What’s the most prosperous country on Earth? The United States of America, right? Well, that apparently depends on how you define “prosperous.” A recent study by a London think tank ranked the U.S. 11th in prosperity behind countries like Norway, Finland and Ireland. Ireland? The Legatum Institute’s 2015 Prosperity Index rankings are based on eight factors: economy, entrepreneurship and opportunity, education, health, safety and security, personal freedom, social capital and governance.
The U.S. overall ranking is weighed down by two low rankings. We rank 33rd out of 142 countries for safety and security, down from 31st in 2014. That’s no real surprise given the continuing problems of crime and mass shootings. It is more disappointing the see the U.S. ranked 15 for personal freedom. At least that’s an improvement over our 21st finish in 2014. Among the countries deemed freer than America – Uruguay and Luxembourg. And the new “Land of the Free”? Canada, which is ranked #1 for personal freedom.
The United States did land one #1 ranking – for Health. So, we got that going for us.
Here are the 11 most prosperous countries, according to The Legatum Institute:
- Norway
- Switzerland
- Denmark
- New Zealand
- Sweden
- Canada
- Australia
- Netherlands
- Finland
- Ireland
- The United States
