New Zealand has slipped from seventh spot to joint ninth in the world for its quality of life.
The ranking comes in a UN report which assesses economic, education and life-expectancy data.
Top of the list is Norway, followed by Australia and Switzerland.
The list is based on what the UN says are the three basic dimensions of human development - life expectancy, years of schooling and standard of living, measured by gross national income.
We share ninth spot with Canada.