3. BEST OVERALL: FINLAND
Despite the long winter, Finland is a
pretty great place to be—the best,
actually. It ranked the highest overall
and also comes in as the best small
country, the best high-income country,
and the best country for education. Its
students scored first in science and
second in both reading and math in the
2006 Program for International
Student Assessment, a test of 15-year-
olds' education skills by the OECD.
Finland's schoolkids enjoy a laid-back
and inclusive learning environment
where shoes are optional, all teachers
have master's degrees, and extra help
is the norm: every year about one in
three students gets individual time with
a tutor.
4. BEST LARGE NATION: JAPAN
The innovative country that brought
the world sushi, Nintendo, and the
Kyoto Protocol is also the one with
the most healthy citizens. The
average person in Japan lives to the
age of 82; the average woman lives
to be nearly 86. (Japanese women
are the longest-living women in the
world.) What explains their
longevity? No one knows for sure,
but it's likely a combination of
preventive medicine, diet, health
education, high standard of living
during old age, and universal health
care. Japan also ranks first among
large countries in education and
fourth in quality of life.
5. BEST EDUCATION
Low income: Ukraine
Middle income: Kazakhstan
Medium size: South Korea
Large size: Japan
Among low-income countries, Ukraine is the best for
education, with a 99 percent literacy rate. When it comes to
math and science, Kazakh students are earning high
marks, too, and not just among middle-income countries;
they outperformed the US and many others in math on the
2007 TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and
Science Study). South Koreans are also among the
highest-performing students in science, and they're the
highest in reading among the world's wealthy countries. It
seems their educational success continues into adulthood,
making South Koreans the most likely to have university
degrees out of those in developed countries. Despite
spending only about 3.5 percent of its GDP on education
(the U.S. spends a little more than 5 percent), Japan still
ranks best in education among large countries.
Nonetheless, its top spot is at risk; after being criticized for
its harsh academic atmosphere, Japan turned to a more
relaxed curriculum, only to see its students' performance
slip in the past few years.
6. BEST HEALTH CARE
Low income: Tunisia, China
Middle income: Chile
Small size: Switzerland
Medium size: Spain, Australia
Though you can't count on Tunisia for
education, it's tied with China for the No. 1
spot on the health index among poor
countries. Chile, which performs fairly well
across the board, ranks No. 1 for health
among middle-income countries, and
Switzerland is the winner among small
countries, beating out Sweden and the
Netherlands. Spain and Australia share
beautiful beaches and weather but also the
title of healthiest medium-size countries.
7. BEST QUALITY OF LIFE
Low income: Ukraine
Middle income: Cuba
Medium size: Australia
Large size: Germany
Germany has the highest quality of life
among large countries and ranks in the
top 10 for quality of life among wealthy
states. Two of its cities—Munich and
Berlin—are often ranked among the most
livable in the world. Australia, with its
active citizens and high standard of living,
comes in first among medium-size
countries. In the low-income category,
Ukraine comes out on top, and Cuba
outdoes its fellow middle-income countries
in quality of life. Cuba also ranks No. 3 in
education among upper-middle-class
countries.
8. BEST POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT
Low income: Ghana
Middle income: Poland
Medium size: Australia
Large size: Germany
Though Ghana (pictured) may not have a
stellar economy, its political environment is
the best among low-income countries like
India, Albania, and Morocco. Poland wins
in the middle-income category. Australia is
a winner on many fronts, including its
democratic freedom and voter
participation, making it No. 1 in this
category among medium-size nations. And
Germany tops the list for large countries
with the best political environment.
9. And now for the fun stuff...
The World’s Real Winners!
10. BEST PLACE TO FLY A KITE
INDIA
Flying a kite from the
roof is part of everyday
life in India. But each
year, on Jan. 14, an
international kite
festival, Makar
Sankranti, draws more
than 1 million
enthusiasts from 36
countries.
11. BEST WEATHER
MALTA
It rarely rains between April
and August in Malta, and the
long, dry summers are
matched by short, mild
winters. Winds from northern
Africa known as xlokk keep
the place temperate in spring
and fall.
12. BEST PLACE TO BE
SURGICALLY ENHANCED
BRAZIL
No other country has so
many plastic surgeons per
capita; the $15 billion
industry draws almost as
many tourists as the
beaches. Innovation-friendly
regulations give Brazilian
surgeons a leg up.
13. BEST PLACE TO HAVE A BABY
FRANCE
Maman is sitting pretty, with as
much as seven months’ paid
leave, low-cost health care, and a
baby nurse who makes house
calls. If she’s sick, the
government sends someone to
do the family’s laundry.
14. BEST PLACE TO BE OLD
JAPAN
Japan’s elders (who make
up a fifth of the population)
don’t just enjoy generous
pensions, the respect of
society, and the world’s
longest life expectancy. They
also get their own national
holiday, Keirō No Hi.
15. BEST PLACE FOR A ROAD
TRIP
SOUTH AFRICA
The 850-mile drive from
Johannesburg to Cape
Town features big-game
terrain, pristine beaches,
and towering cliffs. Be sure
to stop and check out the
ancient Bushman paintings
at the Kamberg center.
16. BEST MUSIC
MALI
Itinerant entertainers known as jeli have been showing up
in Bamako for 500 years. Today, Mali is West Africa’s
musical hotbed, and the annual Festival Au Desert attracts
the world’s best folk musicians.
17. MOST GAY-FRIENDLY
THE NETHERLANDS
The Dutch don’t talk much about gay rights.
Why bother? Same-sex couples won equal
rights in 2001. And Amsterdam’s annual gay-
pride festival is still considered the hottest
party on the planet.
18. BEST PLACE TO BE A DOG
OWNER
BELGIUM
Dogs are more than man’s
best friend here—they’re
truly part of the family.
They’re allowed in grocery
stores, restaurants,
sporting events, and music
festivals. You can even
bring Rex on the train.
19. BEST PLACE TO DINE
SPAIN
Sure, the paella is fabulous,
but it’s anomalies like foie-
gras candy and ham
“tapioca,” created by
molecular gastronomists like
Ferrán Adrià, (of Catalonia’s
elBulli) that make Spain the
foodie’s mecca.
20. BE PLACE TO BE A RAPPER
SWITZERLAND
Swiss rappers rhyme in dialect and care more about
lokalpatriotismus (local pride) than world domination. They
get radio play and sold-out shows without needing body guards
or bulletproof vests.
