podium, having overtaken all small and large Russian cities for the second year in a row. The evaluation was carried out according to a variety of criteria. The main advantages of Tyumen, highlighted by both experts and its residents, are education, a well-developed transport infrastructure, as well as the high-quality work of the city's public services. In addition, Tyumen is not unreasonably considered the oil capital of Russia, so there are many jobs here, and highly paid jobs. A significant disadvantage of Tyumen is the unfavorable climate for the average Russian. The vast majority of Tyumen residents expressed complete satisfaction with their earnings and level of prosperity.

The Russian capital was in second place according to a set of criteria. The greatest advantage is the wide representation of all sectors of the national economy, developed infrastructure, the scale and dynamics of the construction and reconstruction of the city. About 70% of Muscovites call their hometown the most livable in the whole country and the most beautiful. At the same time, they are embarrassed by the high cost of living in Moscow, which is one of the most expensive cities in the world. Therefore, life in Moscow is not always affordable for the average Russian who came to the golden-domed, for example, from the Volga region.

The third place in the ranking of Russian cities went to Kazan with a million inhabitants. 96% of city residents expressed their almost complete satisfaction with life in it. Kazanians are pleased with high-quality roads, one of the oldest universities in the country - Kazan University, as well as programs that are constantly being implemented in practice to improve their well-being. The unique Tatar culture and many historical monuments attract many tourists to Kazan from all over Russia and abroad. Income from the tourism business is an impressive amount, which regularly replenishes the city budget.

The fourth place in the ranking of Russian cities went to Krasnodar. This southern city has long been claiming the top lines of the rating. Krasnodar is considered one of the most livable cities in Russia. Every year the number of Russians moving to Krasnodar increases. This is facilitated by high rates of housing construction, the lowest unemployment rate in the country (therefore, there are practically no problems with working in the city), as well as a cozy Black Sea climate, because the Black Sea is only a hundred kilometers away and less than an hour by car on a good road.

In fifth place is the Northern capital of Russia - the beautiful St. Petersburg. Russian Venice is also the cultural capital of Russia. For many decades, the pilgrimage of tourists from all over Russia and many countries of the world has not stopped to the magnificent monuments of the city. Life in St. Petersburg is by no means cheap, but every year the population of the city increases due to Russians and foreigners who have moved here. The rapidly growing population of St. Petersburg does not delight the indigenous people, who are distinguished by a certain conservatism and adherence to established cultural traditions and lifestyles.

The ranking of cities in the Russian Federation in terms of the level and comfort of life closes the top three, consisting of Makhachkala, Omsk and Volgograd. Of course, these cities have their undeniable advantages over the rest. For example, the city of military glory and the center of patriotic education Volgograd has been a symbol of stamina and courage for many decades. But, according to the results of a sociological survey, only a tenth of its population is satisfied today with the level of their income, and the quality of public services undoubtedly requires significant improvement.

The result of the study of the rating of cities and regions of Russia showed completely unexpected results. It turns out that the level of some indicators in different parts of the country may differ several times. This is precisely the problem that the Russian regional and federal authorities will have to solve in the near future. Also, exclusively local factors have a huge impact on the level and comfort of life in the regions, many of which should be leveled by national development programs.

Video: average life expectancy in the regions of Russia

A little about the living conditions of different strata of Russian society

Like any society, Russian society is multilayered. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the declared universal equality disappeared and social differences divided the population into rich and poor, fabulously rich and poor, happy and constantly financially preoccupied. And although psychologists consider happiness a concept that does not depend on material well-being, the level of income significantly affects the quality of life. Russia, like most post-Soviet countries, has not yet completely got rid of the syndrome of Soviet society, in which society psychologically strives to ensure that there are no rich, not poor.

So, Russian society can be divided into several layers. As a percentage of the total population of the country, the middle class makes up a much smaller share than in developed European countries, where it is the basis of society, reaching 70-80%.

The proletariat, called the hegemon in the days of socialism, today cannot boast of a high standard of living, if we evaluate it by the standards of developed European countries. Specialists in the field of sociology call workers a word consonant with their profession - the social stratum. This is exactly what the bulk of the Russian population is.

There is a huge stratification of Russian society, in which the richest strata of it receive hundreds of times more income than the poorest. In developed countries, the gap between the very rich and the poor members of society is at most one order of magnitude, that is, ten times different. Every year, social inequality in Russian society increases, and not vice versa.

Paradoxically, during the economic crisis of 2008-2009 in Russia, the number of dollar millionaires increased significantly against the background of the fact that the incomes of the majority of the population fell.

Table: income level of different strata of Russian society

How Russian pensioners live

The overwhelming majority of Russian pensioners can hardly be suspected of having an excess of material wealth. Traveling to foreign resorts, buying expensive equipment or cars is practically inaccessible to them. According to the life rating compiled by the international research organization HelpAge International, Russian pensioners are in 65th place in the world in terms of well-being. The level of pensions paid to most of them does not allow not only to accumulate a certain amount for a short period of time, but also not always sufficient to cover the costs of necessary medicines and utility bills.

Of course, pensions are not the same for everyone. But in any case, the level of pension provision is incomparable with the developed European countries and requires a significant increase. More than a fifth of Russian pensioners continue to work after retirement. As we understand, not from a good life. The vast majority of people of retirement age do not fully rely on state assistance and expect to work or earn extra money already in retirement. European or American pensioners would simply be shocked by such a state of affairs.

Immigrants in Russia

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, it was Russia that became of particular interest to migrants from the former post-Soviet republics. This was facilitated both by the surviving family ties between family members who, by the will of fate, were scattered across different countries, and by the possibility of labor migration. Due to its high economic potential, it was Russia that could provide more or less normal earnings for residents of the CIS countries, which were in full swing through the crisis of the 90s.

Labor migrants belong to different strata of Russian society, depending on the income they receive. But it is impossible to attribute them to its secured layers.

The main centers that were of interest to labor migrants were Moscow and the Moscow Region, St. Petersburg, and Tyumen. As a rule, low-skilled jobs with a low level of pay are available to migrants. Many labor migrants try to stay in Russia for a long time. For example, almost every Tajik or Turkmen family has someone working in Russia. As a rule, labor migrants have problems with career growth. An exception can only be foreign specialists with a high level of qualification, in demand on the Russian labor market. A significant disadvantage for labor migrants is the possibility of working in Russia only within a certain region, if we are talking about legal work. Also in Russia there are certain regional quotas. Therefore, legalization in the country for many migrants may begin far from where they would dream of living in Russia.

The second significant category of migrants are refugees who were forced to move to Russia by political or military upheavals that occurred in their homeland. The process of granting refugee status to forced migrants is a rather lengthy procedure. Not everyone who moved to live in Russia as a forced migrant was able to settle down here, assimilate and adapt to local conditions. Nevertheless, refugee status practically equates forced migrants with Russian citizens, with the exception of some points. They are entitled to social security and other benefits due to Russian citizens.

Russian immigration legislation is constantly undergoing changes. In 2016–2019, innovations appeared in it, concerning, first of all, citizens of the CIS countries. Now, for most of them, the process of legalization in Russia has been greatly simplified and reduced in time. Also, the circle of persons who can apply for Russian citizenship has expanded significantly.

Video: living conditions of migrants in Russia

workers

The representatives of the working class have already been mentioned above. But the description of their situation in Russia still requires detail. The income of workers varies greatly depending on the ownership of the enterprise in which they work. As a rule, the level of payment in private enterprises is somewhat higher than in state-owned ones. Much also depends on the region and its success. For example, the salary of a worker in Tyumen is much higher than the average salary in Russia. And in remote agricultural areas of the country, the situation looks diametrically opposite.

The situation of rural workers

Residents of the Russian village, as a rule, cannot boast of large incomes. Much depends on the region where they live. The economic crisis has undoubtedly affected agriculture, even despite the ban on the import of many products from abroad, designed to support the domestic agricultural producer. Many rural workers move to the city in search of work, becoming internal labor migrants.

World ranking: why Russia has a low standard of living

Sociological research conducted in 2018 by the UN put the Russian Federation in 49th place in the world in terms of living standards (out of 189 countries). For comparison: Belarus was in 53rd place, and Ukraine - in 88th. It should be noted that a couple of years ago the country was 20 points lower. At the same time, it is difficult to objectively evaluate only economic indicators, since the rating was compiled on the basis of many criteria. Russians are especially satisfied with the perfect education system that exists in Russia, and dissatisfaction is with the situation with freedom of expression. The first three lines of the world ranking are firmly occupied by residents of Norway, Switzerland and Australia.

Video: countries of the former USSR - where to live well

The assessment of the level and quality of life in the regions and cities of Russia is extremely important information for future external and internal migrants. Despite the fact that the assessments of the same regions may differ in many ways, they still give a general picture and understanding of the situation in the area where the move is planned. Or, on the contrary, they determine the place where it is best to move to live. And for those who live in a certain city or region, the standard of living will be able to show their place in the all-Russian rating, largely determining the prospects for the coming years.

To do this, the OECD compared 34 countries across 11 dimensions of well-being, including work-life balance, financial opportunity, security, education and environmental health. For this, data from the UN, national bureaus of statistics and Gallup were used.

11. Netherlands

This country has one of the highest literacy rates in the world. The OECD found that students from the Netherlands excel in mathematics, science and written comprehension.

Leiden University, the oldest in Holland. Photo: Wikipedia Commons

10 Iceland

Compared to last year, this country has dropped eight positions in the ranking. The proportion of the working-age population that is unemployed for a year or more is 0.7% here, while the average for OECD countries is 2.6%.

Reykjavik. Photo: Shutterstock

9. USA

Despite falling four places in the rankings compared to last year, the US has emerged as the leader in housing, income, and wealth. The median household income in the US after taxes was $41,071 a year, the best among OECD members.

Passengers at the train station in New York. Photo: Barn Images/Flickr

8. Finland

Only 4% of employed Finns work overtime, compared to the OECD average of 13%.

Esplanade Park. Photo: Martti Kainulainen/AP

7. New Zealand

In this country, which has risen by two lines in the ranking in a year, a lot of attention is paid to protecting the environment. Greenhouse gas emissions are kept relatively low here, primarily due to the small population.

New Zealand. Photo: Tripadvisor

6. Sweden

Sweden has a very high level of civic engagement. In the recent parliamentary elections, the turnout was 83%.

Ballot papers for last year's elections. Photo: Reuters

5. Canada

This country is one of the leaders in terms of housing affordability. In the 2000s, Toronto and Vancouver redesigned suburban residential zoning, allowing residents to rent out unused rooms (and boosting supply in the rental market).

Suburb of Markham in Toronto. Photo: Wikipedia Commons

4. Switzerland

Switzerland has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world at 3.1%.

Zurich. Photo: Andreas Zerndl/Shutterstock

3. Denmark

This country over the past year has risen by 7 lines in the list. Denmark is one of the leaders in the duration of paid vacation, which averages 5 weeks per year. Danes in full-time employment reported devoting 66% of their time to “personal affairs” (i.e. not working).

Beach in Slettestrand, Denmark. Photo: Stig Nygaard

2. Australia

This country was the leader in the ranking in 2013 and 2014, then in 2015 it took the 4th place, and in this year's ranking it was the second. The OECD found that Australians have a very strong sense of community, with 95% of Australians saying they have someone they can rely on.

Sydney. Photo: Good Free Photos

1. Norway

This country was in the lead in the rating last year as well. The standard of living of Norwegians can only be envied: most have a decent job, many have a good education, and the average life expectancy in Norway is 82 years.

Oslo. Photo: Eule Wind

To help people understand how countries are perceived globally, US News & World Report conducted a survey of 21,000 respondents from around the world. They were asked to rate 80 countries on a range of criteria, from political influence, educational attainment and openness to business to natural beauty, social development and quality of life.

For the first time, respondents were asked what they think of the world's leading politicians. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and German Chancellor Angela Merkel were the most respected leaders of the countries, while the actions of US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin disapproved of the majority of respondents. At the same time, the level of disapproval of Trump (60%) was higher than that of Putin (44%).

The best states for quality of life in 2018

And here are some countries in the world that entered the top 10 in terms of living standards in 2018.

This small country, according to respondents, is one of the most modern states in the world. It has all the conditions for entrepreneurship, raising children and traveling alone. In addition, it is one of the greenest countries in the world and it respects gender equality.

Included in the top ten countries in terms of cultural influence, weight in the international arena, rich traditions and education.

America has moved down one notch since 2017. It boasts a high level of education and leads in political influence and military power.

At the same time, the United States has lost its traditional status of a politically stable and democratic country. Perhaps the reason for this is the election of Donald Trump, which is associated with numerous scandals, as well as US policy in Syria and the position on Jerusalem. US News & World Report says that in a year as US leader, Trump has become more unpopular "than any other head of state or company CEO."

The country, to which convicts were once exiled, has now become one of the most advanced in the world. It has created favorable conditions for life, education, raising children and traveling alone. In addition, Australia is in the top 3 most comfortable countries in the world for retirement.

The Scandinavian state ranks first in the top 10 in terms of ecology. According to the respondents, it is comfortable for women to live in it. However, in the future, due to the influx of migrants, this situation may change.

The Land of the Rising Sun received high marks for the level of business development, economy and rich traditions. Its competitors - Singapore and China - occupy 16th and 20th places in the rating, respectively, and lead among the countries with the highest standard of living in Asia. All three countries have strong potential for economic growth.

The fall of the UK by one place compared to 2017 signals a growing lack of confidence in the country's economic strength after Brexit. But the respondents highly appreciated the level of English education.

Germany moved up one spot on the 2018 list, replacing the UK, which moved up to fourth position. Germany's reputation as an open country with transparent government actions and strong gender equality contributed to this. And Germany is number one in the field of entrepreneurship.

Countries with the most progressive social and environmental policies dominate the overall ranking. This can be seen in the example of Canada and Switzerland. At the same time, Maple Country is the world leader in terms of quality of life.

The report cites major Canadian assets such as Celine Dion and Sarah McLachlan, a national policy of multiculturalism, peacekeeping efforts and Canada's oil reserves.

1. Switzerland

This is the second time the Swiss have topped the "Best Countries in the World". This alpine land is recognized by respondents as the best headquarters for corporations. In addition, she came in second in the "citizenship" subsection, which takes into account how much a country cares about human rights, the environment, gender equality, religious freedom, property rights, and the proper distribution of political power.

Switzerland's success is partly due to its stable, prosperous economy and its reputation for being a fully business-friendly country. It is one of the top three places in the world to retire.

And what about the situation with the standard of living in Russia?

Our country was in 26th place in the ranking, ahead of Thailand, but behind India. According to such criteria as "military strength" and "political influence" Russia is second only to the United States. It is in the top 5 countries with the largest military budget in the world. However, respondents do not consider the Russian Federation a country open for business.

The question of where in the world to live well is a constant concern not only for emigrants and tourists, but also for researchers. Every year, well-known international and national agencies announce ratings of states with the highest and lowest living standards.

The reports of think tanks feature different criteria for well-being, so the proposed lists do not always coincide. However, there are also countries whose superiority does not cause any doubts.

Financial well-being is one of the key criteria in determining the best place to live. Summing up the results of the past year, the Global Finance magazine compiled a list of the richest countries.

The top ten financially successful states are as follows:

When calculating, the publishing house was guided by the data of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, took into account purchasing power, the size of GDP per capita.

States with the highest development index

Back in 1990, experts at the United Nations decided to abandon the assessment of the quality of life on the basis of GDP per capita alone. For more accurate accounting, the concept of "human development index" was introduced - an indicator that takes into account achievements, both in the economic and social spheres:

• quality and accessibility of medicine;
• average life expectancy;
• accessibility of education and literacy of the population;
• availability of decent living conditions;
• unemployment, social security;
• sense of security, lack of discrimination.

According to the UN Human Development Report 2015, the top three most prosperous countries are: Norway, Australia and Switzerland. On 4-7 positions of the rating were such states of Europe as Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland.

The United States of America (8th place), Canada (9th place), New Zealand (10th place) can boast of a very high HDI level. Rounding out the top 12 are the Asian Tigers - Singapore and Hong Kong.

Ranking of countries with the happiest population

If you consider that the ultimate goal of many people is not so much to live richly as to live happily ever after, measurement using the HDI may seem biased. This aspect was first pointed out by the staff of the British think tank New Economics Foundation. To assess the state of the environment and the well-being of the population, they proposed introducing a new indicator - the international index of happiness.

Now the Earth Institute at Columbia University is engaged in global research on achievements aimed at ensuring a happy life for citizens of various countries.

The level of self-awareness in different parts of the world helps to determine public opinion polls. In addition to the interview results, indirect indicators are also taken into account:

• level of GDP per capita;
• observance of human rights;
• life expectancy;
• level of social trust;
• a sense of security, confidence in the future.

Analysts always present reports on the work done on the eve of the International Day of Happiness (March 20). In 2016, the study covered 157 countries of the world.

Where do the happiest people live? As a rule, in Northern Europe: in Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Finland. Switzerland is among the top five countries where life is best. She took second place.

Leaders according to the editors

The undisputed leader among the countries in which it is best to live is Norway. A small kingdom with a population of just over 5 million people is historically and geographically part of Scandinavia. The head of state is the monarch Harald V. The main advantages of living in Norway:

1. Good salaries, social stability;
2. Friendliness of the population, loyal attitude towards foreigners;
3. Virtually no crime and corruption;
4. The desire of residents to lead a healthy lifestyle;
5. Good ecological environment.

Another state in Europe with a high quality of life is Switzerland. The country, famous for its ski resorts and stable banking system, is multicultural and multi-confessional.

There are only four official languages ​​in Switzerland: Italian, German, French and Romansh. Advantages of living in the country:

1. Mild climate and clean air;
2. Developed service sector;
3. Affordable medicine even in small towns;
4. Law-abiding citizens.

Denmark

The vast majority of Danes think that they live in the best corner of the Earth. Their feelings are fully justified, since Denmark is one of the five most prosperous countries in Europe in terms of social security, health care and education. Key achievements of the country:

1. Free medicine;
2. Low crime rate;
3. Meals at the expense of the employer;
4. Flexible system of taxation.

Netherlands

The country in which it is comfortable to live is also the Netherlands. The country of tulips and windmills is known for its tolerant attitude towards many human weaknesses. The Netherlands legalizes same-sex marriage, prostitution and soft drugs. The best qualities of the Dutch:

1. Pedantry, love of order and cleanliness;
2. Civic activity;
3. Passion for art;
4. Scrupulous attitude to health.

Those who would like to live away from the Old World should take a closer look at Australia. This country was built by immigrants, so the modern population is very tolerant of any nationalities and races.

The local culture has absorbed all the best from different peoples. Most Australians are friendly and polite. Living in the country is comfortable due to good ecology and widespread cleanliness. In Australia, it is easy to find a well-paid job or start a business.