The 2011 Quality of Life Index: The 10 best countries

The Quality of Life Index results for 2011 via International Living magazine.The countries are chosen by calculating scores using these nine categories: Cost of living, culture, economy, environment, freedom, health, infrastructure, safety and climate.
These are the top ten countries:

1. U.S.A.
2. New Zealand
3. Malta
4. France
5. Monaco
6. Belgium
7. Germany
8. Austria
9. United Kingdom
10. Japan

Click here to see the complete final scores for each country in every category.

International Living’s Quality of Life Index 2011:
Where the Numbers Come From

It's interesting to see how very different this list is from 2010.

Related link from my blog:
The 2010 Quality of Life Index: The 10 best countries to live

I'm pleased (and rather surprised) to see the United Kingdom is in the top ten. I have to say though, that I'm surprised Australia isn't in the top ten this year. From everything I've heard and read about Australia, it sounds like an ideal place to live. It seems odd that last year Australia was in second place and this year it has slipped to thirteenth on the list. And the USA was only seventh on the list last year whereas France was number 1 last year but dropped to fourth place this year.

What are your thoughts about this list?

Links about the UK

ChooseBritish

British Nature

Days Out

The Geograph British Isles project

Great British Gardens

Great British Wildlife

Habitat:Daily wildlife & environment news from the British Isles

ProjectBritain - British Life and Culture

The Royal Horticultural Society

National Parks in the UK

Space for Nature: wildlife gardening and wildlife gardens (UK)

UK Safari - about the wildlife & countryside of Britain

UKVillages  - the leading UK community website

UK Parliament

Walking Britain

Where Can We Go - what's on event guide

Wild about Britain - British wildlife

24 Hour Museum - official guide to UK museuams, galleries, exhibitions