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France is the best place to live says study

PostPosted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 1:04 am
by oomaha28
Britain has dropped to 25th place on a list of the best places in the world to live - behind countries such as the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Uruguay.

While France tops the poll for the fifth year running, the UK's climate, crime rate, cost of living, congested roads and overcrowded cities have pushed it even further down from last year's ranking at 20.

The Quality of Life Index, published by International Living magazine for the 30th year, says the French live life to the full, while Britons are over-worked.

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In all, 194 countries are surveyed on nine criteria, including the cost of living, culture and leisure, environment, safety, culture and weather.

Australia is placed second after France, followed by Switzerland, Germany and New Zealand.

Even former communist countries where unemployment is still rife are considered better places to settle down in than Britain, with Lithuania and the Czech Republic coming in at 22nd and 24th place respectively.

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Cars near high-rise flats in Vilnius, Lithuania: The Baltic state came in three places above Britain in the list

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Ice skaters trek around the frozen Lake Nasijarvi in Tampere, southern Finland: The Scandinavian country came 18th in the list of best places in the world

Variety is also seen as a major factor in France's appeal, with the survey noting: 'Romantic Paris offers the best of everything, but services don't fall away in Alsace's wine villages, in wild and lovely Corsica, in lavender-scented Provence. Or in the Languedoc of the troubadors, bathed in Mediterranean sunlight.'

Britain does not top a single category in the survey, which is compiled using official government statistics, data from the World Health Organisation and the views of the magazine's editors around the globe.

The U.S. fell from third to seventh place because of the economic crisis last year. A magazine spokesman said: 'Sustaining the American Dream has escalated out of the reach of many.'

Germany is widely praised for its efficiency and leisure facilities, with the magazine noting that 'the Harz Mountains now has a specialist hiking trail for nudists. Germany is arguably the world's most naturist-friendly country'.

Re: France is the best place to live says study

PostPosted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 9:02 am
by History
oomaha28 wrote:'Romantic Paris offers the best of everything, but services don't fall away in Alsace's wine villages, in wild and lovely Corsica, in lavender-scented Provence.


Really interesting article, I enjoyed reading it.

I note from the above that not only was the capital of France in the survey but also the outlying regions including small villages far from the capital. Do you know if the survey took in Wales and Scotland or was it based on an English lifestyle?

Re: France is the best place to live says study

PostPosted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 10:01 am
by EMDEE
I don't know how reliable or scientifically-based this survey is, but it would be interesting if a separate survey was done for the constituent countries within the UK.

Re: France is the best place to live says study

PostPosted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 8:59 pm
by Sweltered
The USA is way too far up the list...

Re: France is the best place to live says study

PostPosted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 8:03 pm
by Bobbie En Tejas
Some of us like it here Sweltered, and there is a huge difference between living in Florida (have lived there) and living in western New York, San Antonio, Denver, Minneapolis, etc.

Re: France is the best place to live says study

PostPosted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 9:33 pm
by Sweltered
Bobbie En Tejas wrote:Some of us like it here Sweltered, and there is a huge difference between living in Florida (have lived there) and living in western New York, San Antonio, Denver, Minneapolis, etc.


Ironically it's the New Yorkers (and Bonstonians) who make Florida unbearable :roll:

Re: France is the best place to live says study

PostPosted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 9:35 pm
by Bobbie En Tejas
lol.. touche :) actually, i really disliked living in florida because I hated living in a tourist trap.. lived down near fort lauderdale.

Re: France is the best place to live says study

PostPosted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 9:39 pm
by Govangirl
Well sorry to be controversial but if France is such a great place to live how come hundreds of people every day are risking their lives in Calais to get over here?????? And why do thousands of asylum seekers choose the UK over any other European country? Mmmm... :?

Re: France is the best place to live says study

PostPosted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 9:43 pm
by bill
Govangirl wrote:Well sorry to be controversial but if France is such a great place to live how come hundreds of people every day are risking their lives in Calais to get over here?????? And why do thousands of asylum seekers choose the UK over any other European country? Mmmm... :?


Easy..in one word..B E N E F I T S .

Re: France is the best place to live says study

PostPosted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 10:41 pm
by Govangirl
Exactly but my point is - surely that should be hugely taken into into account? Any one of us could need state help at some point and the fact that we could have that safety net is, to me, a defining feature of a good country in which to reside? It seems to me that the above list is for wealthy folks.

Re: France is the best place to live says study

PostPosted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 7:02 pm
by Iain
Hi GG ! Thanks to Emdee..., I’ve just "stumbled" over this post ! Sorry !

Living in Belgium for over 30 years, I can confirm that all my best friends have moved to the South of France. (not the North) Done for the ambiance, cuisine, markets, weather, health, wine, olive oil, cheeses, French-bread and the Mediterranean flagrancies of pine, lavender and exquisite perfumes..., not to mention all the imported whiskeys, some of which are even unavailable in Scotland. :D

Given the opportunity..., I’d do the same ! :lol:

Re: France is the best place to live says study

PostPosted: Thu Nov 16, 2023 12:07 pm
by Abigail
Well that is a tough time and take a lot of preparations to go before living somewhere. I like the way you are willing to get information through multiple sources and also interesting to know about what happened to you next?