Go Norway, UN index rates best life in the western Scandinavia

When it comes to the quality of life, Norway enjoys the world's highest ranking country according to a United Nations agency. The annual Human Development Index prepared by the UN Development Program found that the country with the worst quality of life is Niger with life expectancy of just over 50 years. The Index was prepared by taking life expectancy, literacy, school enrolment and per capita gross domestic product in 182 countries. The second best in the list was Australia followed by Iceland. Canada ranked fourth (not bad!) and the United States was in 13th place. 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 UN agency. (source)