Germany is among the 10 Best Countries to Live in, according to the latest issue of the international lifestyle magazine Condé Nast Traveler. The publisher’s ranking includes numerous factors, including health care, sustainability, education, equal rights and the average income of the population.
Petra Hedorfer, chairman of the board of the German National Tourist Board (GNTB): “The quality of life in Germany enjoys high international appraisal. This also characterizes the excellent image of Germany and supports the demand for the destination.“
The top runners in the 2017 ranking are Norway, followed by Australia and Switzerland. Germany is in fourth place ahead of Denmark, Singapore, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, Canada, and the USA.
In a statement, the magazine explains that “Germany can position itself in the top 5 with its leadership position on issues of energy efficiency, technological development and a high standard of education. Germany is prominently represented on the world stage, as one of the strongest economies in the world and the most populous country in the EU.”
“Germany is among the Top 5 Countries to Live In” NOT “under” While “unter” literally means “under” it also means “among.” A literal reading of the sentence would give the impression that Germany is number 6 or lower among countries to live in.
But, having lived in Germany for 26 years, I agree with the sentiment.
Hi Jack,
It is perfectly acceptable to use “under” in this case as well since it is being filed under the category of “Top 5.” Perhaps using “among” would have been more specific, but as this is not our original article and “under” works as well, I left it as is.
~Alexa C., Native English Speaker