[Culturechat] Norway still the world's best place to live

Thu, 15 Jul 2004 16:50:49 EDT

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http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article828724.ece
Norway still the world's best place to live

For the fourth year in a row, the United Nations has ranked Norway as having 
the highest standard of living in the world. Sweden, Australia and Canada are 
next in line, while the United States is further down the scale.
Norway, also known for its scenic beauty, is once again being hailed as the 
world's best country in which to live.
The annual ranking is based largely on average levels of education and 
income, combined with expected length of lifetime.
The report measured standards of living in 177 countries around the world. 
Other Nordic countries also ranked high, with Iceland in 7th place, Finland 13th 
and Denmark 17th.
Norway's gross national product per person amounted to USD 36,600, beaten 
only by Luxembourg. Its men and women are expected to live to an age of 78.9 
years and Norway is one of 19 countries in the world with no measurable rates of 
illiteracy.
Researchers for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) also weighed 
countries' degrees of cultural freedom in their analysis. They called cultural 
freedom a "basic human right," and awarded high scores in this year's UN Human 
Development Report to countries that accept immigrant cultures in addition to 
their own.
Norway's cultural diversity has blossomed in recent years, and public 
policies are aimed at integrating various ethnic groups and promoting tolerance.
Norway also was lauded for its high literacy rate in addition to educational 
levels and material wealth. Norwegians themselves generally point to their 
country's scenic beauty, recreational opportunities, clean water and fresh air.
The United States landed in eighth place on the list, while France, for 
example, was 16th.
The worst countries in which to live are all in Africa, according to the UN 
report. All 23 nations at the bottom of the list were African, with war-torn 
Sierra Leone in last place.

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Norway still the world's best place to live<BR>
</B></FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" FACE=3D"Geneva" FAMILY=3D"SANSSERIF" SIZE=
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For the fourth year in a row, the United Nations has ranked Norway as having=
 the highest standard of living in the world. Sweden, Australia and Canada a=
re next in line, while the United States is further down the scale.<BR>
Norway, also known for its scenic beauty, is once again being hailed as the=20=
world's best country in which to live.<BR>
The annual ranking is based largely on average levels of education and incom=
e, combined with expected length of lifetime.<BR>
The report measured standards of living in 177 countries around the world. O=
ther Nordic countries also ranked high, with Iceland in 7th place, Finland 1=
3th and Denmark 17th.<BR>
Norway's gross national product per person amounted to USD 36,600, beaten on=
ly by Luxembourg. Its men and women are expected to live to an age of 78.9 y=
ears and Norway is one of 19 countries in the world with no measurable rates=
 of illiteracy.<BR>
Researchers for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) also weighed c=
ountries' degrees of cultural freedom in their analysis. They called cultura=
l freedom a "basic human right," and awarded high scores in this year's UN H=
uman Development Report to countries that accept immigrant cultures in addit=
ion to their own.<BR>
Norway's cultural diversity has blossomed in recent years, and public polici=
es are aimed at integrating various ethnic groups and promoting tolerance.<B=
R>
Norway also was lauded for its high literacy rate in addition to educational=
 levels and material wealth. Norwegians themselves generally point to their=20=
country's scenic beauty, recreational opportunities, clean water and fresh a=
ir.<BR>
The United States landed in eighth place on the list, while France, for exam=
ple, was 16th.<BR>
The worst countries in which to live are all in Africa, according to the UN=20=
report. All 23 nations at the bottom of the list were African, with war-torn=
 Sierra Leone in last place.<BR>
<BR>
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2"></FONT></HTML>
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