Mitch, you sound bitter and are falling into the trap of querying the survey just because you disagree with it. I currently live in Hong Kong but intend to go back to the UK permanently - I miss the beautiful countryside, the great healthcare system, the fabulous sport, and even the weather. Not sure where you get "shabby and dirty" from. And before we chuck around wisdom, let's be accurate - while a number of UK citizens are leaving, many of those emigrating are "long-term migrants". Nor is it an issue confined to the UK. The French are worried about the number of young people leaving (many of them coming to the UK). And what exactly is "quality of life" anyway? Is it an objective measure or do you get to define it as you wish?

John, Hong Kong,

I live in Gibraltar and I am rather impressed that it came out at number 5 in the list. Cool.

Simon, Gibraltar, Gibraltar

A few weeks back another Brit outfit conducted a 'study' and determined that London was the most wonderfulest city in the world. The criteria, of course, were skewed to favor London. I suspect the same is the case here, but the UK is so shambolic they couldn't rig the 'study' enough to get it a first place. Really, non of these 'studies' are necessary, just look at people voting with their feet. For a first world UK has a huge number of people leaving permanently -- people of its 'indigenous' population are choosing greener pastures instead of a shabby, overpopulated, dirty country filled with foreigners and in which they are treated as second class citizen. I've lived in Germany, Spain, France, and even Bosnia. And you know what, every country on that list beats the UK hands down for quality of life.

Mitch, London,

Hey dcm!!

"nor do we have monitoring of our citizens to the extent that your country does"

That's a bunch hooey as the Buish administration's push to protect the telecoms proves. They know a lot more about YOU than you would ever want to know.

JL, Seattle, WA

With just about the most serious and violent crime rates in the world with its chief policeman on charges of corruption and defeating the ends of justice, another police chief in Court for drunk while driving; he wrecked his State car and police witnesses are now being protected due to death threats allegedly by the chief himself, a former convicted terrorist bomber who killed women and children, and a convicted gun runner)) why is South Africa not near the very bottom of the list? The country is following Zimbabwe, with daily massive power cuts and shortages of fuel, tap water contamination. sewerage in the streets in some areas (due to power cuts) serious diseases and a very high HIV/Aids problem.

There are more unlawful killings in SA than even Iraq. Wake up to the disaster that SA has become.

B J Deller, Marbella, Spain

I would find most of the comments by the anti-gun people funny if they weren't so scary.

How can anyone argue against the right to self defense while boasting of their nation's stability? In England and Wales, where they've surrendered their rights to own guns, are under constant surveillance in many cities, and now depend entirely on the state for their safety, a staggering 0.41 deaths per 100K occurred in 1994. This while only 0.05 deaths per 100K in that bastion of liberty, Japan, where the police actively raid homes of those even suspected of having the means to defend themselves. Indeed, you’re more than 8 times as likely to be shot down in England and Wales, where they simply refuse to join the “mature” countries and surrender their arms totally.

If you can be bothered to check out any objective evidence, see
www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=6166

...and why are you Brits commenting on our laws? Can't you find anything to read but crime statistics?

Patrick, Chocorua, New Hampshire, USA

I can see why the UK is rated higher than the US if threats to stable Government are the main concern.
However, I feel a damn' sight safer walking around central Albuquerque, New Mexico at night on my visits there than I do here in a small town in England.
The UK has more than DOUBLE the US violent crime rate, yet denies its citizens the tools to defend themselves, as enshrined in the Bill of Rights.
Or maybe our crime rate is so high BECAUSE law abiding citizens are proscribed from having the means to deter violent criminals........

Mike S, Whitehaven, England

Re: Guns in the U.S.:

It would be one thing if firearms ownership in the U.S. led to nothing but deaths.

But consider: Roughly *a million times per year* privately-owned firearms are used in the United States by law-abiding owners to *prevent* or to *interrupt* violent attack (and in 95% of those cases without even discharging the weapon). Realize THAT, and it becomes clear that they are a net force for good.

As the U.K., with its crime now surpassing U.S. levels, has learned to its sorrow, the disarming of the law-abiding is not the same as the disarming of the criminal. To borrow a line from Eowyn in the cinematic version of "Lord of the Rings": "The women of this country have long ago learned that those without a sword can still die upon one."

Perhaps I can be excused for feeling this particularly keenly, as I used my privately-owned revolver to discourage what was probably a rape attempt, in 1988.

Sharon, Marietta, GA, USA

So if we cut out countries that are "vatican" in size, the top 4:

Sweden
UK
Netherlands
Ireland

A lot of these numbers are tied as well. How could the top 3, which are tied be ranked as 1, 2, 3? Perhaps they should be considered tied for #1.

James, Astoria, New York

The 'threat' to the US population flowing across the Mexican border does not come so much from the flow of illegal drugs, as from the flow of illegal people....

Mike C, Rockville, Maryland US

I’m intrigued by the number of comments from the Brits expressing dismay at the fact that we Americans dare to comment about, or even read a UK news article, while at the same time, many also suggest, (in some cases rightfully so, I’m afraid), that we need to get out of our own country more and learn more about our friends in Europe and elsewhere. Seems a bit paradoxical to me.For those who are unaware, a link and a headline for this article was posted on the popular US website, www.drudgereport.com. That’s how the Americans likely found this forum.

I have great respect for the British people, and love to visit when I can. This seemed to me to be an appropriate forum to engage in lively conversation about potentially controversial, yet fun topics, with intelligent people from both countries.

For those Brits who wondered, or who are offended by our mere presence on the forum, I hope this helps explain it.

Patrick, Chocorua, USA / New Hampshire

It's truly amazing that many in the US, the UK, and elsewhere seem to have so few worries in their own lives that they're able to spend apparently vast amounts of time commenting on a study of dubious statistical value in a way that demonstrates bigotry and intolerance. I can only imagine how much better a place the world would be if the effort that some here clearly put into maintaining their own prejudices against certain groups of people were actually put to good use solving the world's real problems.

We in the West preach tolerance and acceptance to other nations, yet it's clear from many of the comments that our own house is hardly in order in that regard. It's disheartening and reflective of the decay of Western society that in 2008 citizens of supposedly developed nations judge people merely on the basis of their nation of citizenship.

Roger, Chicago, IL, USA

Countries?
What's the population of these "countries"? How about comparing these countries to some small US states or even cities? Get real. Vatican City is encapsulated by another country that actually funds defense. It helps that most of that country shares the religion of the Vatican, so they are in a safe haven.

Lies, damned lies and statistics.

Ken, Tampa, FL

I would find most of the comments by Americans funny if they weren't so scary.

how can anyone possibly argue for the right to bear guns in the same sentence as talking about the US's stability? At 14.24 per 100,000 the US has the highest level of deaths from firearms of any developed nation. this compares to a rate of 0.41 deaths per 100,000 people in England and Wales. Doubtless most of you want, but if you can be bothered to check out any objective evidence visit:

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=6166

...and another thing, what on earth are you all doing commenting on our newspapers? can you not find anything good to read at home?

tony, london, uk

To James, Bath, UK:

"Nice of the U.S. to turn up to that war when...Germany declared war on you...about 2 years after it all started."

With all due respect, James, I'm compelled to speak up for those Americans who volunteered to fight in the RAF Eagle Squadrons, and in the Flying Tigers. And also for those who died at the hands of the Kriegsmarine on ships laden with Lend-Lease weapons, food, and material, bound for the Soviet Union and the UK. These institutions were all put in place well before Pearl Harbor.

It's true that my country was not there when the first shots of WWII were fired. But neither did she sit and do nothing, as your statement implies. Nor did she choose to side with the Axis, and take this entire hemipshere for her own, which she could have just as easily done, and as Stalin initially did.

All the allies, together, saved themselves. None of them could have done it without the other. The US owes much to the RAF of 1940, but I am proud to say we helped.

Patrick, Chocorua, USA / New Hampshire

Lichtenstein? San Marino? Ireland? And my native Netherlands? Great company, that, but where are the real countries in that list?

Ed Zuiderwijk, Cambridge, UK

I love this!

The headline trumpets that we are the 7th most stable country but the list has us at number 8! Unstable sub-editing, perhaps?

And why are there 393 comments on this? I can't read them all but why so much indignation from Americans? The Times is a UK paper reporting a matter for UK pride.

Even so, I wonder a little about our position. Only Sweden an Luxembourg can be considered nation states in the conventional sense. The Vatican? Well, how many divisions has the Pope? Gibraltar? A UK overseas possession when I last checked, so little in the way of its own foreign policy or much else.

Monaco, San Marino, Liechtenstein? Give me a break. If they are to be included may I propose also the Isle of Wight. The island is stability personified; it's positively catatonic. And it is "overseas".

While I would enjoy having Janes Fighting Ships in my library I probably won't be subscribing for this.

I shall just enjoy the remaining comments. What fun!

Alan, London,

Oh dear. "We don't like where we are in this survey so we're going to throw all of our toys out of the pram!" That seems to be the response from a lot of Americans to the survey. Yariv makes a good point - the rabid comments from many of the American readers are scary. The vitriolic language shows up their insecurities. And spare us the tired old arguments in favour of gun ownership.

John, Hong Kong,

First of all... which country lets more Iraqis in than the USA each year for asylum? Sweden.

Who's responsibility should those people be? USA.

As a Swedish immigrant to the US, I have always lauded the unique freedoms and qualities of the Americans. I think there is no place where social movement is as great as it is here. People can start dirt poor and become rich beyond their wildest imaginations. You cannot say that about any other country on that list, not even in the same ballpark.

At the same time, the US is a paranoid and schizophrenic place. "Oh no! the Illegals are coming to cut my lawn and pick my fruit! Run for the Hills!" Good Grief! The politicians aren't speaking to the same country but two entirely different ones that are just living together. One side values education and the common good, the other a self-serving greed and religious intolerance. It's not hard to see why it isn't that stable of a place at all... look at the housing market if you want proof.

Stefan, Daytona Beach, USA/FL

Why can't you people get over the fact that as Americans we will never give up our right to own "small arms". I don't care if you list the US dead last, we are not going to give up firearms. Just because everyone else has given in to the global elitist, turned over fire arms and sovereignty doesn't me we in the US will. Dictators only fear those with the capability to fight back. Guns in the hand of law abiding citizens is not the problem. Get over it!!!

Bob, Tulsa, OK, USA

Thank You Paul Schofield from Milton Keynes. Just about the only comment that made any sense throughout the list !! Isnt it enough for people to say that they love their country irrespective of the report without slinging mud at each other??

P.S. You can only get a decent cup of tea and yorkshire puddings in the UK....... so there !!

Carol, Leicester, UK

The United States is fifty countries, not one. It cannot be judged on anything like the same basis as any other nation. It's about time we "mini-states" grasped that fact.

Ken Leyland, Liverpool, U.K.

Gordon Brown and New Labour could not have got everything wrong with the economy then. Perhaps the cynical UK media will give us a break from the daily diet of Doom & Gloom.

Bill Rees, Truro, Cornwall

DEAD is 'stable'....

Chris, St Leonards on sea, UK

....and in the news today:

World war three started over a stupid press article. The UK fired three yorkshire puddings at the USA who responded with 4567890 nuclear warheads. Fortunately both sides failed to hit the other (though one person was taken to hospital with a flour related injury, and the UK Health and safety arrested the prime minister as a result). The Americans are suing for the cost of the weapons and the English went off to taunt theFrench rugby team.

IT DOESNT MEAN ANYTHING PEOPLE! lighten up!

Paul Scofield, Milton Keynes,

hi to all
i am a brit who has visited the states from east to west and the US like Britain was a great country but both have lost there way and are both suffering. Both are going down and both have similar problems. Gun crime, kids in gangs, drugs, killings,robberies but the things that have really undermined our way of life is the culture of "wheres theres blame theres a claim", people not help each other anymore, pretty rules, petty govermental jobsworths, cctv everywhere,liberal do gooders, lack of respect,high stealth taxes (yes you have them in the US too,everything on credit,everything now,now, now,high stress,fast lives.You only need to look at the children in both countries. thats Freedom! Personally i have moved with my family to Brazil. i feel safer, people are caring and kind, i am not being watched by a camera wherever i go, i feel very free. Brazil Watch this space. Brits and Yanks always welcome.
maybe its the price we are paying for having so much fun in the 60's

maggie, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

I must confess I haven't the time to read all the comments. But from what I've seen there are a number of common misconceptions. It's a popular pastime among Brits to remind Americans of their tardiness in two world wars. It should be remembered that isolationism can be interpreted as "keep your nose out of things that don't concern you." I for one was extremely hungry throughout WW2 but would have been a great deal more hungry without American aid. Having got the hang of stepping up to stop nations needlessly annihilating each other they now are always far too keen to do so. They are damned if they do and damned if they don't.
I've always interpreted the right to bear arms as the duty to bear arms in defense of the realm. It's a right not an obligation.
Stunning number of comments from across the pond shows stunning sensitivity to criticism only comparable to Australia.
Finally, I left England in 1967 and I've never lived there full time since. That's gotta say something.

crombie, perth W.A. , Australia

As so many have kindly pointed out, the rest of the world wouldn't exist were it not for the Americans, so the US should automatically be at the top of any ranking list, regardless of what it the list is measuring.

Seriously, though, reading the comments on this page has genuinely scared me. I imagine anyone else outside the US would feel the same.
The following quote from Scott of Allentown, PA, sums it up perfectly and deserves to be framed:

"This is THE most free country in the world, those who do not know so have a spoiled child-like view of the world."

Yariv, Telford, UK

I would hardly say the proliferation of small arms has ANYTHING to do with the "stability" of a country.

I would of knocked the US for the lack of stability in our money-supply, our government's un-funded obligations totalling over $50 trillion US, etc.

Knocking the US for small-arms just shows this study to be a complete farce with a political agenda and not worth a second look.

Lucas Goodwin, Kalispell, MT

People:

Please do not take one American's ignorant view of the world and make the generalization that we are all that way. There are intelligent and not-so-intelligent people in every country. Obviously, inflammatory and "blind" comments are typically those that get the limelight and are magnified. However, one's overreaction to such a comment is just as bad as the comment itself. Try to read comments on the whole, and for crying out loud, use your common sense! You know all Americans aren't the same - we don't all dream of big cars and big appliances. Take a Californian and put him in the same room with a Nebraskan, and I guarantee you they will not agree about one single thing. You get the point...

Matt C., Minneapolis, MN

My fellow Americans,
Why are the vast majority of you reactive rather than open to discourse? Listen. Ponder. Read. Learn. Not all is well in the USA. Perhaps because I am an American citizen who does NOT own a television, does NOT drink soft drinks, does NOT own firearms (or believe that my 'highly educated, well thinking, and never bigoted fellow American' should own them.), does NOT use a mircrowave I am not even American by the standards that I read here. The defensiveness of many Americans in their comments here is frightening. It is cause to wonder why we did not score lower. The best approach to life is a realistic, honest one. That encompasses the ability to unflinchinlgy look at ones faults as a country, accept them, and work toward healthy, positive growth and change. The American men sound like whiny little boys in their comments. Please, learn basic grammar, too. The grammatical errors that appear in comments by Americans is appalling.

Katherine, Central Virginia, USA

The US naturally will think this is about them! Well power corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Lucky for them, their power is far from being absolute, so they make it to number 22. It is still the greatest nation, but a desire to avoid criticism is eating into the foundations- in life we have to always do better, or else we start to slide.

Some advice from someone who cares- honesty, sincerity and integrity are the most important virtues. Being number one because you earned it, not for the bragging rights, as something to share with allies who build it together with you as a dream. Also, more concern for safety, quality of life and just having a good life.

Still, the US has a historical aversion to evil and love of goodness. This is the greatest strength and the source of many blessings. Remember to chose the right way all the time.

G Davidson, Kashiwa, Japan

Being 'stable and prosperous' are relative terms. The US still leads in having the most billionaires in the world, owns and holds the most gold reserves in the world, the US has the natural resources to feed the world at least twice over, and has the most patents and invention proposals in the world. US Tech companies employ about half of the world's IT professionals. There are more US universities in the world's top 20 compared to any other country with most of these US colleges having enowments of more than a billion dollars. Stanford University just announced that anyone who gets accepted to this university but cannot afford to go, will get their education paid for 100%. Harvard and Yale have also stepped up with their financial aid package.
I know the US isn't perfect. But regarding this article, they don't give any specifics or examples of what other countries do better and why. Surveys are like polls of our presidential election. Unreliable and all Hype!

Ann, Pasadena, CA/USA

Stable and prosperous? It looks more like a list of tax havens to me.

Yariv, Telford, UK

Looks like a Europe feel good exercise. If you want a stable country with excellent standard of living. - Come to Australia. We should be # 1 and by a long shot. We are not stuck with a history that makes us tribal nor are we scared of advancement and change and we have resources to boot. Plus we have great weather and fine women!! What more could one want?

I call this list a joke, i mean even New Zealand should be up there.

Max, Sydney, Australia

As an American I don’t see the need for the harsh comments about the U.K. here from other Americans. It’s like kicking your mom. They have been our best friends in the world when we need support. The U.K. is a beautiful country. Have you ever been in the English countryside? If not have a look.
http://www.picturesofengland.com/England/English_Countryside

The survey is flawed when it places the Vatican as the top country with a little over 108 acres of land. For gosh sakes my dad’s cattle farm is over 1500 acres over 14 times as large although it’s not a country LOL.
As for arms owned by Americans and the threat to the population posed by the flow of drugs from across the Mexican border. That hits a raw nerve in many American’s as the right to own arms is an American birth right and the flow of drugs and illegal immigrants into the U.S. that hits another raw nerve because we watch our government do little about the borders but put up token fences just so companies can hire cheap labor.

Ed, Lexington, U.S. KY

How extraordinary that this survey trends heavily toward European countries.... Might there be a bit of a Euro-bias a work here?

I could give you studies that suggest that other regions of the world actually have a higher standard of living (and more stable societies) than many Western European countries, but that would suggest that I am silly enough to buy into this notion that obviously agenda-driven surveys count for something. They don't, except of course to push their chosen agenda.

Printing such drivel is one thing, but believing it is another; I can't believe that most Britons (or Americans, for that matter) would take such a survey at face value. Do our countries have such low collective self-confidence levels that we need to bolster our egos by faking as though such surveys are factual...and therefore we are "enlightened" people?

This survey is pathetic; what it says about Britain, given that it is being taken seriously by so many people, is equally depressing.

C. Hassel, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA

Dain in Arlington, in fact the majority of forces involved in D-Day where British and Commonwealth not American. The General in charge on the ground was of course Monty.
The RAF also dropped a greater tonnage of bombs on Germany than the USAF.

adam forrester, Chard, UK

I'm ashamed of my species. No place is going to be safe. The ocean is the basis for the ecology we live in and we are all killing it. This little game of Nationalistic Pride I hope will make some extremely happy. I just wouldn't get to smug because when I was child we thought it couldn't happen here. When the US flames out it is liable to be taking others down with it.

Edward M. Berezowski, Buffalo, New York

Never been to EU... spent 2 years in S. Korea though. Found out that our news is censored. Not by official censors, but by commercials. Only 18 mins of news in a 30 min. slot. Well, cable/satellite has fixed that, as well as the Internet.
I have met people from all over the World and I have to say that there are good & bad from everywhere. Except for the islamic extremists, I don't wish any ill to anyone.
However, some have missed a point about our financial strength... compare our debt to our GNP. I dare say we would be much better off than so-called stable countries from the list. (Except for the pedophile-protectionist one at the top) Look, we have endured economic downturns before, and have come back in great shape. This one too shall pass and we will be fine. We will continue to protect and defend those less fortunate. We will also be the first to assist in natural disasters. That is just our nature. Yes, we are proud of our nation, just as we should be. We have done much good.

Kenny, SW, IN

Michael Gray should note that other countries on the other side of the Atlantic have a great deal of good things to say about the USA. Great people great literature great soldiers great regard for freedoms excellent legislature fine research and a huge no of
academic and teaching texts which are the best in the English speaking world.
Well it should be - since arguably it was made in Scotland !......from strands of the Declaration of Arbroath in the 14th century and the "Scotland Schools" act in the 17th -- not to mention the Dundee merchant adventurer money which helped build the US railroads.
Its not surprising we like americans ( despite the fact that y'all cannot play rugby!).....why wouldnt we like nice people?....who helped free then rebuild a shattered Europe ( and japan ) after WWII

Ewan MacRae
Dalkeith Scotland
in the Temporarily United Kingdom

Ewan MacRae, Dalkeith, Scotland

As an American, I will say that it does appear that we are on a downward trend. The main reasons for it lie in the spiritual decline of our people as well as our leaders inexplicably spending us into oblivion every year for the past 50 years. I will also say that there are many kind, gracious, generous and decent people who call America home. People from many lands. If America falls hard (and it may at some point), I do believe the world will be a lesser place for it. To all the fine folks around the world, I say Peace and God Bless!

Chris , Tulsa, OK, USA

I'll be Theo Van Gogh would have been proud to see the Netherlands in the top ten. The gun control laws there made it illegal to defend himself. Too bad they were ignored by the guy who shot him eight times and then nearly decapitated him. I guess stability (or is that "stab-ability"?) has its price.

Mike, Dayton, OH

What planet are you on Ron, London?

Billy Barnett, HK,

To my European friends:
Please stop fretting so much about the Americans fretting about this article. It's true that we like to win, and we don't like coming in 22nd. But that isn't really the point. For many Americans, the right to own and bear arms as private citizens is much, much more than you understand - it's symbolic to us of our freedom as individuals, and our belief in the right and responsibility of individuals to be self-sufficient family protectors, not wards of the state. The fact that occasionally our guns go off at the wrong times or are aimed at the wrong people is incidental to us. We are not statists. We do not believe government or other organized groups should or can be the solution to the vast range of problems that human beings face. So when yet another "study" comes out knocking the US for the very symbol of the freedoms we most cherish, we rebel, and type a lot. Most Americans love Europe and Europeans even if we whine at your incessant Statist naivete.

Milt Hamilton, Seattle, WA USA

As a life long resident of the US its not hard to see why other countries think we are jerks. No one likes a bully, no one likes a know it all. The fact is that certain economies and government work best in certain conditions. And just because we don't approve of how they live there lives don't mean we have any say in the matter. Lets make America an honest respectible country again. We need a diplomat in the White House not an agenda.

Alex, Mission Viejo, USA, Ca

My back yard is pretty peaceful - can it not be relabeled as a country? Based on the top 10, seems like it should be doable...

dray, Triad, NC

It truly saddens me that the countries on the other side of the Atlantic divide have not "one good word" to say about America. All countries have good and bad points. We should be happy for our friends in Europe if they are doing well; conversely, Europe should be sad when America stumbles. We are all in this life together - divided we fall. Most importantly, we should be unified by our common Judeo/Christian faith and Western tradition. Our common foe should be Atheism, Human Secularism, Communism and Islamic fanaticism. Don't you realize we are quickly headed for a fall and Armageddon? Yes, America will finally fall probably due to economics and nukes planted by terrorists supplied by Russia. Don't you know, the UK will be next? Then probably the One World government and Anti-Christ will reign supreme for a while until the 2nd Coming. Once all is said and done, we will all serve under the Lord Jesus Christ and Israel will be the most blessed nation. Fathom that !!!

Michael Gray, Sacramento, CA, USA

God bless America!

Because I have not laughed so much in ages, the comments on this story only serve to confirm what we all knew already. The majority of Americans (well those in the southern and central states anyway) do not have a clue about life outside their own country.

The UK still burns coal in their fires? no central heating or fridges? Ha Ha, America saves the world from destruction? Give me a break.

I would laugh more if I were not so scared that these people see big fridges and big cars as the sure sign of quality of life, despite the millions around the world who suffer and die just so that the USA can keep this quality of life. It actually is a bit sick to be honest.

Never mind, your time is nearly up. The US economy is a mess and the centre of the global economy is shifting Eastwards in a hurry. To coin a US expression "You are out of the ball game".

So enjoy your fridges and SUV's and I will hobble back to my cave, light my coal fire and dream of big fridges.

GM, Brisbane,

Hilarious...sensitive types living in Bloomfield Hills, MI or Naples, FL take one look out their windows and say to themselves, "I don't see anything wrong with this country, what do those Brits think they're talking about?"

Pete, Cleveland,

As an American, I could care less whether or not the U.S. is at the top of the list, but I would note that we don't have bombs going off in our major metropolitan areas, nor do we have monitoring of our citizens to the extent that your country does.

dcm, Washington, DC, USA

The most stable place I know of bar none is my local county jail. Three meals a day free medical care, free TV and a free bed. Plus no crime. No thanks!!

O.W. Nichols, Manassas, USA /Virginia

Cheapshot George, we read a British newspaper online due to a weblink for a provocative article from an American website.

As to the most stable countries being small old countries. I've noticed in researching historical items of interest to me that the small old countries often have had more former names, former boundries and former political systems. This indicates that being small and old does not ensure stability. Now it's true at one time we, the former colonies to the crown of England had a king. And I suppose if the king had listened to the pleas of his subjects "across the pond" we would have a Queen today, pay in pounds not dollars, drive on the left side of the road, etc. etc. Instead a deaf ear was turned to We the People of these United States so We choose a new path. We have private gun ownership (because of British inflexibility) and so it is YOU that we are defending ourselves from. I do not want to become a socialist nation,,,like England has become!

Tim, Houston, USA

to James, Bath, United Kingdom
We joined WWII late, but if you take a look at your arms and supplies, they came from US factories where people toiled day and night. D-Day was planned and carried out by mostly US troops ( not to take away from the fine British and Canadians who also fought and died that day...God bless), but if it wasn't for the US the British wouldn't have gotten one foot step onto European soil. The two biggest operations on D-Day were carried out by US forces, not to mentioned the invasion of Italy was mostly a US effort. The Brits fought hard, they're good soldiers, I've worked with some RAF and RN folks. They have a fighting spirit unmatched by anyone else besides us and they're very classy doing it. But don't short our efforts.

As for the rankings, so what? Who cares. I've been to the UK and the US and I love them both. I would disagree with the gun thing though. The ability to protect myself is important, restrictive laws don't prevent crime.

Dain, Arlington, VA, US

Great news. Let these more stable and prosperous nations pay for everything and stop holding their hands out to us to fix the world's problems.

Jo K, philadelphia, USA

I am the child of a US WW 2 veteran and a British woman, who were married for 60 years. I am ashamed, shocked and dismayed to read the truly malicious mutual slandering of two great nations, both of which I was brought up to respect.

The greatest threat to us all is intolerance.

Kate, Munich, Germany

Nice to see some normal people displaying rational thinking, instead of all this bigotry. I was begining to think you didn't exist

karl, leicester,

Wow, there are a lot of comments. Especially denfensive ones. Interesting survey but does it really matter?

Kijo, ...,

Why do some americans believe complete isolation will be a good thing? what would you do without your european, chinese and japanese cars TVs and other precious accessories? Besides if you shut up shop the world would keep turning, the only thing that would change is your influence as other powers emerge. You only have to look at history to see that.
But anyway you don't give to the world cause you want to, it's cause you have to.

karl, leicester,

I agree on their stability, they should thank the USA everyday.

B Alford, Rincon, Ga

The results are puzzling . . . the northward flow of drugs from Mexico is considered a threat to the USA, but the Netherlands - well known as Europe's drug haven - still scores three points higher overall? So Mexican dope is worse than Dutch dope? That’s odd. And as for firearms availability, which is presumably linked to crime . . . consider that the problems of violent crime in the USA are most prevalent - overwhelmingly so - in the very same demographic that comprises the balance of the population in the countries making up the "most unstable" listings; some may find this to be politically unpalatable - but it’s factually inarguable. Crime among non-Hispanic Caucasians in the USA is comparable to that among the same demographic in Europe.

Henry, Dallas, Texas / USA

How about the USA just get out of the rest of the world, we close our borders, and throw the illegals out. Whatever happens outside those borders is not our issue. So when things like Bosnia or some terrible thing happens in the world, call Sweden and all those other top countries. We take care of our own, period. We aren't perfect here, no one is or no place is, but we are free. I'll take that over being on some list anyday.

Kent, atlanta, GA

So, what happens when say...Russia marches into Sweden? Does 'stability' include the ability to defend yourself?

Rick, Nashville, TN

God, if this were only true. Maybe we wouldn’t be inundated with all these foreigners invading America hoping for a better life. They could be going to one of these 21 other countries.

Gary Ray Lauderdale, Houston, US/TX

It always makes me chuckle when Americans use lack of air-conditioning as an example of 'poverty' in the UK.

When was the last time the Uk was actually hot enough to require air conditioning? I lived all my life in the UK and can't remember more than about 3 days.

Furthermore, this american "X owns 3 TV sets so he must be richer" is innately flawed. I currently live in China. My inlaws are poor rural Chinese. They have two large TV sets. Are they richer than my middle class English parents who only have one small TV?

Matthew Nash, Dalian, China

At least the USA is still a country for now.

The UK just signed away its independence in the Lisbon treaty, and without any vote of the people.

Doug Sterling, Rutherford, NJ, USA

Well, if it means that I have to give up my "small arms" to become rated higher, I would rather be last on the list. A weaponless society is the target of the government...

Jay, Jacksonville, Florida

Tell all the illegals to go to all the other places "better" than the U.S.A. They can deal with them instead of us. How come everyone wants to come here? Because it sucks every places else. But according to this report the U.S.A is very average.

Paul, Pearl City, Hawaii

I am definitely interested in the criteria and definition of "stability" so I can better understand the results. I think the research criteria would change from culture to culture.

For example, since when does having having a more free society (i.e. gun ownership) takes points away from "stability." Even if you don't own guns; does the government have a right to monkey around in your personal business?

Having large government act as a nanny isn't freedom. It's financial oppression at the very least. Too much government intervention into people's lives kills incentive and a sense of personal responsibility, that's why the USSR failed.

Anyway, my point is that there are trade offs and some value freedom over regulation. It would be interesting to have a site with all the data where people can go and weigh certain criteria for themselves and look at the different rating outcomes of nations.

Josh, Keller, TX

"Do you not still burn coal in your fireplaces? Do most in the UK have full-sized refrigerators? Full-sized washers and dryers? Dishwashers".

Is th above list a mark of stability? No doubt with these giant size gadgets the Americans arecontributing so much to global warming . Do not want to believe this after the sad flooding of
New Orleans. Stability is when your life is not disrupted if you lose the job or the house disppaears after the place is struck by tornado in Florida coast etc..

Why illegals? Because they do the job at a wage that no American is prepared to do. Why American company employs so many Indians who are trained in IT, because they can be paid less than the Americans with similar skills.

My friends have to sell all their possession when he was hit by ahuge hospital bill and his insurance comapny can only pay part of it.

If the government can come to help for those who are unfortunately in need that is civilised response and that produces stability.

Rob, Liverpool,

They are calling the Vatican a country? All they do is take in money from the Cathiolic countries and not giving anything back. Let them take care of the poor cathiolic people instead of haveing the countries they are living in take care of them.
And the other countries that rate high, what have they ever done for the betterment of the world? How much have they sent to the countries that have had natural disasters, or given to the Red Cross?
Don, Birmingham, AL

Don Spruill, Birmingham, Alabama

How has this turned into an attack on the UK by Americans?
seriously guys, lighten up. This is about stable countries, not about who has the largest and most powerful economy. You are beaten by almost every country in Western Europe, so dont just go mad at us.

To Vince, from Los Angeles.
We are not mindless drones who have everything done for us. If you are refering to the apparant 'free health care' we 'lazily' recieve for 'nothing', you really need to check the facts. Every taxpayer pays national insurance to the government, who uses it to pay for the NHS. Same as your health insurance, but run by the government. As for things about benefits, well,we believe in equality in Europe. No redlining, no segregation. Its not 'mindless' to give poorer people benefits to help them have a chance in life. Im sure if you were laid off, you would like a helping hand too.
Enough said.
The US is awesome, and I love it, but Americans need to learn to not always win...think China,think economy

Dave, Cardiff, UK

To Greg Grant:

About as much as you like sales tax. It's the same thing.

Peter, Oxford, UK

I have lived in many countries and enjoyed them all. I am Canadian, but didn't see where it placed in the poll. I am thankful that Canada is a stable place to live, but honestly, I would give up everything to move back to the UK, either England or Scotland. Hope this doesn't make me a "Bad Canadian"

Dorothy, Pond Inlet, Nunavut, Canada (in case you don't know where that is, it's the Arctic.

Dorothy Davidson, Pond Inlet,

"Unlike the Vatican ... the USA actually lets people immigrate in!" Hate to be the one to break it to you John from San Marino, but remarkably few Popes were born or even grew up in the Vatican. They tend to immigrate in.

Calm down all you transatlantic types: it's only a survey, and it sure doesn't change Neil Armstrong's footprint on the moon.

David Masu, Zürich,

For god' s sake will you people calm down. Do you always punch your best friend in the mouth just because he/she says something you disagree with. No one is attacking our sovereignty, way of life or freedom. Everyone is welcolme to there opinion because there is no possible way for someone that is not american to truly understand what it means to us.

We have never asked for any anknowledgement nor favor for our acts of kindness or for our friendship from any nation. So to keep throwing it into people's faces of "where would you be without us" is totaly uncalled for. I have been to Britain and other parts of Europe and besides Paris I have never had anyone spit on me or disparage the US unless something was said to put them on the defensive. So please stop running down the Brits because I consider them my/our friends and find them to be a wonderful people. I, like most Americans are loyal and staunch friends to have and are still willing to stand up for that friendship.

Mitch, Atlanta, US

Though this is a supposedly objective rating, criteria still reflect differing values that alter the scores.

The proliferation of small arms in the United States is deemed bad by many around the world (and in the US) and "cost" us some points, but it is deemed constitutional and normal by most in the US. It is simply part of our heritage and culture because we hold freedom so dear.

This culture, despite various shortcomings, has a history of defeating oppressive regimes, especially defending our allies.

Interestingly, the countries labeled as the most stable and prosperous still exist thanks to the US. We certainly can learn a great deal from each other and improve, but do not mess with our guns, lest there be no one left to save you again. Ja, Da?

By the way, it is sincerely very sad to see the growing trend of these fine European countries losing their own cultures, to the point of extinction one day. Please recognize and reverse this, as you do have so much to offer the world!

Charles Smith, Columbus, Georgia, United States

Many countries have enjoyed stability and prosperity thanks to the Pax Americana. Not that many of the beneificiaries of her efforts would acknowledge it. They couldn't bear the humiliation. You know you're doing something right when so many envy, resent, and hate you. Cheerio and all that.

C. W. Shorter, Columbus, Ohio

I really don't care what this ranking survey has to say. Every country has its good and bad points.

JMS, San Antonio, TX/ USA

@Noah, Montreal, Canada

So, people living below the poverty line is someone else's fault? Not theirs for the poor choices that they made in life? This is truly socialist thinking at it's source, envy of the rich. Sorry, but wealth distribution doesn't work, it just drives the rich to invest in other countries where they don't penalize them for being successful.

However, I can see how the US ranks where it does, there are a lot of countries hostile to the US, and it's immigration is out of control.

Shane, Fort Worth, US, TX

B.T.W. - Most of the Americans reading this article obtained it from a right-wing web site (http://www.drudgereport.com); formulate your opinions of the comments to this article accordingly.

At least some of US(A), have visited other countries (beyond the beaches of Mexico) and are aware that the U.S.A. could stand to improve.

Ben D., Albuquerque, NM

I feel a need to weigh in on a few issues, first to my fellow Americans, On the matter of prosperity if you consider our true tax rate, not the phony crap they publish take your fed tax rate then add your state and local don't forget your property and excise taxes oh and for good measure through in your sales taxes, now add on your 401K and your health premiums and deductables and see what that % is and compare that to what the rest of western culture pays now you have a truer comparison of tax rates. As to freedoms Very similar but very different we have way to many people in jail or been in jail for crimes of morality ie drugs prostitution, and not nearly enough in for real crimes. Thought police or media as they are more commonly known are rampant on both sides of the pond. And our national debt in USA is staggering. As to our wealth consider if you will your net worth and assume you couldn't sell your house for what you owe, still think US is richest? most credit most debt yes.

Jeremy, shelbyville, indiana

As an American I am embarrassed. Not of the study, whch is not tha bad!. Anyone who doesn't know that there are wildly divergent lifestyles due to class differences in the US, which affects average, is simply not paying attention. But the defensiveness? If you don't believe the study they why should you care? And if you do, then why can't we just work to improve it? You can't POSSIBLY really believe that our country is the best of all possible worlds -- are you living the best of all possible lives? Nothing you'd want to change? Aspiration is the key to progress, so aspire already! Or shall we stagnate to death, droning on and on about WW2 (which we entered late while our British cousins were being bombed so could we please quit with the unattractive smug)? And so we have to degenerate into the old "Well, we're the best!" "Well, Yanks can't spell!" foolishness AGAIN? Which poor people is that helping?We may not always agree, but this blatant, Net-typical rudeness is appalling.

Pauline, NY, NY

This is all petty small time thinking going on here. Its easy to see why the "Human Race" is facing the problems it is. Besides killing and hurting ourselves we are for the most part also killing the very planet 'we' all live on. With the driving force being money and power and control people of this planet are very shortsighted for the most part. The ridiculous bickering here is a perfect example. My country is better than your country" blah, blah, blah, yadda, yadda yadda......I mean come on, how can anyone from the UK or the USA think they have any problems. Anyway you "cook it up" there both great places for the most part! Move to Darfur if you want to see miserable.........

Dale Poniewaz, Milwaukee, USA/Wisconsin

Take away the US foreign aid and then lets talk. It often seems that most of the world is on the US welfare list.

de, Akron , OHio usa

I studied and worked in America and was amazed by the ignorance of ordinary Americans who thought that as EngIish I had not seen colour telivsion and not driven a car. I mentioned to them that the television sets they use is japanese and the cars they prefer are from japanese companies, the argument veered away, and the question of their country's might surfced. I said that rice-eating vietnamese guerillas defeated them and that their gas price was controlled by men with strange robes in Middle East.
A large percentage of Americans have no passports, and many of my professors never left the country ..
I could buy an automatic submachine gun across the counter with some identification but not tablets for digestive problems which I could buy in Britain across the counter. The nation with smart people has banks which sold sub-prime mortgages which my grandmother would have spotted.
Finally China holds a large dollar reserve which they can flood the market and ruin their economy

Simon, LONDON,

Give me a break!
What does the population of the top ten equal?

Less than California....

We could have a stable government if we had ten people....

ric, valley cottage, ny USA

Hello all my European friends! I have a quick question -- how do you like the Value Added Tax? The reason I'm asking, I'm confident we'll have something just as onerous if/when Hillary or Obama are elected.

Greg Grant, Jacksonville, USA/Florida

@karl, birmingham,

How can they white working class leave the uk? They can't afford it.

The vast majority of uk citizens going abroad are highly skilled people (usually graduates), or wealthy retirees, in search of better jobs and living conditions.

Jeff, Manchester,

This is great. The snooty Brits have convinced themselves that they are more "prosperous" and "stable" than the US. That's fine with me. Someone needs to spread the word to all the millions of illegals we get every year so they can head to the UK. I guess it depends how you define "prosperous". If you are a lazy mindless drone who needs the government to think for you and provide everything for you, then you might find it very "prosperous" in quite a few leftist countries. Wow, the US has a little economic down time and everyone comes out of their holes to claim how horrible it is in the US. The US will bounce back just like it always has.

Vince, Los Angeles, USA

To Katie from Denver, CO:
You write that we don't deserve a high rating until we start to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor in this country.
I spend first 33 years of my life in the country where gap between rich and poor did not exist. Then I left that country because as a result of that "everybody equal" policy everybody were POOR, but not rich. Wonder about what country I'm talking about? Soviet Union.
Be careful what you asking for

NewAmerican, Saint Louis, USA

Yeesh, you Americans need to let up and enjoy your life and stop complaining about such an 'insignificant' study. As someone who lives in the unhappiest country for children on the Western Hemisphere, lighten up! Some of you are particularly myopic - these are the most stable countries, not the ones who boast the greatest wealth and standard of living. All this rubbish about your 'freedom', which most of you take pride in, is utter tosh. Remember, America, that you were once under extreme segregation at times and are perhaps still are. STABILITY. Look at how much your dollars are worth.

You are a whinging bunch for people that appreciate the integrity of air conditioning and your other 'commodities' that you take forcefully from other nations.

On stability, well done for making other countries unstable in your trace of civilisation. Remember Mossadeq, Chilean Coup, Diem, etc. God Bless America.

Just let up, take this survey with a grain of salt and enjoy your just exploits. End rant

Anon, London, UK

???? The US has 'resorts' that are larger then some of the countries listed in the top 10. Highly dubious article.

Scott, almont, USA

Park one ot these little Utopias next to Mexico and watch what happens.

BW, Westminster, CO

A country's murder or crime rate would seem relevant to a "stable and prosperous" rating, but how can the legal private ownership of guns, of itself, negatively impact such a rating?

Also, isn't a monarchy or other form of lifetime office-holding more stable than a democracy, and isn't that basically why the Vatican ranks #1?

It's one thing to ignore liberty in a "stable and prosperous" rating; it's quite another to be hostile to it.

DWPittelli, Adams, MA, USA

Tom Doran, you are correct in your assessment. I have just returned from three years in graduate school in London. My personal experience in accommodation, quality of life, and health care (NHS) does NOT support the ranking of the UK over the USA. "Social achievements" as a driver at best would be subjective. I witnessed first hand deliberate "skewing by design" by academics in research while in the vaunted Ivory Towers.

Jacque E., Washington, DC

The price of living in freedom is that we lose some safety.

So far, in America, that has been an acceptable trade-off.

However, the Patriot Act, 24/7 Surveillance, terrorists under every bed and our disproportionate fear of crime are indicators that we have forgotten that handing over our rights will not make us safer.

I’ll take the lower rating if it means preserving my freedom and right to privacy.

Willis, Naples, Florida

I have visited Europe three times and generally enjoyed it tremendously.

Our immigration (legal and illegal) is out of control, we have many racial issues, government debt is astronomical, our cultural deficits are damaging our children, we started (and need to finish) an unprovoked war, the left wants to rob us of our rights and freedoms, we are heavily dependent on foreign sources of energy, manufacturing jobs are being lost at an alarming pace, and I always dream of retiring in Ireland.

"I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."...Thomas Jefferson. There is no place like (this) home.

James, North Stonington, USA/Connecticut

Is Iraq considered a "stable" country??????

BOB, LA,

If you don't like your country, you have two choices: do something about it or leave.

Peter, Paris, France

I think it's hilarious how most of the comments on here are by disgruntled Americans so angry about how their beloved nation could ever not come out on top! Patriotism is admirable, but Americans have some kind of obsession with their country that they cannot acknowledge its faults and have to criticze other countries. Perhaps if more of them travelled (around only 10% have passports) they would not act like such children/sore losers.

This isn't a survey about which is the best nation on the world, rather about which is the most stable and prosperous. The UK is very stable however, I agree this survey seems to be subjective.

I think the survey's conclusions could be accurate (have not lived in many of the places mentioned but have done business research), but people seem to be missing the point that it's NOT about "where is the best place to live" - of which in my personal opinion, neither the UK nor the US fits that bill.

Helen, Manchester,

WHAT NONSENSE! Switzerland downgraded for its lack of social achievements? In other words let any tom, dick & harry
in and give them a shed load of benefits whilst they destroy your stable country from within and you'll move up to EIGHTH!
Come on*** VATICAN CITY! As Mr McEnroe used to shout
YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS!

C Cooper, Beverley, East Yorkshire

Amazing! One day articles about the flight from England to countries like Australia, New Zealand and Canada, then the next an article about the "Utopia" that is the UK today. Am I to understand that the constant barrage of stories about feral youth, massive inflation, filthy streets and overpriced, undersized houses are untrue? I grew up in England and I live in Canada. I am not looking forward to my visit to England next month. It's an overpriced, overcrowded sinkhole.

Bernard, Winnipeg, Canada

Another Times fantasy piece. Unlike the Vatican (first place) the USA actually lets people immigrate in!

John , San Marino, CA

There are no differences in the safety or prosperity of Finland and Sweden. Yet Sweden is no.2 and Finland no. 29.

This report is a joke.

Will, Helsinki, Finland

why are all the americans here so offended that the US is not on the first place? who cares about some stupid poll?

Delphine Verhaeghe, Largs,

Note that this is a "stability and prosperity" list.
It is not a list of where I personally want to live. That list has the USA at the top.

Jennifer, Pennsylvania, USA

After 400 years of global colonial oppression, the Brits finally have a clean conscience.

Helen Back, Washington, DC

Article and comments all very interesting ! Curious that widespread ownership of firearms should count against the USA - makes one feel that there is a hidden agenda here somewhere!
Now.....has anyone actually, really, met any person who is or was afraid to visit the USA because of the widespread ownership of firearms ?

Lewis Thomas, High Wycombe, Bucks UK

I have lived in Sweden, Norway, and the USA. Of all three of those countries the USA is by far the best in terms of economic freedom. Of the three the US has the best health care system although the worst way to pay for it. Norway comes in second in terms of easy accesss. With Sweden you may as well be dead to get into a doctor...they have alot of gatekeepers to get to a doctor in Sweden. It was always so easy to get my child into a US doctors office when sick..in Sweden its a real pain in the rear.

Sweden is supposed to be family oriented. Where are the family restaraunts? Where are all the entertainment venues? The malls and shopping here are like eastern Europe..terrible consumer market really. They give you all of this vacation here is Sweden without anything to do so thats why everyone leaves the country when they have time off....Sweden easily ranks number one on the boring scale.

Roger, Stockholm, Sweden

Nigel, you are spot on when you say that you see the U.S. falling fast. Our country began its free-fall when Teddy Kennedy (or some other worthless politician), announced around 1965 that we needed to look more like the rest of the world. Most of the people that have come here since then care not a whit for what our founders set in motion and only want to sap the milk and honey. And, unfortunately, due to our failing educational system, many native-born Americans have no appreciation for their heritage and history.

Imogene Dunn, Tulsa, OK

Steve in Devon:
I do not think Americans are particularly sensitive. Was the fellow's information incorrect? Do you not still burn coal in your fireplaces? Do most in the UK have full-sized refrigerators? Full-sized washers and dryers? Dishwashers? Central heating and AC? Having lived in England, both in London and in the Southwest, I can say that the commenter was right. Whether one thinks these items are necessary is another argument, but the fellow was not wrong.

Cris, Tampa, Florida

More, more! I love Americans. I could read their "we are the best" posts all day. Great stuff.

Matt, Nottingham, UK

So let's tell the Mexicans, Saldureanos, Guatemalans, Cubans, Dominicans, Haitians, Jamicans, Ethipoians, Mali, Egyptians, Hmong, everybody from Islamic Arabic and Iran, Russians, Serbs, Bosnians, Turks, Palestinians, ( not a country) and Brazilians, Colombians, Venzuelans, Ecuadorians, Peruvians, Bolivians ...... and so on, becuase they are all here.

Rick, Miami Beach, Fl

Just two questions:

Who set the parameters for this study, commissioned and financed it, and then scrutinised the report before passing it fit for publication?

Why is it not self-evident that the UK is one of the most stable and prosperous countries in the world?

Jo, Devon, England

It's great to know that wealthy Americans are happy about their positions in life, but what about the 36.5 million American citizens that live under the poverty line? For a family of 4 to be living under the poverty line, they would have to make a total household income of less than $21 200 per year. This is barely enough to support 1 person, let alone a family of 4. I find it a little naive of Rick from Nashville to think that the US poor have a better standard of living than the UK's middle class. Not only is Rick forgetting about the tens of millions of Americans that live under the poverty line, he is also forgetting that 47 million Americans do not have any health insurance. The U.S. is the only wealthy, industrialized nation that does not have a universal health care system. These statistics explain why the US is ranked 22nd on the list. My country isn't perfect, by any means, but people like RIck and Mickey should take their heads out of the sand.

Noah, Montreal, Canada

Surprising that in all these comments no ones spoken of simple math.

The 'top ten' are actually the top three. They range in score from 99 to 97. If the pattern exhibited is continued in the rest of the scoring, the US is actually in the real top ten--at least as far as this survey goes. The US is actually at position 7--along with every other country that scored 93.

What we see here is yet another example of Europeans lying to themselves to make themselves feel better. It's a sad thing that's all too common these days.

jack, Covington,

Thats great. Finally the rest of the world can do their part for world peace, global warming and any other malady that people want to blame on the US. Let these prosperous countries pay for global warming, carbon offsets, kyoto treaty rather than shaft the United STates with the bill. IF these countries are so damn great and prosperous, then nows the time to pay the piper!

jw, salisbury, usa/md

Wow, that's got the cowboys shouting about their personal freedom and their big weapons. I guess that will be the freedom to bear arms that resulted in the deaths of a string of Presidents, Martin Luther King and John Lennon.

steve C, Stafford, UK

So the United States was "graded down" for our citizens ability to protect themselves in their homes? And - our greatest threat from our failure to maintain our border secure is drugs coming across? It is not the drugs - it is the 20 million people of unknown backgrounds, agendas and health that destabilize us.

Suwan, Hooterville, USA/IN

Yes, well how would it rate if the factors included social mobility, individual financial opportunity, racism, educational opportunity, career mobility, personal asset acquisition, religious tolerance, just to name a few. What about the US constitution's adaptiveness to amendments like the civil rights act (60s) and fair housing act (90s). Consider also that every major eduational institution practices affirmative action. And the numerous powerful lobbyist groups and special interest groups all have a forum in Washington. The US has at least paved an infrastructure for the pursual of economic survival and acquisition of wealth for all. we may not be perfect, but at least we TRY.

Sara, Greenville, ND, USA

The standard of living in the United States is on the "down slope" because the self serving Republicans and Democrats that are supposed to be representing us are representing only themselves. They don't worry about health care--theirs is free. They don't worry about saving Social Security--they have a plan that pays them "full salary" for their retirement and the list goes on. As a world traveler, I can honestly tell you that we are in a tail spin downward spiral. Our inner cities are in ruin, our education system is in ruin, the only health care plan available to the citizens is one that makes our doctors filthy rich.
Did anyone notice that the Fed bailed out Bear Stearns with taxpayers money? They bailed out "Bear Stearns Co." which is NOT A BANK. The Fed bailed out the same companies (under the Bear Stearns umbrella) that have caused the sub prime mortgage meltdown and made billions in profit at the expense of the middle class. Removing all incumbents would be a good start.

George Peckham, Ft. Pierce, USA/Florida

I'm amused at the amount of comments on here that are so defensive from Americans. I get that we are the most prosperous nation, and the best thing since sliced bread. But in no way could we claim we are more stable than that of the "old guard" nations of Europe. We have the worst drivers in the word, far too many guns, tons of inner city violence, and we are always just one "politically incorrect" remark away from a racial riot in certain parts of the country.

Case in point, a few weeks ago there was an All-American High School Football(american) player in LA that was gunned down by a gang member (who just got out of prison). Why? Because the gang member pulled up in his car and asked the kid what gang he was in, and when the kid didn't answer (he was on his cell phone) the idiot shot him, because he assumed he was in the rival gang!

Yes, we are the epitome of the word "Stability." That is, until someone smudges your Puma's...

Chris, Reston, Virginia, USA

Steve, Torrington, Devon said:
"I'd like to comment more, but I must go to the mines with my wheelbarrow and get some coal. Then I can boil my cauldron, sprinkle in some washing soda crystals and wash my pauper's rags. If there's time before it gets dark, I'll walk into town and try to beg some money and wisdom from any American tourists that might be slumming it. They're easy to spot."

Steve, you're much too subtle; people will assume you're joking!

To those wondering where Canada appears on the list....Sorry, didn't see you there. Catch you next time, eh?

William, Marietta, USA/GA

I tell you what stability is. I was studying and working in the USA during 1970s, and Nixon was in the thick of Watergate scandal. He used all means to stay in power , would not go and kept on lying that he had no part in the Watergate building break in and did not know about it at that time. The impeachment hearing was going on was going nowhere as it was obstructed by partisan Republicans. Then one day the special prosecutor's office found out he left 20 mins of tape unerased in which he was talking about the break in and how the news can be managed. Even after this, he did not immediately resign, no one could fire him and Senate impeachment hearing was deadlocked andno one knew what to do. That was instability. He resigned only when he realised he was in a corner without escape route.

private wonderful health care? wait until you lose the job abd then get a serious health problem.

Norman, Manchester,

An ethnocentric rating system -- as an American I would _give_ points to the US for the Second Amendment (the right to keep and bear arms) and lower Britain's and Canada's rankings because of filthy NHS hospitals and Canada's throughly inadequate medical planning (A city in Canada with half a million people has fewer beds for premature babies than one in the US with 50,000.)

John Cosello, Peabody, MA USA

Why do the americans need to be so defensive, does the truth hurt so much?

Dr. M Lee, Bristol,

Am surprised that the US is 22nd given how deplorable social services have become. Not that alone but when you consider the cost of College education in relation to per capita income, and the cost of living as well as the state of the economy, I am really surprised. Am not sure what that does for most Americans whose egocentricism and narcissism will hinder them from embracing reality.

Angelo Matthews, Cambridge, USA / MA

Is it April 1st already ??

This kind on nonsense can only be made up.

RJA, Nottingham, Dis-UK.

The survey seems to be measuring current political stability. But what of the future? What will Britain's future energy and food security be like? - and our over-dependence on the financial sector?

Dave, Wrexham,

I wander if all of these countries opend their borders to the rest of the world how many people would move to Sweden over the USA?

Jason, Louisville,

Ill thought out comments above - every 100 years or so the world changes.. Britains time as a colonial power is seen in some respects as a great success for the development of the world but in many more is deeply regretable. your comments above show a lack of historical understanding which many others, not just Americans fail to grasp. When Britain power fell did the world stop turning - no - America -a young and ambitious country replaced us -you are not the same great nation you once were - your protectionist ideaology and arrogance mirror not just the British Empire but the Romans and Greeks. Silly silly comments that in 20, 30 100 years will seem more naive than ever before.......

watch out for China and India my friends........

jamie, london, England

"These bogus rankings come and go: twenty years back you would have learned that the US and the USSR were just about even economically.

We all know how <that> worked out. "

yeah we do -

USA
Total u.s. future debt obligation: $59 trillion
Public debt: $9 trillion
External debt: $12 trillion
Population below poverty line: 12%

Russia
Public debt: $90 billion
External debt: $45 billion
Population below poverty line: 7.8%
(couldn't find future debt obligation but i would guess it's "slightly" less than $59 trillion)

Yes, a lot of Russia's wealth is due to oil, but the numbers still don't lie. Americans have to get used to the US not being the greatest country in the world. To the contrary, our great country has lost its standing for myriad reasons and my guess is that over the next 10 years our standing will be even lower.

Tim, NY, New York, USA

To borrow a paragraph from the great PJ 'Rourke

"Americans hate foreigners. Americans hate foreigners because Americans are foreigners. We all come from foreign lands, even if we came 10,000 years ago on a land bridge across the Bering Strait."

Too many non Americans America can be a tough place to live. We don't have the extent of a social safety net European countries do of course that doesn't stop the Democratic Party from trying.

We don't have 100 vacation days off a year, free health care
nor bad teeth, I might add.

We also don't have a cast system. Our US Senate is filled with millionaire blow hards but explain how a red neck from Arkansas who grow up dirt poor became the US President?

Yes there are lots of bad things in America, crime, American Idol, survivor and Democrats.

But the best thing about America is if you really want to succeed, you have the environment to do so, regardless of were you come from or were you have been.

Chris, Tomball, USA/Texas

If we in the United States are so low on the totem pole, then why do we have more immigrants to our country than all of the other countries in the world COMBINED? Hmmm, who does these studies anyway? When I see Mexicans putting a new roof on the Vatican, then I'll pay attention. lol

Rick, Cadiz, Kentucky

Apparently while Deb from Phoenix was badmouthing her country and knocking our leadership in the field of science last evening, she missed the broadcast of the Shuttle Endeavor departing the Space Station. Without the leadership of the USA, there would be no "International" Space Station.

When the Vatican or Monaco put a man on Jupiter, then I'll be impressed.

Len, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

So if the USA is such an all encompassing, stand out brilliant place, better than everywhere else, how come you are all reading a British newspaper?

Sorry, cheap shot, couldn't resist.

This is not a list of the best places in the world or the best countries in the world. This is a list of the most stable countries in the world. So it's not surprising that small, old countries are the most stable - they are easily governable and have established a functioning system over a very long time.

Americans carrying handguns will not break the back of terrorism nor prevent an invading army. How many more high school shootings and ugly crime rates will it take before you find other ways to reinforce your machismo? Yes, you have a right to bear arms. Does that mean you should? Do you genuinely think that the US is a SAFER place because you can all have weapons? Who are you defending yourselves from? 99.99% of the time it is each other.

George, London,

It is interesting how you so quickly report findings like this without giving the actual specific criteria upon which these scores were determined. I think one should be very suspicious before believing the statement, "Jane’s system ... was based entirely on objective analysis", I'd be willing to bet that somewhere behind these figures lies a biased socialist viewpoint against the US.

Earl, Lexington, KY

Why are 700 a day leaving? Some mbecause they can afford to, cashing in assets in a high wage economy to get better value in low wage countries; some because they are curious about other countries, fancy a change etc.; and some because they are disillusioned about how Americanised our way of living has become.

AngryBob, Essex, UK

This is not news, this is commentary. I'll take *opportunity* over your "Socialist Utopia" anyday. As a U.S. Marine, I've seen how the "other half" lives around the world, and over all, I'm not impressed. The U.S. still has more freedom and opportunity, which is why we have such an immigration problem. While we have our problems, our standard of living is still outstanding, despite what you think you know by watching your state run news channels and CNN. I truly enjoyed seeing England and talking to the folks there, but I would never give up what I have here for what you can offer. God bless you all just the same.

James Anderson, Jacksonville, North Carolina

If all these other places are SO wonderful, why is the U.S. STILL the number one destination for immigrants? If the U.K. is SUCH a wonderful place, why does the majority of the few wealthy Brits move to SPAIN? Your taxes are abysmal (or was "high taxes" a positive in your scoring basis for this drivel notion of "social success"? And people have been fleeing your country to the point that Ireland had to lower taxes to nothing to get ANYONE to come back. My Welsh ancestors left there nearly 400 years ago and NONE have ever gone back. Must be a good reason.

David Spurlock, Lemoore, California, USA

The Proliferation of small arms owned by Americans does not cause any instability, rather the opposite. Such a statement shows the "Progressive" bias of the reporter and his work should be read as a policy wish list, instead of serious research.

Mark Tice, Durango, U.S.A. Colorado

I'm so surprised that Russia did't appear in the end of the list as usually happened! As for US - UK, guys you're living in best countries of the world - and you're discussing a little difference of 4 points? That's funny.

Constantin, Moscow, Russia

If all these fired-up yanks are so content in the knowledge theirs is the best country in which to live, why are their comments so insecure and childish? They should take the publication of a opaque, abstract report more seriously.


No, cancel that. They might start bombing us. That seems to be their usual answer to criticism.

William, London, England

Thank god for the Britts, when a world tyrant threatens, they are super allies. But, we fought two wars against them to keep their bad ideas out of the U. S. Most of the flawed liberalism in this country originates from the Britts, we don’t care how you do it over there.

Wayne, Fernandina , Florida USA

To the gentleman who doesn't know anyone who wants to live in the US. Perhaps he doesn't know of the 11 million illegals? Many of them risk life and limb to be here.

Keith, Chicago, IL

For the record. The Russians beat the Germans and the British paid for it (and finished paying off a couple of years ago). The US beat the Japanese which is interesting given what they have now done to American industry.

OS, london, england

"""I just can't see how our small arms (legally owned or not) would prevent our government from going totalitarian. It takes a lot more than pistols and (even) hunting rifles to resist modern military firepower.

Take Iraq as an example. Insurgents there have IEDs, suicide bombs, AKs, mortars, high explosives, etc. As law-abiding US citizens, I doubt that we have or will ever be allowed to have what it would take to resist a modern military force.

Hello! This is the 21st century and armament has changed
over the past couple of centuries!


Max Yakov, Newark, , CA USA""""

I love how the socialists blow up all things to the absurd. personal ownership of guns in the U.S. was at the begining a protection from outside forces that may try to overtake the new American country/government. It could also be available to stop an internal takeover but that was a small consideration.

Tom, Alexandria, Va, USA

Great, I'm so glad that the "official rankings" are in. Now people can stop swarming over our borders into our "undesirable" country and go to Canada instead. Except that when Canadians want top-quality health care, they all come to the "undesirable" U.S.

What a joke.

Anthony, Bronx, NY

"Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Tojo, Noriega, Milosevic, Hussein. "

Right, well only one of those - Hitler - was a threat to Britain and having lost the Battle Of Britain he would have been in no position to take the Island. Nice of the U.S. to turn up to that war when someone sunk your battleship, though, and Germany declared war on you. That was about 2 years after it all started.

( Tojo, Noreiga, Hussein, Tojo, Miolosevic, Mussolini - singger).

James, Bath, United Kingdom

It won't cost us $20k either. Most of us have healthcare. My co-pay is $10.

Max Killinger, New York, USA

I have read the above and understand why the world can never achieve true peace. It so reminded me of being back in primary school, all you people be ashamed

dave, Romford , Essex

Yeah... is it realy so? The only arcticle in the newspaper can lead to such hot and annoying rumours ! it is absu