Why Norwegians Have The Highest Standard Of Life In The World

What makes a country a great place to live in? According to the United Nations, a couple of things, among which include life expectancy, education, gender equality and financial wealth. As the 2016 Human Development Report was just published (hey, this amount of data takes time to accumulate and process) ranking the best countries in the world to live in, we were very surprised to see Norway on the first place for the 13th consecutive year. And by very surprised, we mean not surprised at all.

The 2016 Human Development Report

Let’s start with the good news first: based on the latest report findings, it looks like our world is slowly becoming a better place to live. In the past 25 years, over one billion people have risen out of extreme poverty (although of course, too many of our fellow humans still go to bed hungry every day). For 2016, the UN looked at nearly 200 countries trying to identify the ones where people live long, safe, healthy and happy lives. Key factors included access to free education, median income, low crime rates, low gender gap, low risk for deceases and overall healthcare system.

Scandinavian countries once again rank high

But what makes Norway so special?

Norway has a great life expectancy (82 years on average), thanks to the active Norwegian lifestyle, the diet that’s full of Omega−3 fatty acids (all that salmon is definitely good for you) and of course, a robust healthcare system that’s funded by the public. There are great educational opportunities, a low unemployment rate (the lowest in Scandinavia with 4.1%) and a total transparency when it comes to taxation that keeps companies accountable and forces them to offer fair salaries. Combine all the above, stir in with a few fjords and the breathtaking beauty of nature, and it’s not hard to see why this was Norway’s 13th consecutive year at the top of the list. Here’s to another 13 years.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.