The United Nations has just released its 2015 Human Development Index (HDI), which measures countries in three basic areas -- life expectancy, education and income/standard of living. New Zealand tied with Canada as the 9th best place to live, with an overall score of 0.913. Average life expectancy at birth is 81.8 years, while the GNI per capita is $32,689.
9. New Zealand —
The United Nations has just released its 2015 Human Development Index (HDI), which measures countries in three basic areas -- life expectancy, education and income/standard of living. New Zealand tied with Canada as the 9th best place to live, with an overall score of 0.913. Average life expectancy at birth is 81.8 years, while the GNI per capita is $32,689.
Dean Tremel/AFP/Getty Images
Tying with New Zealand, Canada also has a final score of 0.913. Its life expectancy at birth average is 82 years, while its gross national income (GNI) per capita is $42,155.
9. Canada —
Tying with New Zealand, Canada also has a final score of 0.913. Its life expectancy at birth average is 82 years, while its gross national income (GNI) per capita is $42,155.
Canadian Tourism Commission
The UN's HDI covers 188 countries and territories. The U.S. came in at 8th with an overall score of 0.915. Its life expectancy at birth average is 79.1 years, while the GNI per capita is $52,947.
8. United States —
The UN's HDI covers 188 countries and territories. The U.S. came in at 8th with an overall score of 0.915. Its life expectancy at birth average is 79.1 years, while the GNI per capita is $52,947.
There's a tie for sixth spot as well. Ireland's final score on the index is 0.916. Average life expectancy at birth is 80.9 years, while the GNI is $43,919 per capita.
6. Ireland —
There's a tie for sixth spot as well. Ireland's final score on the index is 0.916. Average life expectancy at birth is 80.9 years, while the GNI is $43,919 per capita.
Tourism Ireland
Also in sixth place with a score of 0.916 -- Germany. Life expectancy at birth: 80.9 years. Its GNI per capita is $43,919.
6. Germany —
Also in sixth place with a score of 0.916 -- Germany. Life expectancy at birth: 80.9 years. Its GNI per capita is $43,919.
Wolfgang Scholvien
The HDI was launched in 1990. According to the UN, it was created to emphasize that expanding human choices should be the ultimate criteria for assessing development results -- not just economic growth. Netherlands, with a score of 0.922, was found to be the world's 5th most liveable place.
5. Netherlands —
The HDI was launched in 1990. According to the UN, it was created to emphasize that expanding human choices should be the ultimate criteria for assessing development results -- not just economic growth. Netherlands, with a score of 0.922, was found to be the world's 5th most liveable place.
AFP/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Coming in at fourth, Denmark's HDI score is 0.923. Citizens born there have a life expectancy of 80.2 years.
4. Denmark —
Coming in at fourth, Denmark's HDI score is 0.923. Citizens born there have a life expectancy of 80.2 years.
VisitDenmark
"The HDI can also be used to question national policy choices, asking how two countries with the same level of [Gross National Income] per capita can end up with different human development outcomes," said the report. Of the top 10, Switzerland has the highest life expectancy from birth -- an average of 83.0 years.
3. Switzerland —
"The HDI can also be used to question national policy choices, asking how two countries with the same level of [Gross National Income] per capita can end up with different human development outcomes," said the report. Of the top 10, Switzerland has the highest life expectancy from birth -- an average of 83.0 years.
Courtesy Geneva Tourism
Australia, with a final score of 0.935, is the world's second best place to live according to the UN. Its life expectancy at birth rate is 82.4 years. The country earned high marks for education, with the average citizen getting at least 13 years of schooling.
2. Australia —
Australia, with a final score of 0.935, is the world's second best place to live according to the UN. Its life expectancy at birth rate is 82.4 years. The country earned high marks for education, with the average citizen getting at least 13 years of schooling.
Glenn Hunt/Getty Images
For the 12th year in a row, Norway topped the UN's HDI. Though the country doesn't have the highest life expectancy at birth average (81.6 years), it does have the highest GNI per capita of all other countries in the top 10 -- $64,992.
1. Norway —
For the 12th year in a row, Norway topped the UN's HDI. Though the country doesn't have the highest life expectancy at birth average (81.6 years), it does have the highest GNI per capita of all other countries in the top 10 -- $64,992.
ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/GETTY
World's most livable country? Still Norway

Story highlights

Norway topped the UNDP most livable country list for the 12th year in a row

The United States came in eighth, while the highest ranking Asian nation was Singapore

CNN  — 

When it comes to health and prosperity, there’s no topping Norway.

For the 12th year in a row, the land of lefse and lutefisk has earned the number one spot on the United Nations’ 2015 Human Development Index (HDI), released as part of its annual Human Development Report.

The HDI measures countries in three basic areas – life expectancy, education and income/standard of living.

Norway earned high marks in all areas to get an overall score of 0.944. Its life expectancy at birth is 81.6 years, while its gross national income (GNI) per capita is $64,992.

Rounding out the top five are: Australia (0.935), Switzerland (0.930), Denmark (0.923) and the Netherlands (0.922).

Libya, Syria: Steepest drops

The HDI covers 188 countries and territories. This year’s index has one new addition – South Sudan.

According to the UN, the HDI – launched in 1990 – is intended to emphasize that expanding human choices should be the ultimate criteria for assessing development results.

“Economic growth is a mean to that process, but is not an end by itself,” said the report.

“The HDI can also be used to question national policy choices, asking how two countries with the same level of [Gross National Income] per capita can end up with different human development outcomes.”

The countries with the steepest drops on the 2015 HDI are Libya, which slipped 27 places and Syria, which fell 15 places.

The bottom five countries are Niger (0.348), Central African Republic (0.350), Eritrea (0.391), Chad (0.392) and Burundi (0.400).

“This new global Human Development Report is an urgent call to tackle one of the world’s great development challenges – providing enough decent work and livelihoods for all,” said Helen Clark, United Nations Development Program Administrator, during the launch of this year’s report.

“The world of work is changing more rapidly than ever before. The question is: what are the best policy responses to ensure that human development benefits from that change?”

Human Development Index top 20

1. Norway

2. Australia

3. Switzerland

4. Denmark

5. Netherlands

6. Germany

6. Ireland

8. United States

9. Canada

9. New Zealand

11. Singapore

12. Hong Kong, China (SAR)

13. Liechtenstein

14. Sweden

14. United Kingdom

16. Iceland

17. South Korea

18. Israel

19. Luxembourg

20. Japan