Posted on 10/21/2015 5:31:42 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
For a good chance at a happy life, head to Australia, which one again topped the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's Better Life Index, which looks at the quality of life in member countries.
The (OECD) — an international economic organization — analyzed 34 countries in 11 categories, including income, housing, jobs, community, education, environment, civic engagement, health, life satisfaction, safety, and work-life balance. (You can read the full methodology here.)
We looked at the countries with the highest overall scores, and highlighted a few of the criteria on the following slides.
Researchers compared data from 34 countries that are members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. They based the rankings on 11 factors including income, safety, life satisfaction, and health, and then rated each country on a 10-point scale. Income is net-adjusted and in USD.
#15 Ireland
Average household disposable income: $24,104
The Irish have a strong sense of community — 96% of people believe they know someone they could rely on in a time of need (higher than the OECD average of 90%).
They also rate highly in work-life balance, where the average employee works 1,543 hours a year, less than the OECD average of 1,776.
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#14 Luxembourg
Average household disposable income: $23,047
Luxembourg rates well in both health and environment, with an average life expectancy of 81 years and a low level of atmospheric PM10 — tiny air pollutant particles small enough to enter and cause damage to the lungs.
Citizens also have a high participation rate in the political process, with 91% of the population turning out for recent elections.
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#13 Austria
Average household disposable income: $28,852
Austria has a high rate for education. 82% of Austrian adults ages 25-64 have earned the equivalent of a high school degree.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
This survey was before the madness started.
FOR THOSE CURIOUS ABOUT WHERE OUR COUNTRY STANDS:
#6 United States
Average household disposable income: $38,001
The U.S. has the highest average household disposable income on the list at $38,000 a year — much higher than the OECD average of $23,000.
It also ranks as one of the best countries for housing conditions, with good basic facilities and general feelings of safety and personal space
AND HERE’s NUMBER 1 ON THE LIST:
#1 Australia
Average household disposable income: $28,884
For the second year in a row, Australia is the number one happiest country in the world. And it’s not hard to see why —they rank extremely well in health, civic engagement, and housing.
The life expectancy at birth in Australia is 82 years, two years higher than the OECD average.
Australia also has exceptional voter turnout at 93% during recent elections, which is far above the OECD average of 72%.
A country founded by felons. It was Australia right?
But obviously at some point that changed but i dont know when or why or how :)
not too bright
It almost replicates the top 15 countries with the highest percentage of whites. Interesting.....
RE: A country founded by felons. It was Australia right?
Both Australia and America were founded by men of conviction :)
But kidding aside, South Australia was founded by free settlers. The plan for the colony was that it would be the ideal embodiment of the best qualities of British society, that is, no religious discrimination or unemployment and, as it was believed that this would also result in very little crime within the small cohort of initial settlers, no professional police were sent.
Australia only has 93% voting turnout? They have compulsory voting. I guess the other 7% just get fined.
They seldom enforce that law... it’s there to put the fear of the law into those who are too lazy to go to the voting booth.
I never knew that. Thats a shock. I never knew half the things you geniuses on Free Republic tell me lol. Make me feel like an idiot. Is there any truth to the story that convicts were sent there
Learn something new every day! Thanks! :D
Australia was a penal colony. So was Georgia.
RE: Is there any truth to the story that convicts were sent there
Of course it’s true... but only for the other states.
The previous post I had referred ONLY to the state of South Australia ( whose capital is the city of Adelaide ).
THAT was the only state in Australia founded by free settlers.
The rest were penal colonies for convicts.
That’s why I said both Australia and America were founded by men with conviction. :)
After the Battle of the Little Big Horn and Custer's Last Stand, Sitting Bull fled north across the border with his tribe. According to legend, they were rounded up peacefully by five (yes, FIVE) Canadian Mounties.
“For a good chance at a happy life, head to Australia...”
With the gun laws in Australia, I personally wouldn’t be all that happy. I’ve contemplated moving there at one time, but I just get a whole lot of enjoyment about everything shooting sports related, but Australians apparently don’t.
lol. that’s good.
I would have assumed most of the convicted were men, if not all. I guess at some point they became independent and everyone was allowed in.
i have to read about it. thanks.
Who ruled the country that they were allowed to drop convicts there?
The King of England of course rules Australia ( Elizabeth II is still their Queen since they are part of the British Commonwealth ). That might change in the future as there is a growing Australian Independence movement.
The British colony of New South Wales (capital, Sydney) was established with the arrival of the First Fleet of 11 vessels under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip in January 1788. It consisted of over a thousand settlers, including 778 convicts (192 women and 586 men).
Arthur Phillip became the first governor of New South Wales.
After the founding of the colony of New South Wales in 1788, Australia was divided into an eastern half, named New South Wales, under the administration of the colonial government in Sydney, and a western half named New Holland.
The gold rush brought many immigrants to Australia from the British Isles, continental Europe, North America and China. The Colony of Victoria’s population grew rapidly, from 76,000 in 1850 to 530,000 by 1859.
Australia eventually divided into several states and territories.
So, we now have the states of New South Wales ( Capital: Sydney ), Victoria ( capital: Melbourne ), South Australia ( Capital: Adelaide ), Queensland ( Capital, Brisbane ), The Island of Tasmania ( Capital: Hobart ), and the biggest state — Western Australia ( Capital : Perth ). And of course — One territory — the Northern Territories (Capital : Darwin ).
Wow. you wouldn’t believe what i’ve learned that past week alone on this site.
i didn’t know any of that. including Australia is a commonwealth of England. That’s very shocking. They seem to make decisions on their own.
I just found out that Russia and China had a skirmish once!!
I found out Vietnam is MUCH older than i thought.
and too much more to lsit.
oh, how the vikings had swords 1000 years ahead of their time and where they got them from
i could keep going lol
I can’t prove it but I’ve found the great masses of Australians to be of lower IQ than they average American.
Ahappy go lucky people for sure.
If you want to read some interesting history google Botany Bay and the Fields of Athenry.
Over 150,000 prisoners were sent to Australia by England. Some were children under the age of 10, some were elderly. Their crime: usually stealing food or small items. If they weren’t hanged they were put on a ship. Thousands were sent from Ireland during the famine.
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