Ireland has been rated the fifth most desirable country to live in, according to an annual UN table published today. Rich, free-market countries dominate the top places, with Iceland, Norway, Australia, Canada and Ireland making up the first five. Ireland was rated fourth last year, eighth the previous year and 17th in 2000. While the United States slipped to 12th place from eighth last year.
Irish GDP is $38,505, fourth in the world and life expectancy in Ireland is 78.4, which is 26th on the list. The Japanese retain the longest life expectancy - 82.3 years - and Zambians the lowest, at 40.5. (an interesting aside: the Japanese have one of the highest smoking prevalence rate)
The United States scores high on real per capita GDP, which at $41,890 is second only to that of Luxembourg ($60,228), but less well on life expectancy - joint last in the top 26 countries, along with Denmark and South Korea, at 77.9 years.
Per capita GDP is 45 times higher in Iceland than in Sierra Leone. The index - blending 2005 figures for life expectancy, educational levels and real per capita income - finds that all 22 countries falling into its "low human development" category are in sub-Saharan Africa, with Sierra Leone last. In 10 of these countries, two children in five will not reach the age of 40.
Norway had held top spot for six years but was edged into second place by Iceland this year because of new life expectancy estimates and updated figures for GDP, the report said.
The United Nations has published its human development index every year since 1990.
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