Ireland is the best place to live in the world, according to a "quality of life" assessment by Economist magazine.
The country's combination of increasing wealth and traditional values gives it the conditions most likely to make its people happy, the survey found.
Ireland was followed by Switzerland, Norway and Luxembourg. All but one of the top 10 were European countries.
The USA languished in 13th, while Britain was 29th - the lowest of the pre-expansion EU nations.
'TOP TEN COUNTRIES'
1 Ireland
2 Switzerland
3 Norway
4 Luxembourg
5 Sweden
6 Australia
7 Iceland
8 Italy
9 Denmark
10 Spain
The survey was prepared for the Economist's "World in 2005" publication, with the remit: "Where will be the best place to live in 2005?"
Researchers took into account not just income, but other factors considered important to people's satisfaction and well-being.
They included health, freedom, unemployment, family life, climate, political stability and security, gender equality and family and community life.
The Economist said: "Ireland wins because it successfully combines the most desirable elements of the new, such as low unemployment and political liberties, with the preservation of certain cosy elements of the old, such as stable family and community life."
The magazine admits that measuring quality of life is not a straightforward thing to do, and that its findings will have their critics - "except, of course, in Ireland".
Breakdown in Britain
The Republic has made significant gains from its membership of the EU, earning the soubriquet Celtic Tiger for its economic progress.
Commentators say it is widely admired by the EU's newest members, and has become a model for what they hope to achieve.
Although European nations generally do well in the survey, the continent's major industrial powers of France, Germany and Britain finish 25th, 26th and 29th respectively.
The researchers said although the UK achieved high income per head, it had high levels of social and family breakdown.
The worst of the 111 countries to live in was considered to be Zimbabwe, "where things have gone from bad to worse under [President] Robert Mugabe".
9 of the top 10 countries are from Europe
More data from a portuguese newspaper, couldn't find the report itself: Portugal: 19th (I guess it's the weather and the fact we're a bunch of happy folks)
France: 25th
Germany 26th
Well if you dont like the "traditional values" Sweden is best.
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***
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Hmm, what was Finland's ranking on that list? I'm curious...
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My grandmother lives in county Mayo in the Irish Theocracy. Through my personal expeiences i've come th the conclusion that Ireland is like Catholic Alabama with black beer and rain. Fuck, abortion is banned, divorces are damned hard to get and you need a marriage license to legally buy birth control.
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Wicked Pilot wrote:So that's what, twelve countries we have to bomb before we make it to #1. We'll just see how it is when you hippies have craters for cities.
In a way, bombing us would be like bombing yourselves.
Col. Crackpot wrote:My grandmother lives in county Mayo in the Irish Theocracy. Through my personal expeiences i've come th the conclusion that Ireland is like Catholic Alabama with black beer and rain. Fuck, abortion is banned, divorces are damned hard to get and you need a marriage license to legally buy birth control.
And the sad thing is that this is a considerable improvement considering where they were a few decades ago.
It is a shame the modernists lost out to the Gaelic Catholic agrarian nation people back when Ireland formed (then again just about everything to do with Ireland's independence movement is a tragedy to the point of comedy).
We even beat Canada, where did they end up on that list?
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Gandalf wrote:We even beat Canada, where did they end up on that list?
The dumbasses who made this list must've thought we were part of the US, there's no way Canada should be out of the top 10.
aerius: I'll vote for you if you sleep with me. Lusankya: Deal!
Say, do you want it to be a threesome with your wife? Or a foursome with your wife and sister-in-law? I'm up for either.
Like any other list, it depends on your criteria. But any place where the Catholic Church has that much power doesn't make my top ten.
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So as has been said, it really depends on your criteria...
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God I've been to Dublin, I DEFINITELY would not want to live there. No offense to the Irish people or anything. Give me a Southern California suburb any day.
My ancestors emigrated for a reason. (Okay, it was so a big part of it was so my great-grandmother's brother wouldn't get hung by the British).
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Colonel Olrik wrote:9 of the top 10 countries are from Europe
*Ahem* 8. Iceland is not in Europe, nor is Australia.
While I certainly agree in regards to Australia, Iceland is in Europe in the same sense Ireland is. It's an Island in the Continent's area of influence and it shares Europe's history and economical/political systems. It's almost a member of the EU (being EFTA means free trade within the EU, etc), like Norway, and can become one whenever they want.
World facts wrote:
Iceland is a member of the following organizations: Arctic Council, Barents Euro-Arctic Council; Council of Baltic Sea States; Council of Europe; European Economic Area; European Free Trade Organization; EFTA Court; EFTA Surveillance Authority; North Atlantic Treaty Organization; Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
From my understanding the people of Iceland are in favour of joining the EU (I saw a poll indicating something like 90% were in favour of opening negotiations, the politicians however don’t like the idea) once Norway falls to the EU then Iceland will probably follow shortly there after.
Tsyroc wrote:I'm sure Australia would have done better if Melbourne wasn't dragging things down.
Why you little...
Oh, don't worry about him... While Adelaide is indeed a far superior place to live, I know one particularly nice Victorian, who by himself makes up for all the shortcomings of the rest of the state.
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I'm not. Tsyroc loves this place and just doesn't know it yet.
While Adelaide is indeed a far superior place to live, I know one particularly nice Victorian, who by himself makes up for all the shortcomings of the rest of the state.
I do concede that there are some benefits to living in Adelaide. I can think of one big one, off the top of my head.
I do concede that there are some benefits to living in Adelaide. I can think of one big one, off the top of my head.