Is Ireland really the best place to live in the world?

Question

Here was the Economist's listing of the best places to live in the world:

1 Ireland

2 Switzerland

3 Norway

4 Luxembourg

5 Sweden

6 Australia

7 Iceland

8 Italy

9 Denmark

10 Spain

Do you agree? I'm especially curious to hear from people living in one of these 'top 10' countries.

Answer 1

I was raised in england, my mother is irish and moved back there in 2000, before the change to the euro, changing to the one currency for all has definately helped all nations attatched to it.  I lived in Ireland for a year while waiting for my visa to come to live with my girlfriend in america.

I am taking my family back to ireland next year, we live in michigan here and there are no jobs and healthcare costs are astronomical in america if your job doesnt provide good coverage, we thought of moving into the west a little more but its going to cost just as much moving there as moving to ireland.

i have a job waiting in ireland that pays four times what i get in america, my wife wont have to work so can raise our children, public transportation in ireland is still poor compared to other european nations but far better then american, better school system and no pressure on children to do well in sports over academics.

Ireland definately is the place to be right now.

Answer 2

I was born in Ireland and I've lived there all my life. haha cant believe it made number one! its a great place, there's lovely people and all but its always raining and it can be really expensive. I think every country has its good and bad points though...I'm fairly happy where I live but I cant wait to travel the rest of the world when I finish school. I always wanted to live in america so I'll definitely spend some time there but I'll probably return to Ireland when I want to settle down...

Answer 3

none of them, kuwait is the best place to live in.

Answer 4

I lived in Ireland for 13 years and i couldn't have asked for a better country to have raised my children(well their younger years any way).We are now living in Australia.I am Australian,and my husband and children are all Irish.I would have stayed in Ireland but it is a very expensive place to live now.We sold our house in Ireland.it was a terraced house very small and pokie.If we had of stayed in Ireland we would have had 10 years left on our mortgage,but what was left after owing the bank after the sale of our house we were able to buy a  brand new 6 bedroom house here without no new mortgage.Plus if we had of stayed in Ireland I wouldn't have been able to go home that often,as flights from Ireland and peoples wages and house hold expenses don't leave enough left over to save for trips overseas to Australia that often.we have only been in Australia 9 months,and we have already gone back and we are all going back again in April.But it's the simple things that I love about Ireland in which you don't really get here in Australia,like the neighbourly feel that you get in Ireland.Your neighbours are more like family members more than neighbours .Hope I was of some help.Take care.

Answer 5

Canada

Answer 6

I'm living in Ireland now, and I also spent some years in Switzerland and Luxemburg.

I can't decide between Switzerland and Luxemburg, but at least in terms of public service, especially health care, they are both better than Ireland, and the weather is much better.

What I like about Ireland are the people, despite the weather, the non-existant public transport, and the waiting lists, they make the place worth while, but that was certainly not a criterion for the Economist.

Ireland might be the best place for rich people, but I'm certain ordinary people are better off in Switzerland or Luxemburg.