The UK-based New Economics Foundation’s “Happy Planet Index” has ranked Costa Rica the happiest country in the world. Suprisingly, none of the so-called "developed" countries made the top list. What do you think of this list? Is is accurate? 




The new HPI results show the extent to which 151 countries across the globe produce long, happy and sustainable lives for the people that live in them.  The overall index scores rank countries based on their efficiency, how many long and happy lives each produces per unit of environmental output.
Each of the three component measures – life expectancy, experienced well-being and Ecological Footprint – is given a traffic-light score based on thresholds for good (green), middling (amber) and bad (red) performance. These scores are combined to an expanded six-colour traffic light for the overall HPI score, where, to achieve bright green – the best of the six colours, a country would have to perform well on all three individual components.
The scores for the HPI and the component measures can be viewed in map or table-form. By clicking on any individual country in the map or table you can explore its results in more detail.



1. COSTA RICA

Costa Rica achieves a Happy Planet Index Score of 64.0 and ranks #1 of all the countries analysed.
Costa Rica's HPI score reflects a high life expectancy, high levels of experienced well-being, and a moderate ecological footprint.

Other statistics
GDP per capita ($PPP): 11,569 (around a quarter of the USA's)
Population: 4.7 million (#113 of 151)
Land area (square km): 51.1 thousand (#117 of 151)
Population density (people per square km): 91.2 (#63 of 151)
Governance Ranking (WGI): #40




2. VIETNAM

Vietnam achieves a Happy Planet Index Score of 60.4 and ranks #2 of all the countries analysed.
Vietnam's HPI score reflects a high life expectancy, 'middling' levels of experienced well-being, and a low ecological footprint.

Other statistics
GDP per capita ($PPP): 3,205 (less than 10% of the USA's)
Population: 86.9 million (#13 of 151)
Land area (square km): 310 thousand (#63 of 151)
Population density (people per square km): 280 (#22 of 151)
Governance Ranking (WGI): #94

3. COLOMBIA

Colombia achieves a Happy Planet Index Score of 59.8 and ranks #3 of all the countries analysed.
Colombia's HPI score reflects a relatively high life expectancy, relatively high levels of experienced well-being, and a moderate ecological footprint.

Other statistics
GDP per capita ($PPP): 9,453 (around a fifth of the USA's)
Population: 46.3 million (#27 of 151)
Land area (square km): 1.1 million (#25 of 151)
Population density (people per square km): 41.7 (#102 of 151)
Governance Ranking (WGI): #80



4. BELIZE

Belize achieves a Happy Planet Index Score of 59.3 and ranks #4 of all the countries analysed.
Belize's HPI score reflects a high life expectancy, relatively high levels of experienced well-being, and a moderate ecological footprint.

Other statistics
GDP per capita ($PPP): 6,670 (around 15% of the USA's)
Population: 0.3 thousand (#150 of 151)
Land area (square km): 22.8 thousand (#134 of 151)
Population density (people per square km): 15.1 (#130 of 151)
Governance Ranking (WGI): #63

5. EL SALVADOR

El Salvador achieves a Happy Planet Index Score of 58.9 and ranks #5 of all the countries analysed.
El Salvador's HPI score reflects a relatively high life expectancy, relatively high levels of experienced well-being, and a moderate ecological footprint.

Other statistics
GDP per capita ($PPP): 6,668 (around 15% of the USA's)
Population: 6.2 million (#101 of 151)
Land area (square km): 20.7 thousand (#136 of 151)
Population density (people per square km): 299 (#21 of 151)
Governance Ranking (WGI): #61

6. JAMAICA

Jamaica achieves a Happy Planet Index Score of 58.5 and ranks #6 of all the countries analysed.
Jamaica's HPI score reflects a relatively high life expectancy, relatively high levels of experienced well-being, and a low ecological footprint.

Other statistics
GDP per capita ($PPP): 7,673 (around a sixth of the USA's)
Population: 2.7 million (#133 of 151)
Land area (square km): 10.8 thousand (#140 of 151)
Population density (people per square km): 249 (#25 of 151)
Governance Ranking (WGI): #58



7. PANAMA

Panama achieves a Happy Planet Index Score of 57.8 and ranks #7 of all the countries analysed.
Panama's HPI score reflects a high life expectancy, high levels of experienced well-being, and a moderately high ecological footprint.

Other statistics
GDP per capita ($PPP): 13,608 (less than 30% of the USA's)
Population: 3.5 million (#125 of 151)
Land area (square km): 74.3 thousand (#108 of 151)
Population density (people per square km): 47.3 (#98 of 151)
Governance Ranking (WGI): #56

8. NICARAGUA

Nicaragua achieves a Happy Planet Index Score of 57.1 and ranks #8 of all the countries analysed.
Nicaragua's HPI score reflects a relatively high life expectancy, 'middling' levels of experienced well-being, and a low ecological footprint.

Other statistics
GDP per capita ($PPP): 2,913 (less than 10% of the USA's)
Population: 5.8 million (#105 of 151)
Land area (square km): 120 thousand (#90 of 151)
Population density (people per square km): 48.1 (#97 of 151)
Governance Ranking (WGI): #108

9. VENEZUELA

Venezuela achieves a Happy Planet Index Score of 56.9 and ranks #9 of all the countries analysed.
Venezuela's HPI score reflects a relatively high life expectancy, high levels of experienced well-being, and a moderately high ecological footprint.

Other statistics
GDP per capita ($PPP): 12,233 (around a quarter of the USA's)
Population: 28.8 million (#43 of 151)
Land area (square km): 882 thousand (#32 of 151)
Population density (people per square km): 32.7 (#111 of 151)
Governance Ranking (WGI): #140




10. GUATEMALA

Guatemala achieves a Happy Planet Index Score of 56.9 and ranks #10 of all the countries analysed.
Guatemala's HPI score reflects a relatively high life expectancy, relatively high levels of experienced well-being, and a low ecological footprint.

Other statistics
GDP per capita ($PPP): 4,785 (around a tenth of the USA's)
Population: 14.4 million (#66 of 151)
Land area (square km): 107 thousand (#94 of 151)
Population density (people per square km): 134 (#41 of 151)
Governance Ranking (WGI): #102