The Top 10 Most Prosperous Countries

The Legatum Institute, a London-based think tank, release their global Prosperity Index annually and the endless survey ranks the mos
t prosperous countries in the world.

Many assume prosperity is used in reference to the financial standing of a country and, while this is included, the Legatum Institute considers more factors in its ranking. The organisation compares 89 variables to distinguish the ranking, including traditional indicators such as per capita gross domestic products and the number of people in full-time work, to more unusual figures such as the number of secure internet servers a country has or how well rested people feel on a day-to-day basis.

Analysts then split these 89 determining factors into eight sub-indexes: economy, entrepreneurship and opportunity, governance, education, health, safety and security, personal freedom, and social capital.

The index ranked 142 countries that had the most available data and below are the top ten performing nations

10. Ireland

Having risen two places since 2015, the Emerald Isle has crept into the top 10 for 2016. Ireland was most successful in the safety and security category, ranking in 4^th place. The country was ranked 6^th for personal freedom and 8^th for education, with a teacher to pupil ratio of 16:1.

The only sections letting Ireland down were economy, and entrepreneurship and opportunity, in which Ireland ranked 18^th for both.

9. Finland

Despite Finland falling 1 place this year, it still boasts an impressive ranking of 3^rd with regards to the safety and security sub-index. The country also fared well for both governance and social capital, taking the 5^th spot. However, Finland could have ranked significantly higher if it were not for its 33^rd place ranking for economy. Since the stagnation of trade with from Russian, Finland has struggled from economic woes. The government also has one of the highest spending rates in Europe

8. Netherlands

The Netherlands has risen one place this year, helped by a strong education ranking of 4^th. Education is orientated towards the needs and background of the individual in the country and teaching is divided over schools for different age groups, some of which are split into streams for different educational levels.

The Netherlands ranked well in both health and social capital sub-indexes, gaining well-deserved 5^th and 7^th places respectively. The only category to let the country down slightly was safety and security, for which it ranked 19^th. However, all results were below the global average.

7. Australia

Australia is one of the few countries that has remained in the same position as the previous year. Historically, Australia has had an excellent education ranking (never lower than a 2) and this year is the same, holding on to the top spot which was bestowed upon it last year.

Australia ranked well across all categories, only wavering in the health and safety and security sub-indexes but still receiving a very solid placing of 15^th for both.

6. Canada

Despite having fallen from 5^th place last year, sub-index ranking for Canada is very impressive. The country was ranked in 2^nd place to Australia for education, and secured the top spot for personal freedom, with 94% of the country satisfied by their freedom of choice.

Aside from ranking 15^th for entrepreneurship and opportunity, Canada was strong across the board.

5. Sweden

Sweden has risen by 1 position this year and its best performance was in the entrepreneurship and opportunity sub-index, ranking 1^st. The country also proved its worth in the governance section, receiving 4^th position.

Generally, Sweden is positioned well, the only discrepancy being for education, in which it ranked 17^th. Sweden was once regarded as a byword for high-quality education, but has seen its scores in the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) assessment plummet in recent years.

4. New Zealand

The country has only slipped one place this year, and strong social cohesion and community engagement mean New Zealand has the best level of social capital, ranking 1^st for it. Personal freedom and governance were also strong indices for the country, holding 2^nd place for both.

The only thorn in New Zealand’s side is health, for which it ranked 19^th, and could be due to the mixed public-private healthcare system that has become the norm due to significant changes in the system in recent years.

3. Denmark

Denmark climbed one place this year and the Danes are benefiting from great governance, top-level education, and a high social-capital score (all in 3^rd place). If not for its relatively poor health score of 16^th position, the country has the potential to reign triumphant in 1^st position on the index next years.

2. Switzerland

Always the bridesmaid and never the bride for Switzerland, who has been second in the Prosperity Index for three consecutive years. The Alpine nation ranks top of the governance sub-index and has the second-highest-rated economy, closely followed by health holding 3^rd position.

The education sector is the only sector to struggle in the index, receiving an 18^th place ranking. and possibly due to Switzerland dealing with cultural and linguistic diversity and appropriate education to promote and serve the unique blend.

1. Norway

Norway has ranked 1^st in the index for the past 6 years and this year is no different. The Scandinavian country is the only contender to be ranked in the top 10 of each sub-index, but interestingly, not positioned top in any.

The country ranked best in the sub-index of social capital (2^nd) and also fared well in personal freedom (3^rd), health and economy for which both received 4^th place.