Based on 2025–2026 global indices, top cities for quality of life include Copenhagen, Vienna, and Zurich, while Finland consistently ranks as the happiest nation. For expats and retirees, Panama and Greece are top contenders for affordability and lifestyle. Factors like safety, healthcare, and stability often dictate these top rankings.
Iceland. Ranked number one since 2008, Iceland remains the world's most peaceful nation, leading across all three domains: safety and security, ongoing conflict and militarisation. It even recorded a 2% improvement this year, widening the gap from the second-place country on the list.
Zurich. Consistently ranking at the top, Zurich has earned its reputation as one of the best quality-of-life cities in the world. This Swiss financial and cultural hub boasts a nearly unmatched combination of high educational attainment, exceptional public transportation, and meticulous urban environments.
There's no single "best," as it depends on priorities, but Taiwan, South Korea, and Australia consistently rank at the top in recent global indices for overall performance, balancing infrastructure, costs, and outcomes. Other highly-rated systems include Singapore (efficiency/tech), Japan (quality), Canada, Sweden, and Netherlands, often praised for universal access, high quality, or specific strengths like preventative care, though rankings vary by report.
What is the cheapest but safest country to live in?
There's no single "safest, most affordable" country, as it depends on priorities, but top contenders often mentioned for combining safety and low cost include Portugal, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Czech Republic, offering good infrastructure, low living expenses (rent, food), and high quality of life in specific regions or cities, though some Southeast Asian nations like Thailand and the Philippines also rank high for affordability with safety considerations. Portugal is noted for EU access and good healthcare, Malaysia for English-speaking expat communities, Vietnam for extreme affordability, and Czechia for central European travel.
The report primarily uses data from the Gallup World Poll. As of March 2025, Finland has been ranked the happiest country in the world for eight years in a row.
Australia. Australia is one of the best countries to migrate from India due to its strong economy, high demand for skilled workers, and quality of life. The country also offers excellent education and healthcare services, making it a great choice for long-term settlement.
The best doctors in the world are often found in countries with top-ranked healthcare systems and medical education. These include the United States, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
Healthcare in Russia, or the Russian Federation, is provided by the state through the Federal Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund, and regulated through the Ministry of Health.
While rankings vary by source and crime type (like homicide vs. overall crime index), Venezuela, Haiti, and Papua New Guinea consistently appear as having some of the world's highest overall crime rates, driven by factors like gang violence, political instability, and weak law enforcement, with Venezuela often topping lists for high crime indices. Other nations like South Africa, Afghanistan, and Honduras also rank highly due to similar challenges.
A global study, carried out by Online Mortgage Advisor, named the UK's Chester as the prettiest city on Earth. Based on aspects like architecture, principles of proportion, structure and schema, Chester scored 83.7% on the golden ratio. It beat cities like Venice and London to secure the top position.
Zurich, Switzerland, tops the Quality of Living City Ranking for 2024. It is followed by Vienna, Austria, and Geneva, Switzerland, in second and third place.
