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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
A view of Basel in Switzerland.

The Economist Intelligence Unit attempts to measure which country will provide the best opportunities for a healthy, safe and prosperous life in the years ahead.

Its quality-of-life index links the results of subjective life-satisfaction surveys - how happy people say they are - to objective determinants of the quality of life across countries. Being rich helps more than anything else, but it is not all that counts; things like crime, trust in public institutions and the health of family life matter too, according to The Economist.

Let's take a look at 30 best countries to be born in.

Source: The Economist

Switzerland

Score: 8.22

Global rank: 1

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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
An outdoor shopping mall in Melbourne.

Australia

Score: 8.12

Global rank: 2

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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
People sunbathe in front of the Oslo Opera House.

Norway

Score: 8.09

Global rank: 3

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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
Children at a skateboard park in Stockholm.

Sweden

Score: 8.02

Global rank: 4

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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
Boats are seen anchored at the 17th century Nyhavn district, home to many shops and restaurants in Copenhagen.

Denmark

Score: 8.01

Global rank: 5

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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
An aerial view of Marina Bay and Central Business District in Singapore.

Singapore

Score: 8.00

Global rank: 6

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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
A fruit and vegetable market in Wellington.

New Zealand

Score: 7.95

Global rank: 7

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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
A Dutch tulip field in Noordwijk.

The Netherlands

Score: 7.94

Global rank: 8

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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
A worker cleans away snow around the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

Canada

Score: 7.81

Global rank: 9

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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
An aerial view showing the Legislative Council building, centre, in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong

Score: 7.80

Global rank: 10

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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
Tourists take part in the reindeer safari at Arctic Circle near Rovaniemi.

Finland

Score: 7.76

Global rank: 11

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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
A woman cycles past the 'Coffee To Get Her' restaurant near Dublin city centre. which becomes a bar and club in the evenings.

Ireland

Score: 7.74

Global rank: 12

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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
A view of Vienna International Center and UN headquarters.

Austria

Score: 7.73

Global rank: 13

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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
A view of Taipei 101.

Taiwan

Score: 7.67

Global rank: 14

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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
A view of Grand Place in Brussels.

Belgium

Score: 7.51

Global rank: 15

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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin.

Germany

Score: 7.38

Global rank: 16

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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge is seen from the 90th storey of One World Trade Center in New York.

The United States

Score: 7.38

Global rank: 17

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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
A view of Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

The United Arab Emirates

Score: 7.33

Global rank: 18

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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
Part of Gangnam area is seen down the Han River in Seoul.

South Korea

Score: 7.25

Global rank: 19

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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
A cafe in Tel Aviv.

Israel

Score: 7.23

Global rank: 20

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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
St Peter's Square in Rome.

Italy

Score: 7.21

Global rank: 21

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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
A view of Kuwait City.

Kuwait

Score: 7.18

Global rank: 22

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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
Santiago City.

Chile

Score: 7.10

Global rank: 23

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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
A view of Larnaca beach.

Cyprus

Score: 7.10

Global rank: 24

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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
A view of Tokyo.

Japan

Score: 7.08

Global rank: 25

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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
First Tower, France's tallest skyscraper at 231 metres (757 feet), in the business district of La Defense near Paris.

France

Score: 7.04

Global rank: 26

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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
Traffic on the road and the Thames passes the Houses of Parliament in London.

The United Kingdom

Score: 7.01

Global rank: 27

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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
Snow-covered city centre of the North Moravian town of Ostrava in the Czech Republic.

Czech Republic

Score: 6.96

Global rank: 28

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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
Tourists stroll along Barcelona's harbour.

Spain

Score: 6.96

Global rank: 29

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30 best countries in the world to be born in

Last updated on: December 11, 2012 07:01 IST
People gather around the Children's Museum which is decorated with Christmas lights in San Jose.

Costa Rica

Score: 6.92

Global rank: 30