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By Derek Abma and Peter O’Neil

Australia is seen as having the best quality of life among industrialized countries, one ranking ahead of second-place Canada, according to a report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

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However, it appears the clincher for Australia could be its high voter-turnout rates, which policy-makers in that country agree are largely the result of mandatory voting laws.

Canada scored at or near the top in areas such as housing, education, health and life satisfaction among the 34 major industrialized countries that make up the OECD. Sweden ranked third, the U.S. was seventh and Turkey was dead last.

The Better Life Initiative survey marks an attempt by the OECD — an economic and social policy think-tank funded by its members — to provide a broader measure of a country’s success than gross domestic product figures.

A key finding indicating people in Canada feel they have it pretty good was that 78% of Canadians surveyed said they’re satisfied with life, well ahead of the OECD average of 59%. Canada also beat the top-ranked Australia on this question, where 75% expressed a general contentment with their circumstances.