Seven most magnificent palaces in the world
The prestigious magazine Architectural Digest has published a ranking of the world's most beautiful palaces. Let us take a look at the buildings that topped this list
1. Switzerland
GDP per capita: $58,647
Population: 8.3 mln
GDP: $701.0 bln
In 2002 Switzerland became a member of the UN, and has been included in the Schengen Agreement since 2004. The country is a Federative Rebublic and is divided into 20 cantons and 6 half-cantons. During several decades, the Swiss Confederation was on the list of offshore zones. Thanks to the domestic stability, financial institutions are well-developed and function at a high level here. Swiss banks cover 35-40% of the global management of legal and private persons' properties.
2. Canada
GDP per capita: $45,602
Population: 35.9 mln
GDP: $1.8 tln
Canada is a bilingual and multicultural country. Form of government is a constitutional monarchy with parliamentary system, wherein the post of monarch is taken by Elizabeth II, the Queen of the United Kingdom. The country's multi-branch economy is advanced thanks to the competent approach to rich natural resources and trade policy.
3. Great Britain
GDP per capita: $41,499
Population: 65.1 mln
GDP: $3.0 tln
The United Kingdom is one of the largest sovereign states in Europe and also a nuclear power. Great Britain has been a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council since 1952. The Queen Elizabeth II is formally admitted as a leader of 15 independent countries and a Head of the British Commonwealth of Nations. About 75% of the national economy accounts for the service sector. Also Britain's capital is one of the so-called control centres of global economy.
4. Germany
GDP per capita: $46,974
Population: 81.4 mln
GDP: $3.9 tln
The national economy develops rather dynamically, whereas the standard of living is very high. Thanks to the qualitative social welfare and universal health care system, Germany is the second-most-popular migration destination after the USA.
5. Japan
GDP per capita: $38,142
Population: 127.0 mln
GDP: $4.6 tln
Despite the virtual absence of natural resources, Japan is a very developed state with a high standard of living. The country is located on the Japanese archipelago, which consists of 6,852 islands. Japan has the highest rate of life expectancy – 82.12 years – and the lowest level of infant mortality.
6. Sweden
GDP per capita: $48,199
Population: 9.8 mln
GDP: $571.1 bln
60% of the country's gross domestic product accounts for taxes, that is the highest rate among the countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). With a population of only 9 million people, Sweden has 50 companies of global scale, among which are ABB, Oriflame, Scania, Volvo, Volvo Trucks, Ericsson. The country lays emphasis on the development of innovations, as the technology, produced in the state, is of very good quality. The Sweden's infrastructure is constantly being modernized, that makes it possible to stay on top.
7. USA
GDP per capita: $56,084
Population: 321.4 mln
GDP: $17.4 tln
America is the second country in the world to possess nuclear capability after RF. The US economy is one of the most diversified national economies of the world and stays in the lead during the last 100 years.
8. Australia
GDP per capita: $47,644
Population: 23.8 mln
GDP: $1.5 tln
Australia has the second-highest Human Development Index, accordingly, the country takes the leading positions in many spheres: civil rights protection, health, education, economic freedom. Despite the de facto automony, Australia is a member of G20, OECD, WTO, APEC, UN, Commonwealth of Nations, ANZUS and the Pacific Islands Forum.
9. France
GDP per capita: $41,476
Population: 66.8 mln
GDP: 2.8 tln
France is the largest state in Western Europe (area – 545 thousand square kilometers). France is a member of many world and regional international organizations: the United Nations Organization since 1945, the United Nations Security Council (has a veto power), the International Monetary Fund and others. France is one of the few countries, whose army has almost a full range of modern weapon and military hardware of own production.
10. Norway
GDP per capita: $68,592
Population: 5.2 mln
GDP: $449,8 bln
Just over a quarter of all the country's investments is a contribution to the drilling platforms construction in the North Sea, where oil and natural gas fields are located. Most of oil is exported,as thanks to hydroelectric engineering there is no need of additional energy. If we compare Norway to other European countries, the state has the lowest rates of inflation and unemployment.
The prestigious magazine Architectural Digest has published a ranking of the world's most beautiful palaces. Let us take a look at the buildings that topped this list
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