The 9 Best Countries for Americans to Move to Right Now
3 min readAwe-inspiring architecture, groundbreaking urban planning, and a culture rich in artistic expression—the best countries to live in embrace all of these elements. And while a thriving creative scene might not be directly linked to a country’s GDP or military might, a focus on design can contribute to a high quality of life. That’s why we’ve rounded up the best countries to live in for design lovers. Similar to our list of The 15 Best Places to Live in the US, we’ve used U.S. News & World Report’s annual list of the Best Countries in the World as a jumping-off point, choosing the top 15 design countries among them.
But first, here’s a bit more about the methodology….
What is the best country in the world to live in?
Switzerland clinched the number one spot on the U.S. News list, landing in the top 10 for multiple categories, including cultural influence, entrepreneurship, open for business, quality of life, and social purpose. These top scores contributed to the country’s winning position.
What is the number one best country in the world for design lovers?
The U.S. News list—which is based on a scoring system of 73 country attributes and surveys completed by more than 17,000 people around the globe—has 89 countries ranked in order. Our list, on the other hand, is in no particular order. We’ve eschewed a concrete ranking system, choosing instead to highlight 15 top-tier design countries (though we have kept them in the order of how they appear in the U.S. News list). Simply put, design is subjective, and while you could come up with a definitive answer to a country’s GDP or unemployment numbers, determining the most influential country in the fields of architecture or furniture design is nowhere near as clear-cut. However, we have considered which countries are home to UNESCO Cities of Design and where each country falls in the World Design Rankings, as well as general quality of life assessments from the U.S. News list.
What is the most livable country in 2025?
What constitutes “livable” might be just as subjective as what constitutes “good design.” So while certain countries on our list might be more livable to some because they offer an impressive health care system, political stability, superb public transportation, and an abundance of cultural opportunities, they might be unlivable to others due to their cost of living and a poor work-life balance. That being said, Denmark did rank number one for Quality of Life, according to U.S. News, with Sweden a close second and Switzerland coming in at third.
Is America the best country to live in?
The United States did jump from the fifth spot in 2023 to the third in U.S. News’s most recent rankings of the best countries to live in the world, but it didn’t crack the top 10 in the Quality of Life list. So no, it’s not necessarily the “best” country. But we’re giving the States props for its global cultural influence and for being home to a UNESCO City of Design—Detroit. Plus, San Diego, along with Tijuana, served as the World Design Capital for 2024. It was the first time a binational destination earned the title, which is designated every two years to a place that uses design to “enhance economic, social, cultural, and environmental quality of life.”
Now on to the list….
Switzerland
U.S. News & World Report ranking: First
