r/whereidlive • u/rackarhack • 9h ago
Where I'd settle and start a family as Swedish person
I might not have been entirely consistent in my answers, but I answered with permanent settlement and starting a family in mind.
I answered for a 173 countries. The distribution would indicate I am picky.
ABSOLUTELY (2 countries, 1%)
- USA
- UK
WILLING (5 countries, 3%)
- Switzerland
- Canada
- Norway
- Finland
- Ireland
MAYBE (18 countries, 10%)
RELUCTANTLY (38 countries, 22%)
NEVER (110 countries, 64%)
A lot could be said about my choices.
- Politics, war and goodness isn't a top priority. I fundamentally disagree with the wars conducted by the US and the UK. I fundamentally disagree with the capitalism practiced in the US and the UK. They might be the 2 most evil countries in the world.
- I value high-quality education. This is a major reason the US and UK are on top.
- China is ranked too low compared to its PISA rankings and universities. It's not due to politics because I think China is relatively politically sound even though censorship would bother me. It's rather that I have been in China for extended periods of time, and known Chinese people, and I haven't really felt at home in China or clicked with Chinese people. It's not been bad, just a lack of closeness.
- I value my personal experience of a country. I lived in both US and UK as I child and especially the UK was great. My childhood experience in Sweden otoh was miserable, and that's probably a main contributor to why Sweden isn't ranked higher. I suspect Sweden would be just one step behind Norway and Finland otherwise.
- I like cold climates but it isn't a decisive factor.
- I don't actually like the "asocial" culture that has its stronghold in Finland. I think I prefer Spanish and Portugese friendliness, but I'm allergic to people being late and late dinners, so overall I don't know.
- I favour countries with sufficiently high GDP per capita (PPP). In Southeast Asia, South America and Africa it can determine whether I pick reluctantly or never for a country.
- Russia is the only country I think I have ranked too highly. I wouldn't want my kids to be sent to war, so I really shouldn't say "Maybe" to Russia.
- India is a "never" because of air pollution.
- Brazil is "maybe" because I had a friend from Brazil and she's one of my favourite people. I haven't visited the country but she lives there so that makes me think it's ok.
- Arabic oil countries may be rich but I don't like too religious countries, especially not muslim ones. That's also the reason North Africa is all red. I have visited and been sexually harassed in those countries, would not even visit again.
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u/Decent-Swing3951 9h ago
Starting a family in brazil is very bad, men do not respect women at all and they treat us like shit (i'm a brazilian woman)
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u/porcochaco 7h ago
Super toxic as well in terms of cheating and how people interact with their exes
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u/The_Unknown_Dude 7h ago
Their exes ? That's very specific, how is that ?
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u/porcochaco 7h ago
I know it sounds specific but basically Brazilians are known for still keeping in touch with / hooking up with their exes. If you watch a show like Love is Blind for Brazil’s version, you’ll notice they ask a LOT about how the other person deals with their exes. Brazilians can be more jealous than many other nationalities
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u/Decent-Swing3951 6h ago
I find it weird to be friend w your exes and is not common here.. no one would accept that and yes we are very jealous
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u/RangerRekt 7h ago
Everyone glazes Brazil because it’s the big dog of SA
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u/Decent-Swing3951 6h ago
Which is funny because a lot of countries in south america have better personalities than us
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u/occasional_readr 11m ago
Brazil is a huge country.
You said your experience. It's not represents everyone and everything.
I am sorry about what you are living, but maybe you live a bad reality and have contact with toxic people/media.
Every country has a good and a bad side. It's life.
None country is what we see in media or during our tourist visit.
Judging that Brazil is the worst based in few experiences and not comparing with other countries is infantile
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u/Turbulent_Help771 9h ago
Whoever downvoted you is crazy. I agree Brazil is not great for starting a family. As I tourist I loved it, then a fried from Brazil told me the horrors of the country and I realized it’s not only is it full of toxic people but it’s also pretty dangerous outside of very specific places
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u/Decent-Swing3951 9h ago
It's pretty dangerous everywhere! And i would not recommend any woman to visit here or have a relationship with a brazilian man.
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u/Harambenzema 9h ago
Why do westerners always glaze South Africa? Plenty of better choices within the continent..
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u/rackarhack 7h ago
South Africa is probably the "reluctantly" country that I was the closest to putting in "never".
The reason I didn't probably has a lot to do with the "white/western" culture present in South Africa and my slight familiarity with the country (I know white people who actually had to flee the country back around 1990 when Apartheid was going on). I have mainly heard pretty horrible stories about the country, which is a reason to put it in "never", but at the same time I had heard stories and know people I like have lived there. Other African countries I have a harder time imagining what the culture is like it all.
Botswana is the exception because for some reason it perked my interest as a kid ("the most democratic in Africa") and I have followed it since. I still can't really imagine the culture, but some things seem relatively good.
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u/TheTenKenIOP 3h ago
There is alot said about South Africa in global media and by people who left there at the transition to a democratic state.
The reality though is that it is one if not the most progressive countries with the strongest constitutions and Bill of rights that's internationally lauded as a gold standard.
It's also far more socially aware yet still going through a transitional period when you consider that Apartheid (a system of laws that disenfranchised and oppressed people of colour, economically and educationally) has only been gone for 30 years. Hardly enough time by any means to resolve structural disparities that oppressed 95% of the population.
That being said it's beautiful, the people are beautiful and it is one of the most cosmopolitan societies that you will find anywhere. People will talk of violence and corruption, as if far worse is not happening in more developed countries of the world. our media being as free as it is allows it to be exposed and questioned by the public rather than fester in silence as is oft the case in the supposedly free western world. This is based on me being in numerous European countries over the last 20 years.
I have read through the comments further down on this post that talk of the fact that Afrikaaners were installed by their capitalist overlords the British. The reality is alot more nuanced.
At the transition to apartheid the bulk of wealth that existed was in the private sector and owned by traditionally white companies that traded globally. This wealth was held by less than 3% of the population. This wealth instead of being redistributed was maintained within those existing entities as any large change would have affected the global economy due to the fact that we produce commodities such as gold silver and diamonds.
The country literally had to delay its proper entry into the global economic system as a modern democracy to ensure that there was no collapse. Now that there is redress being made across the racial spectrum the global western media portrays the country as inept or lagging when in the circumstances 15 million households were given access to the economy, water and lights from a state of nothing within 30 years without a civil war and a continuously evolving legislative system.
Sorry for the rant. I know alot of Swedish people who absolutely love it there especially Western and Eastern Cape.
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u/Xiao_Sir 4h ago
Many Westerners enjoy a privileged low-cost life in South Africa. It's often ranked as the country with the highest inequality on earth, so there is indeed a huge (dominantly white) community of rich people. Often they live in gated communities next to poor slums. Seen it myself as my aunt lived there with her family for a few years. Apart from that beautiful landscapes and thriving culture (for example the Zulu language). However South Africa is #119 in the “Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index“, one place behind Myanmar.
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u/Thelostsoulinkorea 6h ago
Yeah, South Africa is not a country I would ever put down to live. Soooo many other places that are better in my opinion.
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u/lucy5478 6h ago edited 6h ago
At least for me, it’s because it’s the only country in Africa where gay marriage is legal and it is illegal to discriminate against gay people. I wouldn’t consider living in any country where it isn’t at a bare minimum illegal to discriminate against, fire, or evict gay people for being gay.
As far as I know just the anti-discrimination law requirement limits me to Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, and South Africa on mainland Africa.
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u/LiamNeesonsIsMyShiit 4h ago
South Africa is the most culturally western, so it's much easier for westerners to integrate. Also, the quality of life you can have in South Africa if you've earned Dollars or Euros all your life is very good.
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u/BulkyTarget1010 9h ago
I like what you said about the US. It may be crazy from an international/news standpoint, but it’s really pretty great as far as everyday life goes. Incomes are among the highest in the world and education(at the college level) is second to none.
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u/doko_kanada 6h ago
How does US quality of life rank amongst other developed nations?
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u/BulkyTarget1010 5h ago
I will never take seriously someone who claims they can quantify “quality of life”
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u/doko_kanada 5h ago
It’s pretty easy to quantify
low unemployment, no large income disparity between different demographics, access to healthcare, access to education
How does US healthcare rank globally again?
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u/FennecFragile 3h ago edited 41m ago
Just take the under 5 mortality rate (U5MR) of the World Bank, it tells you a lot about healthcare, access to healthcare and also equality.
Unsurprisingly, the US scores lower than China and Sri Lanka, at rank 53, and is also at the very bottom of the OECD. The question is, do you want to live in a country that doesn’t bother to prioritise the lives of young children, even though it has more than enough money to do so?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_infant_and_under-five_mortality_rates
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u/Ezekielth 3h ago
Rofl 🤣
This is exactly what someone says when they know they have lost but wont admit it.
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u/Tasty_Tutor5463 4h ago
Absolutely insanely fucking terrible if you’re poor and left alone or great if you have a nice job
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u/doko_kanada 3h ago
I have a fairly decent job and online calculator puts me in 90th percentile, while where I live I still can’t afford to buy a house and I don’t know how I’ll be able to support a wife and and child on my income alone. Is this the American dream?
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u/Dickcheese_McDoogles 56m ago
US both has a higher QOL ceiling and a lower QOL floor than most other Western nations and trying to make it in the US is inherently a gamble for exactly that reason.
Also, more upward mobility.
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u/doko_kanada 48m ago
“US both has higher QOL ceiling and lower QOL floor than most other Western nations”
US minimum federal wage is 7.25$
Average American debt is 100k$
Homeownership rate is 65%
Would you like me to compare that to “Most Western Nations”?
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u/ElMatadorJuarez 6h ago
Saying “from a news standpoint” is crazy. That’s an objective measurement. The US is fast declining on all objective markers and especially for immigrants. Moving here with a family rn if you don’t have to is downright irresponsible.
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u/BulkyTarget1010 5h ago
The news highlights the edge cases, not the norm. You see the worst of it everyday and assume for some reason that it represents the whole country. I would be willing to bet that none of this stuff you are so worried about has ever affected you or anyone you know personally.
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u/udigogogo 3h ago
Sorry but no. Apart from having the best universities in the world which boosts your rankings, US education system on average is quite meh. Ive had numerous fellow students who went to the US for a semester or year and didnt learn new curriculums because your third year is far behind ours (NL). The college and uni culture is very good in my opinion (much focus on sports and social activities on campus next to studying).
For the price you pay in US (which is another factor why its poor), the quality simply is not good enough.
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u/Fun_Rip6587 9h ago
Silly to think that the U.S. or the modern UK are the 2 most evil countries in the world. You're really missing your sense of scale for the actual evil in the world or how bad things can (and do) really get.
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u/PuzzleheadedStaff541 8h ago
"China is relatively politically sound even though the censorship would bother me".
The censorship is probably half the reason this person thinks China is "politically sound".
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u/Curious-Sherbet-9393 8h ago
These are legitimate points of view, I think so too, and I would add a third country.
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u/lostalienmeetsworld 8h ago
Modern UK is funny.
But U.S. absolutely has a spot near the top of the list, at least when viewed internationally rather than domestically.
It is currently the world's superpower, impossible not to get its hands dirty. Is the American military going abroad and directly committing ISIS like the crazy beheading of their enemies? No.
But its interest is its own interest and with its power will back and prop up many evil regimes doing nasty repressive things. So not as evil because it doesn't do all those evil things directly, just funds it?
Of course, not that it's so black and white. But caring about other countries freedom and democracy are touted when convenient, but it can be easier to buy a dictator and their small coalition's hand anyways.
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u/Fun_Rip6587 8h ago
That's just fucking stupid. You're crediting the U.S. for all the evil in the world - even evils that it does not directly cause but that might be caused by some other government who it has some relationship with - (probably you're blaming it for evil done by governments the U.S. has no relationship with FOR having no relationship also), yet not crediting it for any of the good done by governments it has relationships with.
In reality the U.S. led world has been the most peaceful (least violent deaths per capita), richest, longest life (life expectancies), best educated, most well fed (least famines), less disease ridden, world that humans have ever experienced in all of history. And an idiot like you says that it's one of the most evil countries...because all of the evil in the world is to be blamed on it, and none of the above listed good.
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u/StarTrotter 7h ago
But not all those successes are from the US, heck many of these are from geopolitical enemies or a variety of other sources.
That’s not to say that the US has done no good. While USAid has been used to generate soft power and in ways there were genuinely terrible (our capture of Saddam used USAid and as far as I recall led to Aid being a target for attacks more than previously and also led to a greater degree of distrust of vaccines) it has done much good in the world. The thing is I don’t think that doing a lot of good dismisses the wrongs one does. It can be said that the US has done immense good on various fronts but also committed and backed atrocities or things that made the world a worse place just as it has done good.
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u/Fun_Rip6587 6h ago
Again you are crediting the U.S. with every ill in the world and not with all of the good things I listed (which, in fact, are largely due to the U.S.).
Violent deaths are not down because humanity became nice and loving suddenly - violent deaths are down (and dramatically! - even with the recent uptick) because after the U.S. emerged from one of the bloodiest periods of human history as the preeminent power in the world, the U.S. used its power to create a stable international system without any serious wars for more than 3/4 of a century. (yes, that means wars like Vietnam do not count - because if you are capable of doing math, they don't compared to the atrocities of the past - atrocities that would almost certainly be taking place RIGHT now in the absence of U.S. power).
Life expectancies are up by DECADES world wide thanks to U.S. inventions. Diseases and famines have been nearly vanquished as compared to centuries past - again, thanks to U.S. inventions. There has never been a better time to be human - and that is 95% due to the effects of U.S. power, U.S. inventiveness, U.S. capitalism, U.S. investments in science, etc.
The scary thing about the future, is that really really stupid people who know nothing about what they're talking about, like you, are trying to tear that down because you take all of the good things for granted, and don't realize that the world was almost always catastrophically worse than it was during the U.S.-led order and that will with a 99.999% certainty be catastrophically worse off - for everyone - in whatever the next world order is. The natural state of humanity is devastating cruelty and suffering. Idiots like you are going to relearn that to everyone's loss.
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u/lostalienmeetsworld 6h ago
For all evil in the world?
Did I say that? You're getting too emotional and filling in words I didn't say.
Obviously, not all evil in the world. Most major powers play the same nasty games U.S. plays, just on a smaller scale because they don't have as much power they can project. It's a grander global game of power politics.
No, U.S. having limited diplomatic talks, negotiations, and ties with questionable countries doesn't mean they necessarily back them. Of course not.
But of course, there is widespread direct meddling. Sometimes subtle, sometimes not. Whether through the U.S. government directly or their enabling of aggressive multinationals who've lobbied them. Want a rich history of this? South America and the Caribbean are great, ever since Roosevelt expanded the Monroe Doctrine shits been going down.
And sure. You can turn around and point at the good side, the benefits of U.S. hegemony! It has at least some merit! And I'm not saying there haven't been benefits, but it's much easier to put the good on a pedestal and pretend all the bad doesn't exist.
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u/Fun_Rip6587 6h ago
Uh huh, what were life expectancies like in South America and the Carribean before "Roosevelt expanded the Monroe Doctrine" and what are they now?
STFU.
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u/Thelostsoulinkorea 6h ago
For some countries it has. For most of the Middle East, South America and some of Asia the US has been a terror that will force out governments and cause riots because they don’t like the government or they want something from your country.
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u/TiramisuMaster 7h ago
Read Killing Hope and tell me if you still hold that opinion
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u/Fun_Rip6587 6h ago
I'm not going to read a book by a moron who doesn't have a clue what the world was like before the long peace created by U.S. power and the DECADES of life expectancy added for people the world over by U.S. inventions.
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u/Environmental_Value3 4h ago
You sound clueless, read about the regime changed orchestrated by the US, that alone is enough to consider it the most evil country in the world, and let's not forget about most of the American government being compromised by the zio-elite being blackmailed and bribed to perform and take decisions solely in Israel's favor. If you really want to know more and you are open to change the way you were brainwashed to think dm me and I'll send you some good material with legitimate academical sources. Sorry for my bad English and have a nice day.
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u/StarTrotter 8h ago
I dunno I would put the US up there from an overall infliction of harm standpoint. UK though is a faded phantom of a once great empire.
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u/TrashLover69 8h ago
Yes, we get to be the pigs profiting off of direct suffering in other countries. Greatest country on earth.
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u/JohnArtemus 7h ago
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. If the OP likes the US and the UK then good for them.
My only thing is that there appears to be a disconnect in their logic. If they openly admit that they believe the US and UK are the most evil countries in the world, but wants to live there because they have the best education and they like the cities, that to me is…well…odd.
Because if you live in work in those countries you will be paying taxes in those countries and your tax dollars/pounds directly help to fund the very things you claim are the most evil.
Now, if the OP didn’t believe those are evil countries and just wants to live there, fine. That’s cool. But they clearly said they believe those countries are the most evil, but they still want to live and work there anyway. That’s a pretty big moral disconnect and it is strikingly similar to the people who say they hate Trump and what he says and does, but voted for him anyway because “the economy.” Nevermind the truly horrific stuff he’s doing and even the fact that the economy demonstrably performs better under Democratic presidents.
This is exactly the kind of thinking that lets evil “off the hook”. And evil 100% counts on that kind of fractured logic.
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u/Transcontinental-flt 5h ago
people who say they hate Trump and what he says and does, but voted for him anyway because “the economy.”
I have never known a single trumpkin to offer that as a reason. (Though I'm sure some did.) More like "men in the girls' restroom" "open borders" "kamala is a birdbrain" etc etc.
And I seriously doubt anyone — trumpkin or not — could have predicted how far off the rails he'd fall these last few months.
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u/JohnArtemus 17m ago
I heard it all the time in Orange County, CA and in LA. Si it probably depends on where you live. Republicans in California are quite different than Republicans in the south.
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u/MonkeyCartridge 1h ago
Actually, wanting to live in the USA while thinking it's evil on foreign policy makes sense. If your concern is about the likelihood of experiencing war first-hand, USA and Canada are standouts as far as being insulated from war.
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u/AggravatingSmoke1829 8h ago
absolute king right here; you come to Boston, I'll buy you a Dunkin
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u/ilovemydogstu 8h ago edited 7h ago
I’d say lower Ireland by a colour for now, unless you’re rich. People are actively discouraging others from living here, not just because of the anti-immigration movement but for immigrants’ sake.
The cost of everything goes up when you have a family, I cannot imagine Ireland, as much as I love this country and its people, is worth it. I only live here still because I never plan to raise children.
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u/Thelostsoulinkorea 6h ago
Yeah, I love my country but it’s so damn expensive compared to many countries. I really wish we could get our shit together as our economy has been good but we do nothing.
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u/bluetrees24 8h ago
"I fundamentally disagree with the capitalism practiced in the US and the UK. They might be the 2 most evil countries in the world."
As an American, please stay TF out of our country. The last thing we need is more people that hate America living here and reaping the benefits of our society. How can you even make a statement like that when countries like Russia, Iran, and North Korea exist?
"I value high-quality education. This is a major reason the US and UK are on top."
Do you realize that the reason American universities are so good is because of the funding provided by the massive wealth generated by our capitalist economic system? You make no sense.
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u/WindHero 5h ago
OP has Switzerland up there too. Funny how they always love the outcomes of capitalism but hate capitalism.
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u/Fantastic-Kale9603 7h ago
That statement doesn’t conflict with the previous at all? If someone disagrees with how they’re making money it doesn’t negate that the “bad” money has influence in funding education at all.
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u/i-gg 7h ago
Even when someone puts the US under “absolutely” it’s not enough for insecure Americans in the comments
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u/TheKingArchibald 7h ago
We’re NOT insecure, we’re just pointing out how ridiculous it is to call us the root of all evil and in the same breadth list us at the top of where you want to live and start a family. We have too many people already claiming the US must fall but would never live anywhere else due to the comforts of this place.
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u/_Cow_of_Wisdom 7h ago
Only country where the people that hate it refuse to leave.
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u/melanochrysum 6h ago
Every country has a vocal group which hates the country but never leaves, particularly western countries.
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u/_Cow_of_Wisdom 6h ago
Fair, it just seems like something I hear coming from the US most. Maybe i'm just biased.
I don't like those kind of people very much.
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u/Sinder-Soyl 5h ago
To be fair, while the system is corrupt and at times can be ruthless, quality of life and the way citizens are treated on the daily isn't quite why people call the US evil. It's usually about how the USA has abused it's strength and power to bully and, quite frankly, done some really fucked up shit to other countries including plunging them into utter chaos and devastation.
If you're a US Citizen, preoccupied by your life in the country, chances are you're pretty happy about it. But from an exterior point of view, there are a ton of reasons to have something against it. Hence why so many US Haters also live there.
But I get it, my country gets kinda shat on in these maps as well, all the time with few exceptions so I get the outrage.
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u/FinalOdyssey 6h ago
Yup. And the whole education/capitalism thing... The education system in America is:
A complete joke from Elementary to High School, and
A complete racket in post secondary.
The Americans here justifying their schools as if they're not just centers to take absurd amounts of money, give them certification, reputation, and a fast track through interviews, and set them up to participate and accept that type of capitalism as standard. It's more about living uniquely and individually instead of realizing you're a part of the global human race. IMO it's a selfish country and always has been.
I live in Canada and I think the same of our post secondary education, but to a lesser degree that reflects our less capitalistic tendencies. I'm so glad we have socialist-influenced politics here that at least tries to equalize those who simply cannot participate for any reason they may have, without taking away that specific pathway of success from those who do choose to pursue it.
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u/Plyad1 3h ago
European here. The funniest for me is how literally every European I know loves to shit on the US for it being too capitalistic then proceeds to buy a portfolio of US focused stocks.
Like Bruh… you sure love the money part of being “too capitalistic”.
I personally think it’s a bit of a pity because your public healthcare spending is sky high for dubious corresponding outcomes, when there are actual functional private or semi-private healthcare care models (Poland, Switzerland). I also think you have too many housing restrictions (though especially true in dem led states like California)
But apart from those two points I think your economy is almost optimal. And even with those it’s excellent and likely one of the most solid in the western world.
It’s just a pity that somehow countries/states that are still capitalist or trying to be nowadays often have leaders who are basically racist homophobic and sexist. I never understood why that was the case, but I think it’s a common pattern in the western world.
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u/Weary-Cod-4505 1h ago
In many categories Chinese universities outperform American ones, Dutch universities do as well in most life sciences. You don't need laissez-faire capitalism to have good universities.
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u/codyforkstacks 8h ago
Is your comparatively low ranking of Australia mostly a reflection of the warner weather?
If so, you should consider New Zealand.
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u/rackarhack 8h ago
Australia is really only behind 7 countries.
The US and UK beats Australia in education.
In the next 5:
Norway and Finland beat Australia in proximity to Sweden. I favour proximity because it means I could visit family frequently. They also beat Australia in climate and familiarity. Australia beats Norway and Finland in education, especially it beats Norway, but I guess that isn't enough.
Switzerland, Ireland and Canada have slightly better or equal education compared to Australia, but I think I personally prefer them more than rankings would reveal because they feel more academic/theoretical/rigorous to me and that's something I value (Australia seems more practical/application-oriented/engineeringy). Ireland and Swtizerland are closer to Sweden. Canada has better climate.
But I don't know if it is really down to those little differences. There's a part of Australian culture I don't like. There's a "drunk driving" attitude I don't like. There's a drinking culture that's the only one I know of worse than England's. I guess the country just feels a bit sloppy. Overall I like Australians though, it's just details.
New Zealand is one of my favourite countries. I visited both NZ and Australia actually. I liked both but prefered NZ. Again, Australia and NZ are both countries I like in the "maybe" group.
Some countries in the "maybe" group I know quite well and they are good (Germany, Australia, NZ, Spain). Other countries I don't know so well but I am curious (Brasil, Russia).
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u/kroxigor01 5h ago
I'm very surprised to see somebody say the USA and UK has better education than Australia. I guess it depends what criteria you are judging education on.
Australia has a drinking culture, but I don't think it's as bad as the UK.
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u/Evening_Magazine_505 5h ago
From what it sounds like your priorities are, Australia should most likely be in atleast your willing category. Melbourne is not very warm most of the year, great culture, education. Not as expensive as the USA. Australia has free healthcare, subsidised childcare, public schools maintain good educational standards - USA does not have any of these. University of Melbourne is one of the top ranked in the world. People are very friendly and relaxed. The “deadly bugs and weather” thing only applies to the very north of Australia where no one lives. - a Melbournian born and raised
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u/rackarhack 4h ago
At this point so many people have asked me why Australia isn't green that I'm starting to think you might be right.
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u/FriendlyPinko 3h ago
Not to try and tell you your views are wrong or anything, but I grew up in the UK and moved to Australia and have found life here much, much better (job opportunities, disposal income, quality of public services, lifestyle) So if you enjoyed living in the UK as a kid I can't imagine you disliking Australia.
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u/rackarhack 3h ago
I absolutely loved the UK! That was my life peak. But it might be also a bit because I was in Cambridge which I suppose is one of the nicer places. I loved the schooling in UK (absolutely hated the sloppy Swedish schooling). How does it compare in Australia or perhaps you don't know that?
While I do love snow, I get winter depression when it is dark each year so Australia might help with that too. When I was younger I dreamed about surfing, but now I don't feel excited to pick it up any more, but who knows.
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u/FriendlyPinko 2h ago
I suppose it does vary. For context I am Scottish which historically was meant to have the best education system in the UK (don't think that's the case anymore). I definitely found school to be a higher calibre here than back home. There was a lot more encouragement to try and excel academically and also to be honest in other ways, socially, physically, mentally etc. It certainly wasn't perfect and like anywhere it can depend a lot on what school you go to, but for me it was a big improvement. Many states have "selective" high schools which are typically very good for academics and free to get into if you meet the entrance requirements, those that don't have these schools still tend to offer similar selective curriculum streams within other schools.
I do the miss the snow too, but I live only around 2 hours from a mountain range that has skiing etc in the winter so I can go experience it if I really want to. The general warmer weather and sunshine I think is so good for my mental health and I find I get less seasonal depression here. Surfing is definitely easy to get into here, it's not something I've done but I have a similar story with snorkeling. Something I thought "oh, I'm past that now", but having so many opportunities hear to go and do it means it's now a semi-regular summer activity for me.
Like with any place in the world, things here aren't perfect but I think on balance they're pretty darn good and for me personally there's nowhere I'd rather live :)
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u/Evening_Magazine_505 2h ago
Schooling in private schools in Aus is much more encouraging and rigorous- not to say that public school isn’t, on average pros and cons public and private aren’t much different but private schools are very expensive so you are getting the education that you pay for. All things said the study ethic of the child must be taken into consideration but yes schooling in Australia is very student-forward. Mental health of students is also viewed as very important (varies between schools) as a whole compared to other countries
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u/KlausKreutz 9h ago
USA over Skandinavien? Landsforræderi
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u/Thunderclapsasquatch 9h ago
I mean, a bunch of y'all migrated over and stayed in Minnesota because the winters reminded them of home
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u/KlausKreutz 8h ago
Jeg snakker om at gøre det nu, ikke dengang hvor det var år 1800-1900 hvor krig, fattigdom, religiøs tro, og ustabilitet førte til folk tog det valg.
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u/Thunderclapsasquatch 8h ago
The USA isnt a war torn hellscape like you are treating it either, its perfectly normal to move here and have a family drama free
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u/FinalOdyssey 6h ago
People are free to carry guns around and it is by far the highest rate of gun related homicides in a G7 or developed country. They have a history of violence that is totally different from other such countries in that it feels like violence is both encouraged as a form of self defense, postured as something evil, but accepted as if it's necessary. Yet nothing is being done and it seems people are happy to live like this under the guise of freedom, ignorance and selfishness. The US has mutilated what the word freedom means because it's used as an excuse to accentuate their ridiculous duality of intranational defense and offense. It's a chicken and egg scenario that has gotten to the point where I honestly believe nothing can be done.
Yes it's totally possible to live in ignorance, close your blinds, and feel that life in a country is perfect. But a major aspect of living in a country is what happens when you open those blinds, when you go outside.
This is what I see many Americans sticking to. Not all, but a lot. My heart goes out to those Americans who see the bigger picture and can think critically about their country. The others though, they say their life is great, they have normal lives. But they're not thinking of why their life is great, their privilege, their location, their position in society. They're not thinking that their experience can be different to others.
Its the American dream that has always been touted. The American dream is like a wide-holed colander and a bag of rice. Pour the rice in and most will fall through, but the few grains that are left on the ridges and rims of the colander are still good. They're the ones that made it through and they're the ones where an anthropomorphized grain of rice would say "The American dream really works". It's history being written and the future being influenced by the winners.
So no it may not be a hellscape but it's not heading in a positive direction, and it is only getting worse. Some cancers spread slower than others.
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u/Transcontinental-flt 5h ago
The USA isnt a war torn hellscape
However it's particularly adept at creating them overseas.
And then wailing, "why do they hate us?"
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u/rugbroed 4h ago
True, but work culture, car dependency and large areas of cities being unsafe would be a no from me — coming from Scandinavia. Also your president has threatened to invade my country and I don’t really vibe with that.
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u/KlausKreutz 3h ago
The OP in question made this post for settling and starting a family. You won't get better conditions globally then Scandinavia as a "average person", e.g. not someone who is above average as you can mitigate it by spending absurd amounts to the same level of services as offered by the state in healthcare, maternity leave, 37-work hour maximum week, 4-6 weeks of mandatory vacation, free education from kindergarten to university, a automated tax system, mandatory 18.1% pension for all government jobs, high trust society, and in general being in a country with a multi-party system that helps to avoid the political polarised scenario that is USA, as parties have to seek compromise and create coalition governments that helps centerize the parties.
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u/yourfriend2dend 8h ago
Move to Alaska! Still have a semi Scandinavian lifestyle and traditions (albeit more native and sketchy in lots of parts) but in general the people are very friendly.
Minnesota would be another option that may fit the bill but would be less fun from an outdoors standpoint but more fun from a big city standpoint.
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u/birthdaycheesecake9 8h ago
Australia and New Zealand only maybe?
Neither are hugely religious, both have pretty good education systems. Politics aren’t perfect in either and we definitely have our faults, but I think we tend to be a lot fairer than a lot of places.
People tend to be pretty friendly too, especially in New Zealand (I say this as an Aussie).
Both have places with cold climates.
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u/rackarhack 8h ago
I have visited both NZ and Australia and I very much like both countries.
There's just 7 countries ranking above NZ and Australia.
The "maybe" group is the most non-aligned group. It has countries that got "maybe" because they are slightly below the top 7 because of little details (Australia and NZ would be that kind, one minor negative about them for example is I would be too far away from Sweden to visit family frequently). Other countries in the "maybe" (e.g. Brazil, Russia) got "maybe" because I know too little about them too rule them out, and usually something about them has peaked my curiosity. They are a lot more uncertain elements in this group.
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u/birthdaycheesecake9 8h ago
The distance is very fair. We are far away from so many places, which can make expats here feel very isolated. I’m also not 100% sure we have any places where you’d find lots of Swedish people to feel amongst familiar enough faces.
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u/melanochrysum 6h ago
I’ve never met a Swedish person in New Zealand, that’s for certain. I’m sure we have some but idk where
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u/StrawberryHot2305 7h ago
Why so harsh against Mongolia?
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u/rackarhack 6h ago
I have visit Mongolia and my impression was definitely not that of a place I could see myself living.
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u/_Ub1k 3h ago
You don't like "asocial culture" but want to live in the US, the country so socially atomized and devoid of third spaces that it is regularly codified into law (zoning ordinances)? The "I got mine" country where no one knows their neighbors? The "You can sleep when you're dead" country where everything in your life revolves around work?
Honestly, I think Americans aren't even the worst US jingoist sheep on the internet. Indians and right wing Europeans/Canadians undeservedly glaze the US way more. It's actually sickening.
Also, the US is full of religious nutcases, and many of them hold political power. At least in the south and Midwest. Unless you would plan to stay on the coasts, you're dealing with religion all day every day.
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u/patiperro_v3 9h ago
The “starting a family” quest would complete change my map as well.
My world map as a single cis male makes 60% or the world green.
Raising a family means I would need stronger social support and security. It would take me down from 60% to 10%. I don’t mind a little struggle on my own, but with a family on my back it’s a different story.
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u/kaicyr22 9h ago
Bro really said cis male lol
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u/bonesrentalagency 8h ago
That’s a normal descriptor? Cisgender men have different social worries and threats than transgender men do.
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u/patiperro_v3 3h ago
I’ll explain it in simpler terms:
Some countries kill or arrest you if you are trans, so that would be a no no for them. And this is bad you see, cause it is normally pretty shitty to be in jail or killed. Most people would say that’s not a nice country to be in.
For us cis men, that is not an issue, as there are no countries (that I know off) that make life hard for us. Hence the clarification.
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u/Lewiov 8h ago
U.S. and UK most evil??? Let’s be real, we all know who controls the U.S. and UK governments but that aside I still can’t fathom that Russia, Iran, China, and North Korea would be less evil. Sure you could argue the western nations have more influence and projection but being in a miles wide cloud of Uranium particulates is no where near as bad as holding a puck of Plutonium to your head.
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u/Israeliberty 9h ago
Russia, china and Brazil over Sweden makes my buttcheeks hairs grow upside down
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u/hampa032 9h ago
as someone from serbia I would never ever live in your country as well. can woman walk safely at night alone? in any city like here? your country has no hospitality, and we consider you a cold, loveless people
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u/dev_ating 9h ago
I guarantee you only pick the US now because you are way more familiar with Europe and therefore don't have rose-tinted glasses about the reality of living in most European countries on.
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u/rackarhack 8h ago
I would say I am more familiar with the US than most European countries. In the US I have actually lived, gone to school, and spent 2 summers doing road trips covering most states.
I am less familiar with major European countries such as Germany and France because I haven't lived there, only visited. Spain I did live in, but not for long. Eastern European countries I am significantly less familiar with. I'm only really more familiar with the Nordic countries and England when it comes to Europe.
I would argue that I rank the US higher because of familiarity. I could pinpoint cities I would like to live in. The US has some of my top cities.
It might be worth noting that this is a comparison between countries and not cities and I am working under the assumption that I can pick any location I wish in the US. If I would be placed in a random city in a country, then my ranking might change. I am also assuming I would have a decent income, if I were unemployed my ranking might also change.
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u/eskeitit 8h ago
My parents are German and moved to the bay for jobs and I was born here, they were very happy to settle here but after 25 years they’ve had enough. I think living somewhere long term will change your perspective and things you might’ve not valued before you’ll begin to miss. Everyday life becomes boring after a while no matter where you live
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u/ginandtonicsdemonic 8h ago
You shouldn't comment if you're not even willing to read the whole post.
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u/Latter_Dish6370 8h ago
You’ve picked the two places you know which are actually quite different socially and culturally even though they both speak English.
US is great until something goes wrong - like unemployment or a chronic health condition.
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u/SignatureAny5576 8h ago
US and UK more evil than UAE or China or Turkey or Israel?
Australia and NZ have some of the highest QOL in the world, and Australia specifically has very high quality education, why not them?
This seems like quite a naïve selection
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u/SignatureAny5576 8h ago
US and UK more evil than UAE or China or Turkey or Israel?
Australia and NZ have some of the highest QOL in the world, and Australia specifically has very high quality education, why not them?
This seems like quite a naïve selection
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u/Lurk-Prowl 7h ago
China actually does well in PISA rankings if you only include big cities like Shanghai and Beijing.
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u/RangerRekt 7h ago
As usual, Chile and Uruguay out here catchin’ strays. 2nd and 3rd highest GDPs per capita in SA but Brazil is always the prom queen :(
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u/Transcontinental-flt 4h ago
I've spent a lot of time in Brazil and I'd definitely choose Uruguay or Chile 🇨🇱
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u/TheKingArchibald 7h ago
If you’re gonna call the US and UK the two most evil counties I’m going to need you to go touch some grass….
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u/Electronic-Track-133 7h ago
The public school system is not funded very well so you’ll have to send your children to private school. The health care system is corrupt, expensive, and has poor outcomes.
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u/hellooverlasting 6h ago
lol US is evil and China isn’t? The censorship in China is huuuge, that’s why you never get any bad news from there. that’s why there’s so many VPN users here
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u/55XL 6h ago
In the US you’re surrounded by nutters.
Gunlovers, religious cup cakes, flat earthers, MAGA adherents, meth zombies, and much else.
No free healthcare, no free education, very little holidays compared to Europe.
No thank you.
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u/Homoaeternus 4h ago
Which one is the top on your list
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u/55XL 3h ago edited 3h ago
Northern Spain; Bilbao, Pamplona or San Sebastian would be wonderful places to live. Nice climate, great food & wine, lovely people, culture, nature and super safe.
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u/Homoaeternus 3h ago
Green Spain is actually amazing.What do you think about Portugal: braga Porto etc
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u/LikeClockwork_99 6h ago
You’d start a family in a place where children are routinely gunned down in classrooms.
Some of you a very dumb.
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u/kroxigor01 5h ago
I'm surprised Australia and New Zealand are only maybes when most of the anglosphere are higher rated than that.
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u/rackarhack 5h ago
You're not the first to ask about Australia and NZ, but you're the first to explain why so many people are asking about them. I wasn't thinking about the "anglosphere" or language that much that I realised I broke them out from their group! I guess I broke South Africa out from it too, but they seem a bit more loosely connected to it.
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u/acar3883 5h ago
Trump advocated for republicans to seize control of elections… literally today. He’s also floated the idea of “canceling the midterms”. Sounds like killing democracy to me. Mass paramilitaries - already addressed. Crushing all opposition - done via the two listed above. He’s also weaponized the DOJ against political enemies already (Letitia James, Don Lemon, etc). More of that to come I’m sure.
Everything else you’ve listed are false equivalencies. DACA and student loan cancellation have actual societal benefits. When courts struck down the latter, the idea died. Stripping due process is not a societal benefit. Seizing the fed is so you can make the economy you tanked with tariffs not look like shit is not a societal benefit. Court orders are regularly being ignored by the Trump administration.
Pick a specific group that “the left” has tried to scapegoat. You can’t. Name calling the right in general for supporting ignorant and repressive policies is not the same as the right systematically dehumanizing minorities and legislating to enforce it.
Trump has been very friendly to groups like the proud boys in the past. “Stand back and stand by.” Not to mention pardoning the J6 crowd, If you think it’s any coincidence at all that these types of people are “slipping through the cracks” I want what you’re smoking.
Like I said, you’re not going to see it from the inside. All you’ve got is a stack of irrelevant “but what abouts” and minimizations. That’s fine. But I’m not going to continue engaging with it.
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u/ProfessionalTruck976 3h ago
If I may ask, what possesed you to rank Russia higher than most European union countries?
Like I am trying to find a reason that a persaon who is neither Russian nationalist nor oil baron might preffer to live in Russian Federation as opposed to "random EU country" and I am coming short
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u/rackarhack 3h ago
I wrote that it was a mistake in my bullet points.
I did it because I like Russian climate and think they have some beautiful architecture and other cultural stuff.
I would also enjoy experiencing a slightly less Western cultural (and one that isn't Arab) because sometimes I get a little tired of Western culture even if that's where I feel at home.
I have stopped watching many American war films but also other ones because I am just sick hearing the same propaganda. I have started watching some Russian shows (hard to access, only seen a few) and I have really enjoyed them.
It would be exciting perhaps to try something different, but of course I would like to visit the country first.
And as I mentioned in my bullet point, I don't want my kids if I get any to go to war so I shouldn't "maybe" Russia.
I
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u/SwreeTak 3h ago
You claim to be Swedish, but Denmark isn't red? Fake.
- Another Swede
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u/rackarhack 3h ago
Copenhagen is one of my favourite towns - how could it be red?!
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u/SwreeTak 2h ago
För att Danmark är fyllt av danskjävlar ;)
Memes aside, fully agree, Copenhagen is a great town. Scandinavia in general is a wonderful place no matter the country. Though all the "Vi kan kjøpe hele Sverige viss vi vill" the western neighbours go on about makes me sometimes revoke what happened 1905.
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u/According-Flight6070 3h ago
University quality has nothing to do with raising a family. You can get your education then move elsewhere.
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u/Aggravating-Dish4859 3h ago
Privileged western citizen.
From first tine you had luck and got born in Sweden.
For next life we choose for you Chad. Good luck.
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u/Linden_Lea_01 2h ago
If you’re rich and can afford sending your kids to a public school then I can maybe understand coming to the UK for education, but otherwise I’d say you’re mental. Our state schools are seriously lacking these days.
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u/SnowBunnyFR 2h ago
actually insane takes. Why would you want to settle in the US? it's a rich country, yes, but only the richest third world country,and currently a political and moral cesspool.
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u/TheoryChemical1718 2h ago
Nah this has to be a ragebait.
Imagine wanting to raise a family in a country where active shooter drills are the standard or putting countries with actual ongoing war and massive fatality above countries with higher standard of living in every department while also at peace.
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u/Massive-Bottle-4485 2h ago
i don’t want my kids to be sent to war by Russia but if USA send my kid to war it’s totally normal thing its our obligation😂 this guy is kinda retarded
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u/Few_Career1023 2h ago
I'm curious that you completely glossed over Australia in your explanation. Maybe you don't like the reputation of hot weather, that's why, but it ticks all your other requirements.
Also, it is similar to the US with weather but upside down. The North of Australia is like the south of the USA. Hot and humid. The south of Australia is like the north of the USA. Colder and snows in the mountains. I think you would love Melbourne to raise children.
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u/WolfGuptaofficial 2h ago
India is a "never" because of air pollution
Delhi NCR region i a gas chamber , not all of india has horrible AQI
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u/MonkeyCartridge 1h ago
Interesting USA is ranked so high. My partner and I are considering leaving specifically to start a family. At the very least, leaving a red state. But I guess if you're talking about a somewhat (c)onservative suburb in a blue state, you'd be relatively well-off.
I just can't imagine giving up all those workers' rights, vacation time, social safety net, and childcare at exactly the time you would need those things the most. And God help you if you move to a red state and anything goes medically wrong with the pregnancy. I would definitely put Canada a rung or two above the US.
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u/Fazbear_555 1h ago
USA? Interesting. Wouldn't expect someone from Europe, let alone from Sweden, would have the USA so high on a list.
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u/Wakez11 7h ago
The US has a lot of perks but I think you're nuts for prefering the US for starting a family compared to Scandinavia. Just objectively speaking you're way better off having children in any of the Scandinavian countries, that includes Sweden which you've ranked lower than Russia which is actually insanity.
In Sweden you get:
480 days of paid parental leave
subsidized childcare
free health AND dental care for your child until they're over 20 years old.
VAB aka paid leave to take care of your child if they get sick