The 10 countries with the best quality of life in the world
Gathered from country-level government data and public opinion surveys, the organization's index explores 23 indicators of well-being across 11 categories.
10. Denmark — The country ranks high in paid vacation time, averaging 5 weeks off per year. Only 2% of Danish people say they work long hours, compared to the OECD's average of 13%, a percentage that increases every year.
9. New Zealand — Greenhouse emissions are relatively low in New Zealand, mainly due to its low population and close proximity to the sea.
8. Netherlands — This country boasts one of the highest literacy rates in the world. The OECD found that adults in the Netherlands score above-average in math and reading comprehension tests.
7. Sweden — People in Sweden have a high level of civic engagement. Last year, 86% of its residents turned out to vote for its parliament.
6. Canada — This country ranks high in housing standards. In Canada, the average home contains 2.5 rooms per person, the highest rate in the OECD study.
5. US — Jumping two spots from last year's Index, the United States comes out on top in areas of housing, income, and wealth. The average household disposable income is $41,355 per year, nearly twice the average of the countries in the study.
4. Australia — Although the country ranked as number one for the last two years, it fell to fourth in 2015's Index. The OECD found that people feel a strong sense of community in Australia. 92% of Australians believe that they know someone they could rely on.
3. Switzerland — The unemployment rate in Switzerland hovers around 3.5%, one of the lowest in the world.
2. Iceland — The country jumped nine spots from last year's Index. Since 2013, Iceland's unemployment rate and its pollution level has dropped. Home to glaciers, warm springs, and the 197-foot Skogafoss Waterfall, Iceland enjoys the cleanest tap water in the world.
1. Norway — The country moved from second to first place since last year. People are living their best lives in Norway, where a majority have paid jobs, a high level of education, and live an average of 82 years.
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