Cheryl Santa Maria
Digital Reporter
Tuesday, January 23, 2018, 3:28 PM – In news that will not come as a surprise to anyone living in the Great White North, a new survey listed Canada is the second-best country in the world for the third year in a row, sitting behind one European country.
Switzerland took the top spot, while the United Kingdom came in fourth. The United States took the eight spot, down from seven the year prior.
The survey was prepared by U.S. News and World Report, the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business and BAV consulting.
More than 21,000 people from 80 countries took part in the survey, which ranked nations on 24 categories, including: affordability, job market, economic stability, family-friendliness, income equality, and quality of life. Canada earned the Number 1 spot for that category.
It also scored high for its stunning wilderness, garnering high points for being scenic and having a pleasant climate, although we’re not sure every Canadian would agree with that.
Canada’s ‘environmental quality’ lauded
Canada was ranked as having the best quality of life overall.
“Beyond the essential ideas of broad access to food and housing, to quality education and health care, to employment that will sustain us, quality of life may also include intangibles such as job security, political stability, individual freedom and environmental quality,” the survey says.
Here are the top 25 countries in the world, according to the survey.
- Switzerland
- Canada
- Germany
- United Kingdom
- Japan
- Sweden
- Australia
- United States
- France
- The Netherlands
- Denmark
- Norway
- New Zealand
- Findland
- Italy
- Singapore
- Austria
- Luxembourg
- Spain
- China
- Ireland
- South Korea
- United Arab Emirates
- Portugal
- India
This isn’t the first time Canada has won a favourable distinction.
In 2017 it also was ranked the world’s best travel destination and claimed three of the top spots on a world’s most livable cities list.
Source: Best Countries 2018 Report
For those living outside of Hamilton and considering a move why not give our city a try, it is an amazing place to live and work. The housing market in the last year or so has been steadily increasing but is still very affordable compared to Toronto. Hamilton is currently in the process of acquiring its third Go Station which will make for an easier commute for those who work in Toronto but live here. There is so much to do here for example we have Super Crawls on James Street for music and art lovers, multiple out door festivals by the Bay or Gage Park, Hamilton Bulldogs for the hockey enthusiast, Confederation Park and Wild Works for the kids to have fun only to mention a few. l have included a link about what Hamilton has to offer in terms of pricing and neighbourhoods, please take a look and share your opinion with us on what you feel about our great city. www.macleans.ca/economy/realestateeconomy/hamiltons-top-neighbourhoods/