UK worst quality of life in EU

Britain has been found to have the worst quality of life in a survey of ten developed European countries due to the high costs of living. The quality of life index produced by uSwitch, the comparison website also showed that the UK has the second lowest hours of sunshine a year of the countries surveyed. The UK was named the worst place to live in Europe for quality of life, behind countries with damaged economies such as Ireland and Italy. The country was listed as having above average household income, the fourth highest in Europe, but it emerged that Britons have 5.5 fewer days holiday a year than the European average and endure a below average government spend on education. The UK also had the fourth highest retirement age and the third lowest spend on health as a percentage of GDP. UK households were found to struggle with a high cost of living, with food and diesel prices the highest in Europe, and unleaded petrol, alcohol and cigarettes all costing more than the European average. As a result, more than one in 10 Britons (12%) said they are 'seriously considering' emigrating, with 'broken society' the biggest concern for 59% of those questioned. Almost half were also concerned by the cost of living and crime and violence, while just 5% said they were happy in the UK. The study examined 16 factors to determine where the UK sits in relation to nine other major European countries, including variables such as net income, VAT and the cost of essential as well as lifestyle factors such as working hours and life expectancy. France emerged at the top of the list followed by Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Germany and with Denmark, Poland, Sweden and Ireland also above the UK in the table.