Canada moves up to #4: United Nations

By Canadian Content Staff
July 17, 2004
Canada has recently moved up from its spot in the United Nations’ human development survey. Canada’s somewhat embarrassing position last year, 8, has improved greatly this year – now above the United States, but below Norway, Sweden and Australia.

The survey measures several factors on life in the country, but does not use income levels as a main source of measurement. Income levels alone usually determine the results of other surveys.

Canada’s world-renowned top position of the United Nations was rocked in 2001 after almost a decade (1992 – 2001) of being the “best country in the world to live in.” Since 2001, we have fallen in the rankings below even the United States for a couple of years.

Canada was ranked third place in 2001, continuing to drop another 5 positions to eighth position in 2003.

The reasons for Canada’s fall as the best place to live may be contributed in part by homeless issues, growing trends in poverty and the failure to improve life expectancy in some groups. Other factors may also be the fact that other countries, especially those part of the European Union, are actually improving the quality of life; very well contributing to their rise on the UN’s Report on Human Development.

On the bad side, our GDP remains virtually unchanged. Our poor are seeing their standard of living fall over the years and aboriginals see their overall living standards plummet.

On the good side, our life expectancy is the world’s highest at 79 years. We have moved ahead of the United States [again] in overall rankings and we’re getting again closer to our old number one spot.

The country’s overall position is tainted by high unemployment rates, compared to other overall high ranking countries. Some of the lowest unemployment rates are as follows: Iceland (3.6%), Japan (3.8%), Norway (4.4%), the Netherlands (4.8%) and Sweden (6.4%)… and Canada with around 9%.

Canada is also spending less on public education. This down to approx. 5.2% today from approx. 6.5% in 1990.

Overall, though, Canada does very well for its self. The UN has high regard for many of our liberal policies, allowing our First Nations to create their own government in the Northern territory of Nunavut and our continued top-10 placement in the UN’s list.


Top Ten Ranking Countries:
1. Norway
2. Sweden
3. Australia
4. Canada
5. The Netherlands
6. Belgium
7. Iceland
8. United States
9. Japan
10. Ireland


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