International Living rates best countries to live in for 2010

The French have long claimed that while other nations may know how to work, they know how to live. The editors of International Living magazine apparently agree, for they have rated France the best country to live in in their 2010 Quality of Life Index of 194 countries.

This is the fifth straight year that France has taken top honors in the magazine's annual rankings. "Its tiresome bureaucracy and high taxes are outweighed by an unsurpassable quality of life, including the world's best health care," the editors wrote in their article listing the 10 best countries to live in.

It is not necessary to live in Paris to enjoy the advantages of the French way of life, the editors state. Smaller cities, particularly in the mid-south of the country, offer all the amenities at more reasonable cost.

Placing second on the top 10 list is that "lucky country," Australia, known for its temperate climate and outdoor-oriented lifestyle. IL notes that the country also has sophisticated cities -- in particular, Sydney and Melbourne -- where one can enjoy all the trappings of the good life for less than in most other world cities.

Number three Switzerland is praised because the country has turned all its disadvantages -- heterogeneity, mountainous terrain, lack of natural resources ("except cheese") -- into advantages through sheer effort. "Tourists gladly clamber into Alpine cable cars because they trust their Swiss steel cables and electric motors. Jump on a Swiss train and you know you will arrive on time. Swallow a Swiss pill and you know it won't poison you. Likewise, you know the bank will always be discreet and the hotel room spotless. You also know everyone will speak your language. The Swiss succeeded because they made everything work," the editors wrote.

Fourth-ranked Germany is another place where everything simply works, say the editors. It's particularly appealing to those who disdain the dominance of pop and youth culture -- "Theater, art, and classical music concerts aren't considered elitist" -- and its citizens enjoy the benefits of a highly affluent society (the average German worker earns more than $61,000 a year).

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New Zealand earns its fifth-place spot not so much for what it has as for what it lacks. As its immigration department put it, "We don't have high crime rates, our police don't carry guns and instances of corruption are virtually unheard of. We don't have abject poverty or hunger and we don't have the pollution, congestion, health issues and cramped city living that we see elsewhere." Oh, by the way, the scenery is spectacular, as "Lord of the Rings" fans should know. It's difficult to become a naturalized New Zealander, but it is possible to live there on a part-time basis.

Americans should not be too ashamed, however: the United States ranks seventh on the Top 10 list. "The U.S. has, arguably, something to offer everyone," the editors wrote. "And no question: It is the land of convenience. No place else on Earth is it easier to get what you want, when you want it." It's also affordable, especially in the interior.

Here are the top 10 countries to live in as rated by the staff of International Living -- who confess to their Western cultural bias:

1. France
2. Australia
3. Switzerland
4. Germany
5. New Zealand
6. Luxembourg
7. United States
8. Belgium
9. Canada
10. Italy

View complete rankings of all 192 countries

Written by Sandy Smith
For HULIQ.com

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