Why Every Scandinavian Country Ranks So High for Quality of Life

Scandinavians sure do know how to live well. Not only do Denmark, Norway, and Sweden often rank among the happiest nations on Earth, but they’re also the top spots for the best quality of life and are among the top 10 most powerful passports in the world. 

In 2024, Global Citizen Solutions (GCS) released its Global Passport Index, which put Sweden in the top spot, Denmark in eighth, and Norway rounding out the top 10. But beyond this list, it also ranked nations on their quality of life—with all four again ranking among the top 10. In that list, Sweden took home No. 1, Denmark in fourth, and Norway in eighth. (Finland, a geographic neighbor to these countries but not technically in Scandinavia, came in at No. 3 in the GCS index and No. 2 for quality of life.)

As Laura Madrid Sartoretto, the lead researcher at GCS, explained to Travel + Leisure, there’s a reason these nations always come out on top. “They [Scandinavian countries] rank well in the Global Passport Index, in general, but they do even better when we talk about quality of life,” Sartoretto told T+L. “We have prosperity and equity. Those are countries that have very strong social welfare systems.”

According to Sartoretto, Scandinavian countries have created people-first nations, investing heavily in universal health care and education, along with family-friendly policies like their lengthy parental leave programs, which in Sweden can also be split between parents. Health care policies in these countries also ensure citizens have access to a variety of mental and physical health programs.

These initiatives are primarily funded through taxation, which, yes, is high. (Sweden’s tax rate, for example, varies depending on location but typically ranges from 29 percent to 35 percent.) However, each nation also ensures that the wealthiest pay a larger sum, ensuring better income equality. 

“So not only do you have the stability to think about the future, because you have your pension safeguarded, your health care, education for your children, but also, you manage to balance work and life, in general,” Sartoretto said.

This equality extends to women in leadership as well. Sartoretto noted that Sweden and Norway (and Finland, too) have some of the largest share of women in politics in Europe.

This fantastic quality of life extends into sustainability and access to nature. 

“Scandinavian countries are also investing more in environmental leadership,” Sartoretto said. “Denmark wants to reduce 70 percent of its emissions by 2023.” She also noted that Sweden has a long-term goal of reaching zero net CO2 emissions by 2045, and Norway plans to do the same by 2050. This may be easy to achieve considering both Finland and Sweden are covered in greenery (forests cover some 70 percent of both nations). Sartoretto added that even city dwellers are close to green spaces, with Stockholm and Oslo ranking in the top 10 in the Green City Index. 

And it’s not just those born in these nations who can utilize these services. Universal health care and free education are also available to legal residents.

As for where passport holders can go, the rankings note that those with a Swedish passport or Finnish passport can visit 128 countries visa-free, while those with a Danish passport are close behind with 127. Those with a Norwegian passport can also visit an impressive 124 without the need for a visa, helping them see more of the world while also gaining a deeper appreciation for home.