Video summary
Top 10 BEST COUNTRIES to Live in the World
Main summary
Key takeaways
Ranking Method and Criteria
The video argues that “best countries to live in” can be ranked using a broad set of indicators, including:
- Economy
- Safety
- Education
- Healthcare
- Infrastructure
- Culture
- Corruption / civil liberties
- Environment
- Overall quality of life, with resident happiness treated as the most important subset
The creator then presents a top-10 list for “2020”, combining statistics with qualitative commentary for each country, typically emphasizing:
- Clean environments
- Low corruption
- Strong healthcare/education
- Work-life balance
Top 10 Countries (2020)
1) Norway
Why it ranks #1: Combines cleanliness/environmental standards, safety/happiness, high living standards, excellent healthcare, and strong productivity—despite less working time (~27 hours/week). The video also claims Norway maintains this status for many years, with major mentions of:
- Large EV presence
- Clean drinking water
Trade-offs noted: Oil and gas are acknowledged as a wealth source, but Norway is portrayed as highly environmentally responsible.
2) Australia
Praised for:
- Safety
- Wealth
- Effective healthcare
- High life expectancy
- Strong education/universities
- A laid-back lifestyle
- Geographic diversity (especially low population density)
Top cities mentioned include Sydney and Melbourne.
Trade-off noted: No major downside is emphasized beyond a general caveat that staying mostly in cities reduces the impact of long distances.
3) Switzerland
Summarized as exceptionally scenic and livable, with:
- High quality of life and happiness
- Low corruption
- Strong healthcare and transportation
- Low unemployment
- High productivity and trustworthy institutions (described as having a direct-democracy culture)
Why it’s not #1: The main reason is very high cost of living.
4) Japan
Positioned as longevity-focused, citing:
- Extremely high life expectancy
- Safe/clean modern cities
- Efficient transportation and strong connectivity
Positives include strong healthcare, education, and culture.
Major downsides noted:
- Intense work culture contributing to stress/mental health issues
- Delayed family formation and an aging population
- Described as very expensive
5) Canada
Praised for natural beauty and friendliness, with strong social protections such as:
- Unemployment insurance
- Pensions
- Universal healthcare
- Provincial support
The video mentions unemployment rising to ~14%, but credits:
- Healthcare and education
- Low crime
- Clean air
…for supporting high happiness and quality of life.
6) Denmark
Argued to have the highest quality of life, combining:
- Top healthcare
- Very low corruption
- High happiness and safety
- Livable cities (especially Copenhagen)
The creator emphasizes:
- Generous vacation
- A ~33-hour workweek
- High productivity
Trade-off noted: High taxes (~52%), portrayed as offset by public investment.
7) Sweden
Presented as a model of work-life balance (including a shorter workday) linked to productivity and happiness. The video also highlights:
- Clean living conditions
- Low corruption
- Strong healthcare and paid leave
Weaknesses noted:
- School-age education quality
- Relatively low teacher pay
8) Germany
Noted for:
- A strong economy
- Low unemployment
- A diversified workforce
- Good public transportation and education
Described as expensive and tax-heavy, with a major downside of high personal income taxes (~42%)—though the video claims residents receive value through:
- Infrastructure
- Security
- Schools
- Medical benefits
9) New Zealand
Highlighted as:
- Low-corruption
- Peaceful and safe
- Supported by high-quality education and healthcare
The video emphasizes lifestyle/outdoor appeal and also stresses diversity and coexistence (Maori and immigrants), including an “adventure capital” angle. It also credits good work-life balance for happiness.
10) Finland
Praised for:
- Environmental friendliness and nature (forests, lakes, islands)
- Clean air
- Very strong education and healthcare
Finland is framed as highly people-focused, with:
- Generous family support
- Gender equality
Downsides mentioned:
- Cold climate and daylight extremes
- High taxes
- Lower salaries
- Relatively high unemployment (~10%)
Honorable Mentions
The creator includes honorable mentions such as:
- Iceland
- Ireland
- UK
- Netherlands
- Belgium
- Luxembourg
- Austria
- France
- UAE
- United States
The United States Exclusion
The video explicitly says the USA does not make the list, despite a strong economy and income. The creator’s stated reasons include lagging performance in:
- Health
- Safety
- Corruption levels
- Quality of life
- Stress
- Life expectancy
- Happiness
- Overall wellbeing
Presenters / Contributors
- Video narrator/creator (name not provided in the subtitles)