Iceland ranks number two of 177 countries according to the UN Human Development Index 2006, measuring achievements in terms of life expectancy, educational attainment and adjusted real income. This means that effectively, Iceland is one of the best places in the world to live.

The HDI 2006 top twenty list is as follows:

1. Norway
2. Iceland 3. Australia
4. Ireland
5. Sweden
6. Canada
7. Japan
8. United States
9. Switzerland
10. Netherlands
11. Finland
12. Luxembourg
13. Belgium
14. Austria
15. Denmark
16. France
17. Italy
18. United Kingdom
19. Spain
20. New Zealand

The Global Water Crisis

The HDI 2006 is part of the annual independent Human Development Report, commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The Report continues to frame debates on some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity and this year the focus is on the world water and sanitation crisis which urgently needs a Global Action Plan under G8 leadership and the report calls for 20 litres of clean water a day for all as a human right.

"Beyond scarcity: Power, poverty and the global water crisis" is the title of HDR 2006 which can be downloaded from the UNDP website.