Canada moves up on UN scale of livability

UNITED NATIONS
Country is fourth behind Norway, Sweden, Australia

BY MIKE BLANCHFIELD
Ottawa Citizen

OTTAWA — Canada has jumped four notches on the United Nations list of most desirable places in the world to live, rebounding from its fall to eighth place last year.

The 2004 United Nations Human Development Report, released Thursday, ranks Canada behind Norway, Sweden and Australia. The Top 10 also includes the Netherlands, Belgium, Iceland, the United States, Japan and Ireland in the annual ranking that measures life expectancy, literacy, the economy and education.

The war-ravaged West African country of Sierra Leone was at the bottom of the list, ranked 177th. Indeed, African countries occupied the bottom 23 spots on the list, with the beleaguered Caribbean island of Haiti ranking 153rd.

Despite repeated warnings by the UN not to use the list as a political tool, former prime ministers Jean Chretien and Brian Mulroney both cited it repeatedly for their own political purposes. Canada first topped the list in 1992, Mulroney’s last year in power. And, it stayed in top spot until 2000, providing fuel for numerous Chretien stump speeches — many of which were aimed at Quebec separatists — extolling Canada as the best place in the world to live.

Originally posted by squarepants
Does anyone know where England places on this new ranking? It seems the brits moving to OZ are making the right decision afterall, can't see many people moving to Sweden and Norway.

Originally posted by Mapboy
1 Norway
2 Sweden
3 Australia
4 Canada
5 Netherlands
6 Belgium
7