The Best Countries to Live in Europe
“Best place to live” usually means a balance of cost, income, safety, health and wellbeing rather than any single number. Below, 30 European countries are ranked on livability score straight from Eurostat, best to worst. Sweden ranks 7th of 30 European countries, and the full table plus what it means for a move are laid out underneath.
The ranking
The Best Countries to Live in Europe, ranked
| # | Country | Livability score 0–100 |
Life satisfaction /10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Switzerland | 77 | 7.7 |
| 2 | Netherlands | 73 | 7.6 |
| 3 | Ireland | 66 | 7.6 |
| 4 | Czechia | 64 | 7.4 |
| 5 | Norway | 64 | 7.7 |
| 6 | Iceland | 63 | 8.1 |
| 7 | Sweden | 61 | 7.4 |
| 8 | Cyprus | 59 | 7.4 |
| 9 | Luxembourg | 59 | 7.4 |
| 10 | Malta | 59 | 7.6 |
| 11 | Denmark | 57 | 7.7 |
| 12 | Poland | 57 | 7.7 |
Top 12 of 30 European countries shown. Livability score is the average percentile rank across price level, net salary, life satisfaction, life expectancy, employment and safety.
The leaders
Who comes top, and where Sweden lands
Switzerland tops the table at 77 , ahead of Netherlands (73) and Ireland (66). At the other end, Latvia sits at 22, which gives a sense of the full European spread. Sweden ranks 7th of 30 European countries, so it is well placed on this particular measure.
1. Switzerland (77): among Europe’s strongest on this measure, with life satisfaction at 7.7 /10.
2. Netherlands (73): at the sharp end of the table, with life satisfaction at 7.6 /10.
3. Ireland (66): near the very top, with life satisfaction at 7.6 /10.
4. Czechia (64): one of the front-runners, with life satisfaction at 7.4 /10.
5. Norway (64): at the sharp end of the table, with life satisfaction at 7.7 /10.
Sweden’s livability score of 61 sits below front-runner Switzerland’s 77; 7th place reflects where its strengths and weaknesses net out across the six indicators.
How to read it
What this ranking does and does not tell you
Read the table as a shortlist tool rather than a final answer. A blended score smooths over trade-offs, so a country can rank high overall yet be a poor fit for your specific priorities; treat it as a starting shortlist, not a verdict.
A ranking like this narrows the field; it does not pick your destination. Once you have a shortlist, compare the real cost and pay figures side by side, starting with our cost of living in Sweden page if Sweden is in the running.
Practical guides
Setting up life in Sweden
Decided on Sweden? These are the practical set-up steps for week one.
Common questions
FAQ
Which European country is the best to live in?
On this data it is Switzerland (77). The rest of the top ten and the full ranking are in the table above.
How is this ranking calculated?
By averaging each country’s percentile rank across six Eurostat indicators: price level, net salary, life satisfaction, life expectancy, employment and safety. See the methodology for datasets and years.
Where does Sweden rank?
Sweden ranks 7th of 30 European countries with a livability score of 61.
Is Switzerland really the best to live in in Europe?
On the latest Eurostat figures, yes: Switzerland records 77, the highest of 30 countries measured. Positions can shift slightly year to year as the data updates.
Does this cover countries outside the EU?
It includes all EU members plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, wherever Eurostat reports the indicator.
Should I choose a country on this alone?
No. A blended score smooths over trade-offs, so a country can rank high overall yet be a poor fit for your specific priorities; treat it as a starting shortlist, not a verdict. Use it to build a shortlist, then compare cost of living, salaries and tax for the places that make your list.
What does it cost to live in Sweden?
See our full cost of living in Sweden guide for prices, salaries, tax and quality of life against the EU average.
Source: Eurostat (latest available years). National averages. See the methodology for datasets and definitions.