Bulgaria ranks 42nd among 194 by its quality of living, according to the annual 2009 Quality of Life Index.
France came first for the fourth year running.
The authors of the research, conducted by the International Living magazine, consider the countries around the world where one could live cheaper, pay less tax, enjoy better weather, take advantage of opportunities in emerging markets, start a new life, start a business, and retire, among others.
To produce the annual Index, the magazine takes into account nine categories: Cost of Living, Culture and Leisure, Economy, Environment, Freedom, Health, Infrastructure, Safety and Risk, and Climate. Official sources, such as government websites, the World Health Organization, and The Economist, are used to finalize the rankings, along with opinions of editors and correspondents from all over the world.
For the fourth time in a row France scored high marks across the board - from health care (84 points) to infrastructure (90 points) to safety rating (100 points). According to the authors, the main appeal of living in France is its lifestyle (85 points in the Culture and Leisure category).
For the second year running Switzerland comes in second place.
Other north European counties feature prominently in the top 10: Luxembourg comes in 4th place, Belgium 6th, Germany 8th, and Denmark 10th.
Among the top 10, the US are 3rd, Australia ranks 5th, Italy 7th, New Zealand 9th. |
