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| European countries dominate in global prosperity rankings | European countries dominate in global prosperity rankings |
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| Norway has been named the most prosperous country in the world for the sixth year in a row by a global prosperity ranking, which rates countries on how they perform in areas such as economics, health, education and freedom. | Norway has been named the most prosperous country in the world for the sixth year in a row by a global prosperity ranking, which rates countries on how they perform in areas such as economics, health, education and freedom. |
| European countries dominate the top 30 of the Prosperity Index, while the UK has jumped three places on last year’s rankings and has been named the most prosperous of all the major EU countries in 2014. It has been placed above Germany at 14th and France at 21st place. | European countries dominate the top 30 of the Prosperity Index, while the UK has jumped three places on last year’s rankings and has been named the most prosperous of all the major EU countries in 2014. It has been placed above Germany at 14th and France at 21st place. |
| It also warns that the US is “no longer perceived to be the ‘land of the free’” and is placed 21st for the personal freedom, below countries such as Uruguay and Costa Rica. | It also warns that the US is “no longer perceived to be the ‘land of the free’” and is placed 21st for the personal freedom, below countries such as Uruguay and Costa Rica. |
| Following Norway in second place on the overall rankings is Switzerland. New Zealand, which is placed third, is the highest climber of the latest release with its jump up attributed to its economic resurgence. | Following Norway in second place on the overall rankings is Switzerland. New Zealand, which is placed third, is the highest climber of the latest release with its jump up attributed to its economic resurgence. |
| Almost two thirds of the countries listed in the top 30 are European nations, with 16 of these being EU member states. | Almost two thirds of the countries listed in the top 30 are European nations, with 16 of these being EU member states. |
| Think tank and publisher of the index, the Legatum Institute name the UK as a “world leader in entrepreneurship” and credit this as one of the reasons for its rise in the rankings, along with the following: | Think tank and publisher of the index, the Legatum Institute name the UK as a “world leader in entrepreneurship” and credit this as one of the reasons for its rise in the rankings, along with the following: |
| This, combined with other non-economic factors such as improvements in how people feel about their personal safety (up from 66%-74% compared to 2009), the perception that working hard gets you ahead (up from 78%-84%) and people feeling as though they have more personal freedom (up from 78%-91%), places Britain among the most prosperous countries in the world. | This, combined with other non-economic factors such as improvements in how people feel about their personal safety (up from 66%-74% compared to 2009), the perception that working hard gets you ahead (up from 78%-84%) and people feeling as though they have more personal freedom (up from 78%-91%), places Britain among the most prosperous countries in the world. |
| According to the think tank, Russia is the worst performing country in Europe, having fallen seven places to 68th position. Low rankings in governance (113th) and personal freedom (124th) are attributed to the drop in overall ranking. | According to the think tank, Russia is the worst performing country in Europe, having fallen seven places to 68th position. Low rankings in governance (113th) and personal freedom (124th) are attributed to the drop in overall ranking. |
| The index assesses 142 countries and looks at 89 individual variables across eight sub-indices: economy, entrepreneurship and opportunity, governance, education, personal freedom, health, safety and security and social capital. | The index assesses 142 countries and looks at 89 individual variables across eight sub-indices: economy, entrepreneurship and opportunity, governance, education, personal freedom, health, safety and security and social capital. |
| At the bottom of the rankings is the Central African Republic which also has ranked last for entrepreneurship and opportunity and second to last in the health category. | At the bottom of the rankings is the Central African Republic which also has ranked last for entrepreneurship and opportunity and second to last in the health category. |
| Sub-Saharan African countries take nine of the bottom 10 places on the health sub-index with Sierra Leone named as the worst performing country for this category. In its study, the think tank warns: “the health systems in the majority of countries in the region are underdeveloped and ill-prepared to face serious threats to public health, such as the recent outbreak of Ebola in West Africa.” | Sub-Saharan African countries take nine of the bottom 10 places on the health sub-index with Sierra Leone named as the worst performing country for this category. In its study, the think tank warns: “the health systems in the majority of countries in the region are underdeveloped and ill-prepared to face serious threats to public health, such as the recent outbreak of Ebola in West Africa.” |
| You can find the full rankings in the table below. To see the rankings by sub-index, scroll across the table to the right. |