When I praise Finland being the best countries in the world in some aspects, some others reply that how is that possible. "Finland is cold, boring and crappy in every way with miserable suicidial people" they say.
Well, here's some food for thought:
Finland is the most stable country in the world.
The Fund for Peace, Fragile States Index 2016
Finland is the safest country in the world.
World Economic Forum, Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2015: Finland
Finland has the best governance in the world.
Legatum Institute, The Legatum Prosperity Index 2016: Finland
Finland has the least organised crime in the world.
World Economic Forum, The Global Competitiveness Report 2016–2017: Organized crime
Finland’s judicial system is the most independent in the world.
World Economic Forum, The Global Competitiveness Report 2016–2017: Judicial independence
Next to Danes, Finns vote in the freest and most reliable elections.
University of Sydney and Harvard University, The Electoral Integrity Project, The year in elections 2015
Finland has the second least corruption in the world.
Transparency International, Corruption Perceptions Index 2015
Finland has the best press freedom in the world.
Reporters Without Borders, 2016 World Press Freedom Index
Finland is the fourth best country in social progress in the world.
The Social Progress Imperative, Social Progress Index: Finland
Finland is the third best country in adhering to the rule of law in the world.
The World Justice Project, Rule of Law Index 2016
Next to Denmark, Finland is the best country in protecting fundamental human rights in the world.
The World Justice Project, Rule of Law Index 2016
Finland is the fifth happiest country in the world.
World Economic Forum, The world's happiest countries in 2016
Finns are the second most satisfied with their life among Europeans.
Eurostat, Percentage of the population rating their satisfaction as high, medium or low
Finns' trust in the police is the highest, in the political system the second highest and in the legal system the third highest in Europe.
Eurostat, Average rating of trust
Finns' trust in other people is the second highest in Europe.
Eurostat, Average rating of trust
In Finland, consumers' confidence in the economy is strongest in Europe.
European Commission, Business and consumer survey results
Finland is the second most gender equal country in the world.
World Economic Forum, Global Gender Gap Index 2016
Finland has the smallest difference in the employment rates of women and men in EU countries.
Eurofound, The gender employment gap: Challenges and solutions
Finland has the most female ministers and the second most female MPs in OECD countries.
OECD, Government at a Glance 2015: Women in politics
Finland has the fourth lowest poverty rate in OECD countries.
OECD, Society at a Glance 2016: Poverty
Finland has the fifth lowest income differences in OECD countries.
OECD, Society at a Glance 2016: Income inequality
Finland leads a comparison describing the development and state of the environment in the world.
Yale University, Environmental performance index
Finland's water consumption in relation to renewable water resources is the fifth lowest in the world.
C. Kroll, Sustainable Development Goals: Are the rich countries ready? (Bertelmann Stiftung 2015)
Finland has the most human capital in the world.
World Economic Forum, The Human Capital Report: Human Capital Index 2016
Finland's primary education is the best in the world.
World Economic Forum, The Global Competitiveness Report 2016-2017: Primary Education
Finland ranks as the top OECD country in education.
OECD, Better Life Index: Education
Finland is the most literate country in the world.
J. W. Miller and M. C. McKenna, World's Most Literate Nations: Rank Breakdown
Finland is the third in the world in an innovation comparison.
World Economic Forum, The Global Competitiveness Report 2016-2017: Innovation
Finland has the second lowest inequality among children in the world.
UNICEF,
Fairness for Children: A league table of inequality in child well-being in rich countries
Finland is the second best country to be a girl in the world.
Save the Children, Every last girl: Girl’s opportunity index
Young people (aged 11 to 15) in Finland are the fourth satisfied with their life among young people in welfare countries.
UNICEF, Child Well-being in Rich Countries: A comparative overview
Finnish fourth graders' knowledge of science is the second best in OECD countries.
M. O. Mullis, I. V. S. Mullis, P. Foy and M. Hooper, TIMSS 2015 International Results in Science
Finns aged 15 are among OECD countries the 2nd best in literacy and the 3rd best in science.
Ministry of Education and Culture, PISA 2015: Finnish youth still at the top despite the drop
Finland is among the world’s top 20 countries in life expectancy at birth. Differences at the top are small.
WHO, Life expectancy
Mothers' and children's well-being in Finland is the second best in the world.
Save the Children, State of the World´s Mothers 2015, 16th annual report
Finland has the world's third lowest infant mortality rate (deaths at the age of under one year).
UN, SDG Indicators, Infant mortality rate
The second lowest number of children weighing under 2.5 kg are born in Finland in OECD countries.
OECD, Health at a Glance 2015. Infant health: Low birth weight
Finland has the third lowest total mortality from cancer in OECD countries.
OECD, Health at a glance 2015. Mortality from cancer
Finnish banks are the soundest in the world.
World Economic Forum, The Global Competitiveness Report 2016-2017: Soundness of banks
Finland has the most forests in Europe.
FAO, Global Forest Resources Assessment
Finland has the third most space per person in Europe.
Eurostat, Population density, persons per km²
Finns are the second biggest library users in Europe.
The European Bureau of Library, Public Libraries – Statistics
Finland has the most wireless mobile broadband subscriptions per 100 persons in OECD countries.
OECD, Wireless mobile broadband subscriptions
Finns drink most coffee per person in the world.
International Coffee Organization, Coffee Trade Statistics
Finnish adults' English skills are the fifth best in a comparison of 72 countries.
Education First (EF), The world's largest ranking of countries by English skills
Finland is the third best travel destination in the world in 2017.
Lonely Planet, Best in Travel 2017: Top Countries
Sure, there are warmer and sunnier countries, but I think we have some redeeming qualities compared to say..... hmm, Portugal.
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perfect!
