Canada ranks fourth in quality of life

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Today, I'd like to end my year on an upbeat note; an article about one of the best countries in which to live in the world.  May I wish you and your family the very best for the Christmas season.  Happy holidays to you all, and the very best for 2010.
See you next year.
 
 
Canada ranks fourth in quality of life

 

The Canadian Press
UN's annual Human Development Index takes into account life expectancy,
literacy, school enrolment and per capita gross domestic product in 182
countries

 

Globe and Mail, Monday, Oct. 05, 2009

 

Norway enjoys the world's highest quality of life, while Niger suffers the
lowest, a United Nations agency said today, as it released a ranking that
highlights the wide disparities in well-being between rich and poor
countries.

 

Canada was listed fourth.

 

The annual Human Development Index, unveiled in Bangkok by the UN
Development Program, takes into account life expectancy, literacy, school
enrolment and per capita gross domestic product in 182
countries.

 

"A child born in Niger can expect to live to just over 50 years, which is 30
years less than a child born in Norway. Furthermore, the differences in per
capita income are huge for every dollar earned per person in Niger, US $85
are earned in Norway," UNDP said.

 

Canada's life expectancy was among the highest with a child at birth
expecting to live up to 80 years. Norway was followed by Australia and
Iceland on the overall list, which drew on statistics dating from 2007,
before Iceland was hit hard by the global economic crisis.

 

Afghanistan and Sierra Leone rounded out the bottom of the ranking.

 

The United States was in 13th place.

 

NYT
The global Financial crisis has brought low the economies of just about
every country on earth. But not Norway. With a quirky contrariness as deeply
etched in the national character as the thousands of fjords carved into its
rugged landscape, Norway has thrived by going its own way.

 

Trends in the index since 1980 showed an average improvement of 15 per cent
in countries' scores. The greatest long-term improvements have been shown by
China, Iran and Nepal, but progress has been concentrated in education and
health rather than income, said
the agency.

 

Afghanistan is new to the list this year - reliable statistics were not
previously available - but otherwise leaders and laggards are largely the
same.

 

Five countries rose three or more places - China, Colombia, France, Peru and
Venezuela while seven countries dropped more than two places - Belize,
Ecuador, Jamaica, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malta and Tonga.

 

The index was released as part of the UNDP's annual Human Development
Report, which this year highlighted migration. "Most migrants, internal and
international, reap gains in the form of higher incomes, better access to
education and health and improved prospects for their children," said the
report. "These gains often directly benefit
family members who stay behind as well as countries of origin indirectly."

 

It also suggested that as the populations age in developed countries, they
could benefit from increased migration to boost their work forces.

 

Through analyzing data taken in 2007, Canada's migrants were found to
account for nearly 20 per cent of the population. The UN agency did caution
that encouraging migration should not substitute for "efforts by developing
countries to achieve growth
and improve human well-being."

 

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