France quality of life best in world

FRANCE has been named the best place in the world to live for the fifth year running, according to research by a US magazine.

International Living - which specialises in overseas relocations - ranked 194 countries around the world for its 2010 Quality of Life Index.

It gave France 82 points out of 100, followed by Australia in second place and Switzerland in third. The UK came 25th.

The index is based on official data covering nine criteria: cost of living, culture and leisure, economy, environment, freedom, health, infrastructure, safety and risk, and climate.

France got top marks for its healthcare system and freedom, and 92 out of 100 for infrastructure. It scored half marks for being an affordable place to live.

International Living publisher Jackie Flynn said: "I wish quality of life indicators could measure a country's heart and soul but it's impossible to enumerate the joy of lingering over dinner and a bottle of wine in a Parisian brasserie."

See the full league table here