New Zealand has edged out Canada in a United Nations assessment of the world's most developed countries. The ranking is based on life expectancy, access to education and per capita gross national income. On this year's list New Zealand came seventh and Canada eighth. New Zealand slipped ahead of Canada largely because of significantly higher average expected years of education: 19.4 against Canada's 15.9. Canada won on life expectancy – 81.5 years against 81.1 years – and on per capita income – $41,887 against $32,569. Norway topped the assessment, followed by Australia, Switzerland, Netherlands and the United States.
