NationStates Jolt Archive

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Norway, Sweden, Australia, Canada and the Netherlands ranked as the best five countries to live in but Africa's quality of life plummeted because of AIDS (news - web sites), said a U.N. report released on Thursday.

The United States was ranked in eighth place, a drop of one position from 2003 in the report that rates not only per-capita income but also educational levels, health care and life expectancy in measuring a nation's well-being.

The industrialized nations as usual were in the top 20, their ratings close to one another. Belgium was in sixth place, followed by Iceland, the United States, Japan, Ireland, Switzerland, Britain, Finland, Austria, Luxembourg, France, Denmark, New Zealand, Germany and Spain.

At the bottom of the list for the seventh year was Sierra Leone, emerging from a decade of civil war. Right above it were Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali and Burundi.

The rest is here (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040715/wl_canada_nm/canada_unitednations_countries_col_1)

At the bottom of the list for the seventh year was Sierra Leone, emerging from a decade of civil war. Right above it were Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali and Burundi.

Im not sure whether its becasue im an ignorant Australian, but those 4 nations down the bottom of the list i have only heard of one, and wouldnt be able to find it if it kicked me in the bum except that i know it(Niger) is in Africa.

Would this be a contributing factor,direct or otherwise?

I have heard of all of those countries except for Burundi. I'm not sure about this, but I think Mali is in Northwest Africa (near Niger) and I was thinking Burkina Faso was as well, but I'm not absolutely certain.

Anyway, they should have also taken things like crime into consideration. I'd also be interesting if overall environmental beauty was taken into consideration, although that would be opinion based and nearly impossible to find completely objective judges.

I've heard of all of them, which may have something to do with the model UN I attended last week (which had every UN nation represented). Ever heard of Cape Verde? I hadn't until last week.

Can say I've heard of all those four nations on the bottom of the list. I can find all of them on the world map in less than 7 seconds except for Burkina Faso. For the record, I'm an Australian.

JiangGuo

I've heard of all of them, which may have something to do with the model UN I attended last week (which had every UN nation represented). Ever heard of Cape Verde? I hadn't until last week.


Model UN is how I know about these nations' names as well, unfortunately, I've never been to one with all nations represented. However, most usually are there.

Can say I've heard of all those four nations on the bottom of the list. I can find all of them on the world map in less than 7 seconds except for Burkina Faso. For the record, I'm an Australian.

Not sure what Australia has to do with it...but any way...was I right on my guesses? If not, for the interest of knowledge, would you enlighten us (me)?

Hong Kong Is 23rd!

Hong Kong Is 23rd!

The Republic of Randomness is 42nd!

Burundi is close to Rwanda.

I have heard of all of those countries except for Burundi. I'm not sure about this, but I think Mali is in Northwest Africa (near Niger) and I was thinking Burkina Faso was as well, but I'm not absolutely certain.

Anyway, they should have also taken things like crime into consideration. I'd also be interesting if overall environmental beauty was taken into consideration, although that would be opinion based and nearly impossible to find completely objective judges.

Never heard about the war which took place both in Burundi and Rwanda? Biggest massacre in 20th century...well, it happened in Africa so who cares...Ever heard of Sudan? Ivory coast? Sierra Leone was alraedy mentioned.

Enviromental beauty is certainly a bit hard to measure but what about pollution per capita? That would certainly put U.S. and Australia a bit further from the top places.