France has the world's highest quality of life

　　A French couple

　　International Living magazine -- a US leading resource for helping people live and travel overseas -- has released its 26th Annual Quality of Life Index. According to IL's comprehensive analysis, France again offers the greatest Quality of Life of any country, while war-torn Iraq remains in last place.

　　Despite high taxes, bureaucracy, and a high cost of living, France returns after taking over the top position last year.

　　"France has a good climate, unspoiled countryside, and great health care. And its capital, Paris, is arguably the world's most beautiful and romantic city on earth," said Laura Sheridan, Managing Editor of International Living magazine, who conducted the study. "Add to all this the world-competitive infrastructure and you can understand why we'd name France the world's best place to live."

　　To produce the annual index, International Living considers nine categories: Cost of Living, Culture and Leisure, Economy, Environment, Freedom, Health, Infrastructure, Safety and Risk, and Climate. International Living uses statistics from a number of official government, non-profit, and media sources for much of the number crunching.

　　The United States -- which had ranked at the top of the charts for an impressive 21 consecutive years until being dethroned in last year's survey -- regained its footing, and climbed back to the number 5 slot from number 7 in last year's survey.

　　International Living's 2007 Quality of Life Index Highlights:

　　Leaders

　　1. France

　　2. Australia 　　

　　3. Netherlands 　　

　　4. New Zealand 　　

　　5. United States　　

　　Bottom Five

　　195. Iraq 　　

　　194. Somalia 　　

　　193. Yemen 　　

　　192. Sudan 　　

　　191. Afghanistan 　　

　　Other Notables

　　8. Italy 　　

　　11. Germany 　　

　　22. Canada 　　

　　25. Mexico 　　

　　34. Panama 　　

　　37. United Kingdom 　　

　　108. Cuba 　　

　　116. China 　　

　　116. Russia 　　

　　Other Highs and Lows 　

　　Lowest cost of living: Nauru (it's an island in the Pacific)

　　Best Infrastructure: United States

　　Most Corrupt: Haiti

　　Best for culture: Italy

　　Best climate: Zimbabwe

　　Best to register a new company: Australia

　　Longest life expectancy: Andorra