Nations

Would you live in a happy, healthy, prosperous and educated country? Which countries do you think are the best to live in?

Well, Finland is the best nation in the world to live in, says a survey by Newsweek magazine.

Among the 100 countries surveyed, India ranks 78th, way behind countries like Singapore (rank 20), Malaysia (37) and Sri Lanka at 66, with a score of 55 on different parameters.

In India, the productivity growth per person is $3,100. Services account for about 53 per cent of the GDP. Manufacturing contributes only about 15 per cent of the GDP.

In terms of innovation, India scores 3.73. In ease of doing business, India is at an utterly poor 133rd position: it takes 30 days to start a new business in India.

The survey records an unemployment rate of 10.7 per cent in India, and the healthy life expectancy is 56 years.

A panel of economists and social policy experts formulated the world's best nations after measuring taking five parameters like economic competitiveness, quality of life, education, health, and political environment.

Of these India, scores the lowest in economic dynamism, says the Newsweek study.

Click NEXT to see the world's 10 best nations and the rankings of the United States, China and Pakistan . . .

1. Finland

The world's best nation to reside in, Finland, scores high on infrastructure, clean environment and education.

With a 100 per cent literacy rate, Finland tops the charts with a score of 89.

The productivity growth per person is $34,900. Services account for about 65 per cent of the GDP. Manufacturing contributes about 13 per cent of the GDP.

In terms of innovation, it scores 5.53. In ease of doing business, Finland ranks 16th: it takes 16 days to start a new business there.

Finland records an unemployment rate of 8.5 per cent. The healthy life expectancy there is 72 years.

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2. Switzerland

Switzerland has a good reputation on health, education and quality of life. It has a literacy rate of 99 per cent. The overall score stands at 89.

The productivity growth per person is $41,7000. Services account for about 71 per cent of the GDP. Manufacturing contributes about 16 per cent of the GDP.

In terms of innovation, it scores 5.56. In ease of doing business, Switzerland ranks at 21st: it takes 20 days to start a new business there.

Switzerland records a low unemployment rate of 4.4 per cent. The life expectancy is 75 years.

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3. Sweden

The world's third best nation to live does not really score too high on economic parameters, but scores the highest on the health and education (99 per cent literacy rate) with a life expectancy rate of 72 years.

The productivity growth per person is $36,800. Services account for about 71 per cent of the GDP. Manufacturing contributes about 11 per cent of the GDP.

In terms of innovation, it scores 5.39. In ease of doing business, Sweden ranks 18th: it takes 15 days to start a new business there.

Sweden records an unemployment rate of about 9.3 per cent.

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Johan Nilsson/Reuters

4. Australia

Australia is best known for its high standard of education and health services. With a literacy rate of 100 per cent, the country has a score of 87.

The productivity growth per person is $38,800. Services account for about 68 per cent of the GDP, while manufacturing contributes about 17 per cent of the GDP.

In terms of innovation, it scores 4.43. In ease of doing business, the country ranks 9th: it takes just 2 days to start a new business there!

Australia records an unemployment rate of a low 5.3 per cent.

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5. Luxembourg

The world's fifth best nation to reside in, Luxembourg, scores quite high when it comes to per capita income, quality of life, and health.

The country boasts of 100% literacy, has a highs core of 87 among the 100 nations surveyed.

The productivity growth per person is an impressively high $50,300. While services account for about 84 per cent of the GDP, manufacturing contributes about 14 per cent of the GDP.

In terms of innovation, it scores 4.31. In ease of doing business, the country ranks at 64th: it takes 24 days to start a new business in Luxembourg.

The European nation records an unemployment rate of 6.8 per cent.

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6. Norway

Norway ranks high in terms of economy, health and quality of life. It also has a 100 per cent literacy rate.

The overall score stands at a high of 87. The productivity growth per person is $36,800. While services account for about 53 per cent of the GDP, manufacturing contributes about 13 per cent of the GDP.

In terms of innovation, it scores 4.53. In ease of doing business, the country ranks 10th; it takes only 7 days to start a new business.

Norway records a very low unemployment rate of 3.2 per cent.

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7. Canada

Canada ranks quite high in terms of economy, per capita income, health and education. It also has a 99 per cent literacy rate taking the overall score to 87.

The productivity growth per person is $38,400. While services account for about 66 per cent of the GDP, manufacturing contributes about 11 per cent of the GDP.

The business-friendly nation scores 4.80 in innovation. In ease of doing business, the country ranks at the 8th position: it takes only 5 days to start a new business there.

Canada has a very low unemployment rate of just 3.2 per cent.

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8. The Netherlands

The Netherlands is known for high quality healthcare systems, education, literacy and an industrialised economy.

It also has a 99 per cent literacy rate taking the overall score to 86 among 100 nations.

The productivity growth per person is $39,200. While services account for about 73 per cent of the GDP, manufacturing contributes about 3 per cent of the GDP.

The business-friendly nation scores 4.79 in innovation. In ease of doing business, the country ranks 30th: it takes just 10 days to start a new business there.

The Netherlands records a low unemployment rate of 5 per cent.

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9. Japan

Japan, an Asian economic giant, scores 100 on health and has a literacy rate of 99% taking the overall score to 85.

The productivity growth per person in Japan is $32,600. While services account for about 69.30 per cent of the GDP, manufacturing contributes a high of 21 per cent of the GDP.

Japan scores 5.51 in terms of innovation. In ease of doing business, the country ranks 15th: it takes 23 days to start a new business.

The country records a low unemployment rate of 5.6 per cent.

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10. Denmark

Denmark ranks high on quality of life, health and education. It has a literacy rate of 99 per cent. The overall score stands at 85.

The productivity growth per person is $36,000. Services account for about 73 per cent of the GDP. Manufacturing contributes about 20 per cent of the GDP.

In terms of innovation, it scores 5.04. In ease of doing business, the nation ranks 6th: it takes only 6 days to start a new business there.

Denmark records a low unemployment rate of 4.3 per cent. The healthy life expectancy is 72 years.

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11. The United States of America

The United States is the 11th best nation to live in, scoring high on economic dynamism, health and education.

The US has a literacy rate of 99 per cent. The productivity growth per person is a high $46,400. Services account for about 77 per cent of the GDP. Manufacturing contributes about 18.46 per cent of the GDP.

In terms of innovation, it scores a high of 5.77. In ease of doing business, the US ranks 4th: it takes only 6 days to start a new business.

America records a low unemployment rate of 4.3 per cent despite having been battered by the two-year recession that ravaged its economy. The healthy life expectancy is 70 years.

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59. China

China ranks high on economy, health and education. Yet, its overall rank is 59th with a score of 62.

China has a literacy rate of 91 per cent. The productivity growth per person is $6,600. Services account for about 40 per cent of the GDP. Manufacturing contributes about 26 per cent of the GDP.

In terms of innovation, it scores 3.93. In ease of doing business, the nation is way down at the 89th position: it takes about 37 days to start a new business there.

China records a low unemployment rate of 4.3 per cent. The healthy life expectancy is 66 years.

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89. Pakistan

Ranked 89th among the 100 nations surveyed, Pakistan has an overall score of 47.

Its literacy rate is 50 per cent. The productivity growth per person is $2,600. Services account for about 53 per cent of the GDP. Manufacturing contributes about 34 per cent of the GDP.

In terms of innovation, it scores a low 2.98. In ease of doing business, the nation is way down at 85th position: it takes 20 days to start a new business there.

India's neighbour records one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, at 15.2 per cent. The life expectancy is 55 years.