For the fourth year running, Norway heads the list of the UN ranking, which includes 177 countries. Norway is followed by Sweden, Australia, Canada and Holland.

Malta is preceded by Cyprus in 30th place, and followed by the Czech Republic in 32nd.

Of the new European Union members, Slovenia is the best placed, ranking 27th.

The other new EU members have the following ranking: Estonia (36), Poland (37), Hungary (38), Lithuania (41), Slovakia (42) and Latvia (50).

The ranking takes into account life expectancy, income and educational attainment.

About 30 nations were not included in the ranking because of insufficient data. The country in 177th place is Sierra Leone.