Australia has long been viewed as home to some of the most liveable cities and most beautiful beaches but now our nation has clinched the 4th spot in a ranking of best countries in the world.

Based on global opinion, US News & World Report along with marketing company WPP and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania ranked Australia number 4 on the list behind only Switzerland, Canada, Sweden, and the USA rounding out the top 5 places.

Australia also jumped 3 spots in the overall rankings from last year.

87 countries were ranked based on 73 attributes which were broken down into 10 sub-categories: adventure, agility, cultural influence, entrepreneurship, heritage, movers, open for business, power, quality of life, and social purpose.

Australia achieved an overall score of 97.6 while ranking in 1st place as the world’s friendliest country, 3rd for agility, and 8th for adventure and quality of life.

Australia also scored in 3rd place for a comfortable retirement, 6th for solo travel, and 8th for education.

Top 10 countries in the world

Switzerland has retained its top spot for the second year in a row and the 6th time overall.

The small, landlocked country is followed by Canada (2nd), Sweden (3rd), Australia (4th), and the United States (5th).

In fact, European countries made up the majority of the top 25, holding 16 spots in the 2023 rankings.

Germany saw the largest fall among these leading nations, down five spots since 2022, while Australia and New Zealand saw the largest increases, both up three spots year over year.

The only country in the Middle East to make the top 25 was the United Arab Emirates, while Asia was represented by Japan, Singapore, China, and South Korea.

Here are the top 10 best countries in the world:

1. Switzerland
2. Canada
3. Sweden
4. Australia
5. United States
6. Japan
7. Germany
8. New Zealand
9. United Kingdom
10. Netherlands

10 lowest ranking countries in the world

While there were many notable climbs in this year's leader table, there were also many falls.

South America also saw some notable shifts, with Colombia (60th) dipping eight spots, and Uruguay (57th) climbing eight spots.

Several European countries also had noticeable year-on-year declines.

Latvia saw the most noticeable drop, down eight spots to 72nd and Denmark and France both fell three spots, leaving the top 10 and Germany slipped to 7th place.

After Ukraine’s move up nine positions in 2022, it moved back down six positions in 2023, landing in 68th place.

Three of Ukraine’s regional allies – Lithuania, Poland, and Romania – also saw their rankings fall year over year, though all three countries still sit higher than they did prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

For its part, Russia continued its drop in the rankings, slipping one spot to 37th after seeing one of the largest drops (-12) in the project’s history last year.

While three of Russia’s allies – Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan – saw their rankings fall significantly between 2021 and 2022 and have not notably recovered, as they remain in the bottom five of the 87 countries ranked.

Here are the 10 Lowest-Ranked countries in the world:

1. Cameroon
2. Algeria
3. Myanmar
4. Honduras
5. Serbia
6. Uzbekistan
7. Kazakhstan
8. Lebanon
9. Belarus
10. Iran

Investors need to remind themselves

This ranking for 2023 should serve as a reminder for investors that Australia is going to remain a preferred destination for immigrants from all around the world, which will underpin our long-term population growth which will in turn drive our housing markets.

The findings also highlight the importance of lifestyle locations when it comes to choosing an investment property.

Beauty, amenities, services, and walkability are all key factors that help set a high-value investment-grade suburb apart from the rest.

After all, it’s all about the lifestyle and what we call a 20-minute neighbourhood.

Buyers are willing to pay a premium for properties that are within walking distance of, or a short trip to, a great shopping strip, your favourite coffee shop, amenities, the beach, and a great park.

And as a result, these are the type of neighbourhoods that investors and wannabe homeowners are flocking to.

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

One study has ranked the the working culture of the 60 highest GDP nations around the world – how does your home country compare?

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Stressed about your office commute? Burnt out from long weeks at your desk? Maybe a move is on the cards. Remote, a global HR platform used by some of the world’s largest brands, has studied the working culture of the 60 highest GDP nations around the world, to highlight countries that seemingly get it right when it comes to a healthy life-work balance. While you’re more likely to see the term styled as ‘work-life balance’, the stylistic choice here reflects Remote’s view that this is a miscalculation – “the attitude should be life first, work second”.

Remote’s study factors in statutory annual leave, minimum statutory sick pay percentage, paid maternity leave and payment rate, minimum wage, healthcare system, happiness index, average hours worked per week, and LGBTQ+ inclusivity. Below are the 10 countries in the world right now that strike the balance perfectly.

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  10. Brazil

  Index score: 67.73 What would you expect from a country synonymous with carnival culture? While millions of tourists visit Brazil every year to experience the ultimate Latin American parties, it seems the life-work balance isn’t too bad for Brazilians year-round. There’s a generous rate of sick and maternity pay, plus a government-funded universal healthcare system.
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  9. Canada

  Index score: 67.91 Inclusivity is a major draw for workers looking to set up a new life in Canada, and the world’s second-largest country by land area consistently tops the rankings when it comes to LGBTQ+-friendliness. Unlike neighbouring Americans, Canadians benefit from a universal healthcare system, and cities such as Toronto are popular among remote workers looking to enjoy city life on their own time and terms.
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  8. United Kingdom

  Index score: 69.07 Thanks to a world-renowned national health service, a decent minimum wage, and one of the world’s most generous maternity leave setups, the United Kingdom comes in at number eight. Workers in the UK clock up just 25.6 hours at work per week on average (full- and part-time workers combined) – the joint-shortest working week of any country on the list.
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  7. Netherlands

  Index score: 69.14 It’s a city break favourite among Brits – and now The Netherlands is one of the best countries in the world for a beneficial life-work balance. While some of the deciding factors come in about average, there’s a generous rate of maternity pay for parents, and overall quality of life is consistently high.
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  6. Norway

  Index score: 73.05 Denmark’s more northerly neighbour, Norway, just missed out on a top-five spot. Workers in Norway benefit from much of the same as their Danish counterparts, from generous annual leave allowances to government-funded healthcare and education. Long working weeks are rare, meaning all the more time to explore all that Oslo and beyond have to offer.
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  5. Denmark

  Index score: 73.67 Denmark ranks just behind Finland on the happiness index, so expect smiles all around. Thanks to high tax rates, workers benefit from generous annual leave policies, full sick pay, and universal healthcare and education. It’s also one of Europe’s most inclusive countries and notoriously LGBTQ+-friendly. Our take? Copenhagen’s fashionable streets await.
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  4. Australia

  Index score: 73.71 Year-round sunshine, friendly faces, some of the best beaches in the world – and a laidback culture that’s reflected in the country’s life-work balance. It’s no surprise that Australia ranks among the top five in the world and continues to attract tens of thousands of Brits each year. While some visit for a few years on a gap year-style break or sabbatical, many others stick around, enticed by a decent minimum wage, a high happiness index ranking, and all the benefits that the funded healthcare system brings.
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  3. France

  Index score: 75.34 Coming in at number three is France and, in turn, a masterclass in life-work balance from one of the most populated European countries. The French have a notoriously healthy attitude to separating work and play, but it comes at no detriment to the economy – France currently has the seventh-highest GDP in the world. While the City of Light is a popular choice for relocating workers, there are hundreds of smaller villages and towns offering a slower pace of life altogether.
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  2. Spain

  Index score: 75.55 Is there anything more quintessentially Spanish than the afternoon siesta? While a midday snooze isn’t part of everyday life in the cities' corporate hubs, the Spanish evidently know how to strike the right balance between business and pleasure. Best of all, Madrid is one of Europe’s most exciting cultural hubs, meaning there’s always something to do when the laptop is tucked away after another working week.

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1. New Zealand

Index score: 79.35

New Zealand takes the top spot in Remote’s ranking of the best countries in the world for a life-work balance. Kiwis enjoy a generous annual leave allowance and a high minimum wage, while new mothers benefit from 26 weeks of paid maternity leave. With this in mind, it’s little surprise that the country is as popular a destination as ever among Brits looking to carve out a new life overseas. After all, where better to relocate to than the country full of those incredible Lord of the Rings backdrops.

What is the

1 country in the world to live in?

Comparison table of the best countries to live in.

Which country is No 1 in world?

Top 10 Biggest economies of the world.

What country has the highest Quality of Life?

That being said, Sweden did rank

1 for Quality of Life, according to U.S. News, with Norway a close second and Canada coming in at third.

Which country is number 1 in standard of living?

Sweden. Sweden is known worldwide for taking care of its citizens, and in September of 2023, it was announced by CNBC as the best country in the world to live in. As well as an amazing infrastructure, Sweden is known for its free college education, and has one of the longest life expectancies at 82.8 years.