The Happy Planet Index ranks countries based on how efficiently their residents can live long, happy lives right now, and in the future. The index challenges the conventional wisdom that wealth equates to delivering a successful economy: Most advanced nations don’t have a place in the top 20 of the index. Costa Rica leads the ranking for the third time, and Norway (12), Spain (15) and The Netherlands (18) are the only Western nations in the top 20. The U.S. ranks at 108. What sets Costa Rica apart is that it manages to combine long, happy lives with an environmental impact that’s little more than one-third of the size of that of the U.S.
In the most efficient economy people live longer and happier lives
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