Norway tops 'best country' list, U.S. ranks 10th

2010-10-26 20:40:15 GMT+7 (ICT)

LONDON (BNO NEWS) – Norway on Tuesday was listed as the top country in the world, according to the Legatum Institute's latest Prosperity Index, which measures both material wealth and quality of life.

The Legatum Prosperity Index - now in its fourth edition - assesses wealth and wellbeing at an international level, analyzing 110 nations, which cover over 90 percent of the world's population.

"[Legatum Prosperity Index] finds that successful countries enjoy a 'virtuous cycle' of economic liberty and growth, political freedom and good governance, and enterprising and happy citizens, which mutually reinforce each other on the path to prosperity," the institute said.

While Norway was listed at the top, Canada was ranked 7th and the United States 10th. The top three countries were Scandinavian countries (Denmark and Finland ranked 2nd and 3rd, respectively). The 4th and 5th ranked countries were Australia and New Zealand, while Sweden, another Scandinavian country, was listed as 6th.

The highest rated Asian country was Singapore at the 17th spot, closely followed by Japan at rank 18. Uruguay was the top rated Latin American country and was listed as 28th while Botswana made it to 58, the highest ranked African country.

The group avoids the usual statistical methods to rank countries by wealth or poverty and ranks countries according to its "prosperity," which considers factors that "help drive economic growth or produce happy citizens in a given country," including political systems, governance, and enterprising citizens.

Not surprisingly, at 110, the African nation of Zimbabwe was listed at the worst possible spot.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2010-10-26

If you read this crappy article - toughy luck for you!

You may want to look at the original.........www.prosperity.com

Thailand is somewhere halfway on the 110 countries list.

For personalfreedom ......... well , check it yourself.

And not forget the pinch of salt....... for national health, the US is number one....... Seriously! Thanks to Saint Obama?