Top 10 countries with best quality of life in 2026
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A high quality of life often reflects a country’s ability to provide economic stability, quality healthcare, education, safety, employment opportunities and strong public services.
According to a new ranking by The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Sweden leads the world for quality of life in 2026, with Europe dominating the top positions.
Below are the 10 highest-ranked countries and what sets them apart.
1. Sweden (Quality of Life Score: 100.0)
Sweden tops the global ranking thanks to its strong welfare system, excellent healthcare and education, stable economy, and globally recognised companies such as Volvo and IKEA.
2. Denmark (98.2)
Denmark is known for its generous social benefits, high levels of trust in public institutions, work-life balance, and consistently high levels of happiness among residents.
3. Canada (95.0)
Canada is the highest-ranked country outside Europe, recognised for its multicultural society, strong healthcare system, political stability, and high standard of living.
4. Switzerland (94.8)
Switzerland combines one of the world’s strongest economies with excellent healthcare, efficient public services, low crime rates, and high average incomes.
5. Finland (92.4)
Finland continues to perform strongly due to its world-class education system, safety, environmental quality, and extensive social welfare programmes.
6. Norway (92.4)
Norway’s wealth, supported by its natural resources, enables significant investment in healthcare, education, infrastructure, and social security, contributing to a high quality of life.
7. Netherlands (90.8)
The Netherlands offers residents a strong economy, quality public transport, excellent healthcare, and a healthy work-life balance.
8. Australia (87.5)
Australia is the second non-European country in the top 10, earning praise for its healthcare system, outdoor lifestyle, economic resilience, and attractive living conditions.
9. Germany (82.9)
Germany’s robust economy, advanced infrastructure, quality healthcare, and employment opportunities help secure its place among the world’s best countries to live in.
10. Belgium (78.6)
Belgium rounds out the top 10 with its strong healthcare system, social protections, strategic location in Europe, and high standard of public services.
The Wharton School’s ranking evaluated 85 countries using indicators such as GDP, foreign investment, tourism, economic performance, and other measures of residents’ overall wellbeing, highlighting the nations that provide the strongest overall quality of life in 2026.
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