Ranked: Best Countries to Live in the World, 2024

Beneath all the wealth and success that a country amasses lies the true driving force that makes it a leader across the globe – its citizens. According to the CEOWORLD Magazine 2024 report, The Netherlands has been recognized as the best country in the world for its citizens to live, followed by Germany and New Zealand in second and third place respectively. The rankings for 2024 placed Canada in fourth place, ahead of Sweden in fifth, while Norway and Denmark ranked sixth and seventh respectively. Overall, among the top 10 best countries in the world for its citizens to live in, the eighth, ninth, and tenth positions are held by Finland, Israel, and Switzerland.

Best Countries to Live in the World, 2024

Netherlands (No. 1): The Netherlands is a small country located in Western Europe, known for its tulips, windmills, and picturesque rivers. It is also considered one of the best countries for citizenship, with a population of over 16 million people who enjoy excellent social services, including education and healthcare. The country’s well-governed and corruption-free society is a significant draw for people looking to become citizens, in addition to the many tourist attractions.

Germany (No. 2): Germany is known as the “Land of Ideas” due to its rich history of technology and research facilities. The nation has earned a top spot in the hearts of people around the world. It is also credited as the biggest economy in Europe, and its steady growth has helped reduce unemployment rates and contribute to its economic prowess. These factors combined make it a top nation that meets all the requirements of citizenship.

New Zealand (No. 3): This island country is situated in the southern hemisphere and is divided into two main regions, the North Island and the South Island. With a population of over 4 million people, New Zealand is a favorite destination for many around the world. The country is renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, exceptional quality of education and healthcare, abundant opportunities, and effective governance. One of the key takeaways from New Zealand is its focus on peacekeeping and global security, making it a safe and welcoming place for its citizens.

Canada (No. 4): Canada is the only country in the North American continent that has made it to the list of the best countries to settle in. This is because it offers unlimited opportunities to its citizens. Being one of the richest countries in the world, Canada provides a high standard of living to all its citizens by decreasing taxes. It is also renowned for having a good government, high degree of individual freedom, a low unemployment rate, and numerous career growth options. All of these factors make it an ideal country to lead a fulfilling life.

Sweden (No. 5): Sweden is often included among the top countries for citizenship. According to the Better Life Index, Sweden surpasses most other countries, making it an excellent choice for citizens. Living in Sweden can provide you with a better quality of life, strong infrastructure, gender equality, top-notch healthcare and education, and equal distribution of human rights. Overall, a Swedish citizen can enjoy a higher standard of living with no discrimination on the basis of color, race, or religion.

Detailed findings & methodology:

In order to determine the rankings, researchers at the CEOWORLD magazine analyzed and compared 171 countries across three key categories: 1) Stability, 2) Satisfaction, and 3) Balance. To evaluate those dimensions, researchers looked at 23 indicators that fell into one of the three categories. Each attribute was graded on a 100-point scale.

1) Stability
economic growth
indirect tax rate
corporate tax rate
the personal income tax rate
average life expectancy
earnings and job security
housing conditions and spendings
household income (after taxes and transfers) and net financial wealth

2) Satisfaction
safety
level of happiness
quality of governance
corruption perceptions
child and maternal mortality
infrastructure and transport
efficacy of the public health system
overall efficacy of education system

3) Balance
human rights
civil liberties
political rights
work-life balance
religious freedom
equality among genders
care about the environment

Raw data for countries were normalized on a 1-100 scale according to the following:  Each indicator was given equal weighting within each of the three categories with some indicators being comprised of 2-3 sub-indicators that were also weighted equally. Each category was weighted equally to arrive at the overall index.

Sources: CEOWORLD magazine put together a panel of experts to go over data points culled from sources like the EIU Index, World Economic Forum, Global Insight, the Global Gender Gap Index, Gini, and Gender Gap index, The Legatum Prosperity Index, Transparency International, Environmental Performance Index, Better Life Index, CIA World Factbook, World Bank, UNDP Annual Report, as well as CEOWORLD magazine research. They then used that information to compare the world’s countries for its citizens and residents. Based on a consensus from these sources, the final choice of cities was judged editorially, as was their position on the list. All data is for the most recent period available.

So, these are some of the countries that have created a name for themselves in the citizenship arena. With the high quality of life practiced there, it can be easily concluded that citizens can enjoy a gala time in these nations!

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