International Living’s 2010 Quality of Life Index made a splash on Fox News Network when Bill O’Reilly featured it on his “The O’Reilly Factor” show January 6.

O’Reilly examined the ratings changes in this year’s Quality of Life Index of best places on earth to live. In 2010, France jumped to #1 and the U.S. fell to #7.

One of the reason mentioned for France’s advance was health care. France’s health care system is rated the best in the world by a number of sources.

Health care was also one of the reasons for the drop in the U.S. rating from #3 last year to #7 in 2010. Also cited was the ongoing economic crisis in the U.S.

International Living magazine’s 30th Quality of Life Index surveyed almost 200 countries across nine categories, including cost of living, culture and leisure, environment, safety and risk and culture and leisure. France topped the list for the fifth consecutive year, beating Australia and Switzerland; which took second and third place respectively.

International Living Publisher Jackie Flynn said that although the U.S. remained in the top 10, its economy cost it a higher rating in 2010. “We can’t ignore the state of its economy,” said Flynn. “In this category, the U.S. scored 67 points in 2010 up from 57 last year but it’s still mired in recession, and in sector after sector the cost of sustaining the ‘American Dream’ has escalated out of the reach of many. The U.S. remains an excellent place to live, especially in terms of convenience, but it’s generally more expensive to live there now than it has been in years past.”

Further Resources

View the complete ratings from International Living’s 2010 Quality of Life Index.