LONDON, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- Ireland is the best country in which to live, according to a "quality of life" survey by the Economist magazine, the BBC reported Thursday.
A combination of increasing wealth and traditional values give Ireland the qualities most likely to make its people happy.
No. 2 on the survey of 111 countries was Switzerland. The other nations in the top 10 are Norway, Luxembourg, Sweden, Australia, Iceland, Italy, Denmark and Spain. The United States was no. 13.
The Economist surveyed 111 countries for its "World in 2005" publication under the theme "Where will be the best place to live in 2005?"
The magazine considered not just income, but other factors considered important to people's satisfaction and well-being.
They included health, freedom, unemployment, family life, climate, political stability and security, gender equality and family and community life.
The Economist said, "Ireland wins because it successfully combines the most desirable elements of the new, such as low unemployment and political liberties, with the preservation of certain cozy elements of the old, such as stable family and community life."
The worst country in which to live in was considered to be Zimbabwe, "where things have gone from bad to worse under (President) Robert Mugabe."
