Editor’s note: This article was first published in May 2013 and is based on that year’s OECD Better Life Index; the incomes, working hours, percentages and life expectancies it cites are 2013 figures, and the index has been updated many times since.
Yesterday we published the 10 countries with the highest quality of life. Continuing with the OECD report, today we publish the 10 countries with the worst quality of life according to the same criteria, which are income, housing, jobs, community, education, environment, civic engagement, health, life satisfaction, safety and work-life balance. I must say that I do not entirely agree with the ranking: not every country that should be on it is, and not every country on it should be.
10. South Korea
With average household income of $17,337, South Koreans have a reputation for being very hard-working. So much so that they are on the verge of burnout, working an average of 2,090 hours, well above the OECD average of 1,776 hours. Air pollution is high, with airborne particles that can get into the lungs and damage them.
9. Portugal
Average income of $19,336. There is a big gap between the richest and the poorest Portuguese: the top 20% earn six times as much as the bottom 20%. Only 32% of adults have completed secondary education, and voter turnout is among the lowest, at 58%, a sign of discontent with, and/or apathy towards, the political class.
8. Hungary
Purchasing power is low, with average income of $13,858. Only 58% of adults aged 16 to 64 have a paid job, even though 81% of adults have completed secondary education. Life expectancy is 75 years, below the OECD average. Only 69% of Hungarians say they have more positive than negative experiences in an average day.
7. Greece
Average income of $20,440. 65% of Greek adults have completed secondary education. The report does not say so, but what is undermining the mood of the Greeks is high unemployment and the current economic situation, caused by disproportionate austerity; for now, they see a very dark future.
6. Estonia
Average income of 12,800. Despite efforts to improve people’s quality of life, Estonia’s main problem is the population’s low purchasing power. 69% of the population say they have more positive than negative experiences in an average day.
5. Russia
Russian life expectancy has fallen to 70 years. Voter turnout in Russia is 65%, below the OECD average of 72%.
4. Brazil
Average income of $23,047. According to the OECD, Brazilians show a high level of satisfaction with their lives. 68% of adults have a paid job, and 12% of citizens say they work more hours than they should. One of Brazil’s biggest concerns is public safety.
3. Chile
Chile has the lowest average income of the countries analysed, at just $11,039. There is a huge gap between the richest and the poorest: the top 20% of earners make 13 times as much as the bottom 20%. According to the report, Chile also has high levels of air pollution.
2. Mexico
Average income of $12,732. Despite a huge effort over the last decade, only 60% of Mexican adults have a paid job, and they work very long hours, more even than South Koreans: 2,250 hours a year, far above the OECD average of 1,776. Despite improvements in education, Mexico has one of the lowest shares of adults with secondary education: only 36%.
1. Turkey
Average income of $23,047. For the second year in a row, Turkey tops the OECD ranking as the country with the worst quality of life. Only 31% of adults have completed secondary education and just 48% of adults have a paid job. Overall life satisfaction is low.
Further reading
Featured image: MySociety, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
