Are you looking to settle abroad? Then a new report might be of help to you. According to recent surveys by various organizations including the United Nations, there are some cities and countries that are recognized as wealthy, innovative, happy and have an excellent work-life balance. There are some destinations that are ahead on multiple criteria.

Best in multiple categories: Germany and Berlin are examples.

Germany is ranked 22nd in happiness, and its capital Berlin is ranked 5th in the ‘smart city’ list and in the top 10 for work-life balance.

European countries lead

Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands – according to the UN Happiness Report – are the happiest and in the top 10 for work-life balance. Copenhagen and Oslo are also in the top 10 for smart cities.

New Zealand: Best in balance and opportunity

New Zealand is ranked 12th in the world for happiness and first in work-life balance. The country recently eased the long-term working visa and golden passport programs, making it easier for US citizens to live and work there.

The world's richest cities – (Henley & Partners, 2025)

New York tops the list, with nearly 400,000 millionaires and 66 billionaires. Next are:

2. Bay Area

3. Tokyo

4. Singapore

5. Los Angeles

6. London (215,700 millionaires and 33 billionaires)

7. Paris

8. Hong Kong

9. Sydney

10. Chicago

The world's smartest cities – (IESE Cities in Motion Index, 2025)

The IESE Index ranks 183 cities based on 9 factors: economy, technology, environment, international profile, human resources, governance, urban planning, transportation and social cohesion.

Top 10 smart cities:

1. London
2. New York
3. Paris
4. Tokyo
5. Berlin
6. Washington
7. Copenhagen
8. Oslo
9. Singapore
10. San Francisco

London is 1st in human capital, New York is at the top in economy. However, these cities lag behind in social cohesion and environment. For example, New York's social cohesion score is 127th!

Best cities for work-life balance – (Remote, 2024)

According to Remote's Global Work-Life Balance Index:

1. Wellington (New Zealand) – 32 days annual leave, universal healthcare
2. Dublin
3. Brussels
4. Copenhagen
5. Ottawa
6-10: Berlin, Helsinki, Canberra, Oslo and Madrid

These countries are ahead in terms of safety, minimum wage, childcare and equal rights in the workplace.

The happiest countries in the world according to the United Nations – (World Happiness Report, 2025)

The issue of humanity and compassion has become important in the 2025 Happiness Report. It has been seen that after the pandemic, people's donation, help and compassion have increased by 10%.

Top 10 happiest countries:

1. Finland
2. Denmark
3. Iceland
4. Sweden
5. Netherlands
6-10: Israel, Norway, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Australia

Others ranked:

New Zealand (12), Ireland (15), Canada (18), Germany (22), UK (23), US (24), France (33)

The US happiness index has been stagnant or falling since 2012 and is now at an all-time low. According to CNTraveler, the US is on the rise in ‘deaths of depression’ (such as suicides and drug-related deaths) and these rates are still high.

Wondering about the weather?

If you’re looking for a sunny city, holiday planner Holidu says the five sunniest cities in Europe are all in Spain—Cartagena, Alicante, Malaga, Murcia and Granada, each with an average of more than 273 hours of sunshine per month. France’s Marseille and Nice round out the top 15.

It’s important to consider more than just wealth before making a decision.

Cities like Berlin, Oslo, and Copenhagen—not only boast advanced smart infrastructure, but also lead in quality of life and human happiness. New Zealand and Finland, on the other hand, perform exceptionally well in terms of their balance of economic opportunity and social well-being—along with generous work-life policies.

So, there are some destinations that are a great mix of prosperity, innovation, and humanity—that could be your next destination.