Netherlands tops Numbeo Quality of Life Index 2026
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Netherlands tops Numbeo Quality of Life Index 2026
Updated 3 February 2026 at 13:29
The Netherlands has taken the top spot in the Quality of Life Index by Country 2026, according to the latest figures released by Numbeo. In a closely contested ranking dominated by European nations, the country places just ahead of Denmark and Luxembourg, reflecting strong overall scores across safety, healthcare, purchasing power, and environmental indicators, according to Numbeo’s methodology.
The Netherlands is in a tight cluster of the top three
The Netherlands ranks first in the Quality of Life Index by Country 2026, according to the latest figures published by Numbeo. With a score of 213.6, it places just ahead of Denmark (212.2) and Luxembourg (211.9), in what is a tightly clustered top three.
Numbeo’s index combines a range of indicators, including purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, property price to income ratio, traffic commute times, pollution and climate. According to the platform’s 2026 data, the Netherlands records a Safety Index of 74.5, a Health Care Index of 81.5 and a Pollution Index of 20.9, alongside a Climate Index of 86.9.
Other countries in the top ten include Switzerland, Finland, Austria, Germany, Iceland and Norway, highlighting a strong European presence at the upper end of the ranking. Larger economies such as the United States (15th) and the United Kingdom (22nd) appear further down the list, according to Numbeo’s table.
As with all composite indices, the results reflect the specific methodology used. Numbeo’s data is largely user-contributed and perception-based, aggregated into a single overall score. The 2026 edition places the Netherlands at the top of the ranking based on that model.
For international businesses, talent and policymakers tracking global liveability trends, the outcome offers one data point among many. According to Numbeo’s latest release, the Netherlands currently leads the Quality of Life Index by Country for 2026, narrowly ahead of its European peers.
While the index measures quality of life at national level, the result inevitably reflects on the country’s major urban centres. As the Netherlands’ capital and international gateway, Amsterdam plays a visible role in shaping global perceptions around safety, connectivity, healthcare and environmental standards.
