Ragnar Sigurdsson/Arctic-Images
No. 4: Iceland
Population: 304,367
Life Expectancy: 81
GDP Per Capita: $38,800
It's not as icy as its name suggests. No. 4-ranked Iceland, an island nation at the edge of the Arctic Circle, is home to a happy community of coastal residents who enjoy almost unparalleled economic and civic freedoms. Priding itself on egalitarian values, Iceland elected its first female head of state in 1980, and in 1996, Parliament passed legislation to create registered partnerships for same-sex couples, covering nearly all the rights and benefits of marriage. Additionally, with 99% fuel independence and no standing army, Icelanders appear confident about their future security.
