Costa Rica Tops List of Happiest Countries in the World, Indonesia Ranks 16th

London, 16 Syawal 1437/21 July 2016 (MINA) – The tiny South American republic of Costa Rica has been named the most sustainably happy country in the world, independent.co.uk reported on Thursday.

The Happy Planet Index report, published by the New Economics Foundation, seeks to move away from purely economic measures of happiness and instead ranks countries by how much happiness they get from the amount of environmental resources used.

Happiness is calculated by measuring a country’s happiness in relation to the wellbeing, life expectancy and social inequality and then dividing it by its ecological footprint.

While the list is topped by many Latin American countries, followed by Asia. Larger western countries perform less well. The UK comes in at just 34, while the USA ranks at 108.

Indonesia achieves a Happy Planet Index Score of 35.7 and ranks 16th of all the countries analysed.

Costa Rica sealed first place, with 99% of its electricity coming from renewable sources – meaning its population uses a fraction of the resources used by other countries in the West.

The report noted it also abolished its army in 1949 and reinvested the money in health and education programmes. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agncy (MINA)