So what's the best country in the world for IT?

And how about for living? Not what you'd expect

By Kieren McCarthy, 10th July 2001

Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Backup/Recovery

A new report by the UN has ranked the top 20 countries in the world for both technology and comfort of living. At there are some shock entries.

Canadians will know all about the UN Human Development Report because every time we have a slight dig, they inform us that Canada is officially the best place in the world to live. It has been for the last six years. Well, not no more. But to IT first.

It may be impossible for our Yankee cousins to imagine, but you are not the world's leading country when it comes to technology. Okay, you're second, but top spot actually goes to Finland, which is pumping out more cutting-edge and hi-tech goods than they know what to do with. It may have something to do with the high price of beer.

Third comes Scandinavian cousin Sweden - which has also used phone technology to shoot out in front. Then fourth Japan, of course. Followed by Korea - which is booming on the back of semiconductors and cheap labour. The Netherlands made a surprising sixth and the good ole UK comes seventh. For the rest see down the bottom.

So where is the best place in the world to live? Believe it or not, Norway. Canada doesn't even come second, Australia does. Nope, it makes a disappointing third. Mind you, the UK comes in at a pathetic 14 - but then we live here, so we could have told you that. The US slips three places to number six, making Sweden fourth and Belgium fifth.

So seeing as we are IT journalists and like to have a nice time, The Register has decided to up sticks and relocate to Sweden. We can't understand a word of Swedish but who cares [insert gag here about blonde masseuses in a sauna]. ®

The full lists are as follows:

Best place for technology