Which country has the best public spaces?
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Scandinavia has yet again come top in a country comparison, this time for satisfaction in public spaces. When asked to rate their satisfaction with urban recreational and green areas, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland all scored 8/10 or above. Switzerland tied with Denmark and Iceland, also rating 8/10.
According to Eurostat, which conducted the survey, roughly 40% of Europeans now live in a densely populated area. In some countries, that number is notably higher. The United Kingdom has the most urban dwellers: 58.6% of the population. Other countries with large city populations include Cyprus (54.7%), Spain (48.5%), Malta (48%), Bulgaria (45.7%) and the Netherlands (45.2%). Green spaces have been found to have a significantly positive psychological effect on the people living in these areas.
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Author: Donald Armbrecht is a freelance writer and social media producer.
Image: A man pushes his bicycle on a sunny autumn day down a tree-lined street in Stockholm. REUTERS/Jessica Gow/TT News Agency
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