"Despite other nations offering some of the best quality of life around the world, England still came out on top."
The Society asked its members which of the nations competing in the 2018 World Cup in Russia they would live in if money was no object.
In a result Three Lions fans would love to see repeated on the pitch in Moscow on July 15, it was England and its green and pleasant land that came out on top of the 32-country competition.
England, with 31.8% of the vote saw off the nearest competition in the shape of Australia (13.6%), with Spain (9.1%) and Switzerland (8.4%) battling out the minor places.
Some of the world’s leading football powers bowed out at the quarter-final stage, with Portugal (6.5%) and Germany (3.3%) failing to make the final four.
The Scandinavian nations of Denmark (5.2%) and Sweden (3.3%), which regularly feature in the Social Progress Index research as providing the best quality of life in the world, were eliminated in the last eight.
Some notable holiday destinations failed to receive enough votes to make it into the knockout stages. Popular destinations for UK holidaymakers, including France, Croatia and Iceland all fell by the wayside early, packing their bags and heading home.
Richard Fearon, chief commercial officer at Leeds Building Society, said: “England lays claim to be the home of football and this survey has revealed our members are proud to call England home.
“Despite other nations offering some of the best quality of life around the world, England still came out on top.
“Our mission is to help people save for their future and have the home they want. Whether that’s saving for a move to other side of the world, or buying a property closer to home, we focus on what matters to our customers and work together with them to make things happen.”
