23 Countries with the Highest Quality of Life Heading into 2023

Published on November 26, 2022 at 8:05 am by Ty Haqqi in Lists, News

In this article, we will be taking a look at the 23 countries with the highest quality of life heading into 2023. To skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to see 10 countries with the highest quality of life heading into 2023.

Anyone with a low tolerance to pain and inconvenience should thank their lucky stars that they were born in a much more progressive era. The human civilization has progressed swiftly over the past few decades. Nowadays, people are able to live a life of luxury and easily afford things that would seem impossible just a couple of generations ago. Nowadays, normal airlines aren’t extremely costly while budget airlines such as JetBlue Airways Corporation (NASDAQ:JBLU) have basically made air travel possible for a much larger audience. Meanwhile, you can easily access all of the available information in the world with just a few clicks thanks to Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG). Other companies such as Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), the largest online retailer in the world, provide you with products delivered to your home the same day, often in a few hours, while you’ve got access to technology at the comfort of your home that few could have dreamt of just a few decades ago.

You will notice that Europe dominates the list of countries with the highest quality of life heading into 2023 while the U.S. only finished 26th. This is because the wealth in the U.S. is incredibly concentrated with the top 1% holding 32.3% of the country’s wealth, while the U.S. is the only developed country in the world to not have nationalized healthcare. European policies, on the other hand, focus on the quality of life enjoyed by the majority of the population instead of a select few.

We based our list on a United Nations report, with rankings being based on life expectancy gross national income per capita and expected years of schooling.

23. Germany

Average life expectancy at birth in the country (in years): 80.6

Gross national income per capita (in dollars): 54,534

Expected years of schooling: 17

Germany kicks off our list, but it’s surprising that the country didn’t rank higher, considering its level of advancement and being the biggest economy in Europe.

22. Spain

Average life expectancy at birth in the country (in years): 83

Gross national income per capita (in dollars): 38,354

Expected years of schooling: 17.9

Spain has the most enviable climate in the world thanks to its Mediterranean location which combined with its excellent public infrastructure and healthcare make it a great country for expats to live in.

21. Austria

Average life expectancy at birth in the country (in years): 81.6

Gross national income per capita (in dollars): 53,619

Expected years of schooling: 16

Austria is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world which, combined with amazing air quality, high level of safety and a brilliant healthcare system, means that its citizens enjoy a quality of life few nations can rival.

20. Italy

Average life expectancy at birth in the country (in years): 82.9

Gross national income per capita (in dollars): 42,840

Expected years of schooling: 16.2

Italy has had economic issues over the past decade, but it is still among the best countries to live in.

19. New Zealand

Average life expectancy at birth in the country (in years): 82.5

Gross national income per capita (in dollars): 44,057

Expected years of schooling: 20.3

New Zealand has a well-developed health system and education system, in addition to a stunning landscape.

18. Malta

Average life expectancy at birth in the country (in years): 83.8

Gross national income per capita (in dollars): 38,884

Expected years of schooling: 16.8

Malta is a surprising addition to our list, as its stable economy, excellent climate and low unemployment rates have allowed it to offer an excellent quality of life.

17. Canada

Average life expectancy at birth in the country (in years): 82.7

Gross national income per capita (in dollars): 46,808

Expected years of schooling: 16.4

While Canada’s cost of living is continuing to increase at a high pace, it still offers benefits that its biggest neighbor doesn’t such as socialized healthcare, environmental protection and a lack of crime.

16. Japan

Average life expectancy at birth in the country (in years): 84.8

Gross national income per capita (in dollars): 42,274

Expected years of schooling: 15.2

Japan is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world, which has helped it obtain a place in the list of the countries with the highest quality of living in 2023.

15. Finland

Average life expectancy at birth in the country (in years): 82

Gross national income per capita (in dollars): 49,452

Expected years of schooling: 19.1

Most of the Nordic nations are in the list of countries with the highest quality of life heading into 2023, with Finland being the first country from the region in this list.

14. Belgium

Average life expectancy at birth in the country (in years): 81.9

Gross national income per capita (in dollars): 52,293

Expected years of schooling: 19.6

Belgium has a high average income compared to even other European countries, while also providing excellent public facilities.

13. Republic of Korea

Average life expectancy at birth in the country (in years): 83.7

Gross national income per capita (in dollars): 44,501

Expected years of schooling: 16.5

South Korea’s emergence as a major economy over the last half century has been incredible mainly due to its immense focus on quality of education and brilliant healthcare.