Lifestyle
25 Wealthiest, Healthiest, Happiest, and Most Advanced Countries in the World
How prosperous is your country? See if it made the list!
Last Thursday, the Legatum Institute released its 10th annual global prosperity index. This survey ranks the most prosperous countries in the world.
But it’s not all about the money! The survey have 104 other variables like the business environment, governance, health, safety and security, personal freedom, and the natural environment.
149 countries were included in the survey, countries that have the most available data. In the past 7 years since the index has been conducted, Norway got the top spot, but that’s not the case this year!
Check out the results below.
25. Portugal.
They’re also in 10th place when it comes to personal freedom.
24. Malta.
Their top variable was social capital, whether they ranked at 8th place.
23. Hong Kong.
They’re at 4th place in terms of business environment.
22. Japan.
They’re at 3rd for safety and security, and 4th for health.
21. Spain.
Despite their political troubles in the past few years, Spain is actually quite prosperous!
20. Slovenia.
They have the best natural environment on earth!
19. Singapore.
This financial hub 2nd place for health, and 1st for safety and security!
18. France.
France’s natural environment is at 4th place overall.
17. United States.
They’re at #1 for the business environment. But we’re all wondering if future president Trump can maintain that.
16. Belgium.
They’re within the top ten when it comes to both personal freedom and education.
15. Austria.
Austria’s top feature is safety and security, where they ranked at #9.
14. Iceland.
This isolated country ranks in the top five for safety and security, personal freedom, and social capital.
13. Ireland.
Their top sub-index score was personal freedom, and they’re also in 7th place in education.
12. Luxembourg.
They’re in the top bunch for both personal freedom and health.
11. Germany.
It’s best ranking feature is economic quality, where they came in at 5th.
10. United Kingdom
It’s best ranking feature is economic quality, where they came in at 5th.
They were at 15th place last year, but they’ve risen up despite the Brexit vote.
9. Denmark.
When ranking the Scandinavian region (which has enviably high standards of living), Denmark was actually beat out by the other Scandinavian nations! They do rank high in safety and security at #5.
8. Sweden.
Sweden is at 3rd in economic quality and 5th for governance.
7. Netherlands.
They’re at second place in both education and economic quality.
6. Australia.
This laid-back country came second overall for social capital.
5. Canada.
They’re at third for social capital and business environment, and second for personal freedom.
4. Switzerland.
Unsurprisingly ranking high in prosperity, Switzerland took the number one spot for education.
3. Finland.
They took the top spot for governance!
2. Norway.
Still ranking high despite being at the top spot for 7 consecutive years.
1. New Zealand.
They are officially the most prosperous country on earth and they ranked at #1 for social quality and economic quality. They even come 2nd for business environment and governance.