The 26 happiest, richest, healthiest, and most crime-free countries to live in the world
26. Czech Republic — the central European nation has jumped three places this year. In the Economy sub-index it was rated very highly — 13th — but performed badly in the index's social capital ranking.
25. Slovenia — like the Czech Republic, education in Slovenia scored very highly. However, finishing 58th out of 142 in the economy index meant that Slovenia fell one place this year.
24. Spain — the most popular holiday destination for Brits scored well across the board, but top scores for education and personal freedom pushed Spain into the top 25.
23. Malta — despite its education system being ranked 42nd, strong scores in all other sub-indices mean that Malta keeps the same position as last year in the Prosperity Index.
22. France — France has fallen one place from 21st this year. Its health score was eighth overall, but a low social capital score pushed it outside of the top 20 for the third time in four years.
21. Taiwan — the island nation is just outside the top 20 after being given a big boost by a strong performance in the safety & security Index, where it ranked sixth.
20. Hong Kong — people in Hong Kong can enjoy being top of the pile when it comes to safety & security, and in the top ten for entrepreneurship & opportunity.
19. Japan — citizens in Japan are the seventh healthiest on earth according to the Prosperity Index, but the country is 33rd in terms of personal freedom, lowering its overall ranking.
18. Belgium — ranked inside the top 25 in every sub-index, but scored best on health where it ranked tenth. Despite that, it fell by one place in the Prosperity Index this year.
17. Singapore — Singapore swapped places with Belgium in this year's Index and was helped by finishing first in the economy sub-index.
16. Austria — Finishing inside the top ten in two categories — health, and entrepreneurship & opportunity — wasn't enough to stop Austria sliding one place from 15th.
15. United Kingdom — Britain fell two places from 13th to 15th this year, helped by finishing outside the top 20 in both the education and safety indexes.
14. Germany — According to the Prosperity Index, Germany has the fifth best economy in the world, helping it stay 14th for the fourth year running.
13. Luxembourg — citizens enjoy high levels of personal freedom and health, as well as strong governance and a good economy, helping it rise from 16th in 2014 to 13th this year.
12. Iceland — The north Atlantic nation finished in the top five in three sub-indexes; personal freedom, safety & security, and entrepreneurship & opportunity. This wasn't enough to stop it falling one place from the 2014 Index.
11. United States — The world's most powerful country scored higher than any other in the Legatum Institute's health index, but citizens are amongst the least safe and secure in this list. The USA was 33rd in this sub-index.
10. Ireland — Ireland jumped two places from 12th in this year's index, thanks to finishing fourth in the safety & security sub-index.
9. Finland — the Finnish enjoy the fifth best levels of governance in the world, but their relatively poor economy, ranked 33rd has helped push the country down from eighth last year.
8. Netherlands — Gaining one place in this year's index, the Netherlands is ranked highly in the education, health and personal freedom sub-indices.
7. Australia — the country has now ranked seventh for three consecutive years, and this year was rated by the Prosperity Index as having the world's best education system.
6. Canada — according to the Prosperity Index, Canada is the true land of the free, its citizens enjoy the highest levels of personal freedom of any nation surveyed. It fell one place from fifth.
5. Sweden — Swedes are blessed with the world's highest levels of entrepreneurship and opportunity, helping the country gain one place in this year's Index.
4. New Zealand — Strong social cohesion and community engagement means that New Zealand has the best level of social capital on earth, and is the most prosperous non-European nation.
3. Denmark — Danes can enjoy great governance, top level education, and a high social capital score. If it wasn't for its relatively poor health score (16th) the country might top the whole Index. It has climbed one place this year.
2. Switzerland — Switzerland has now 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.
1. Norway — The Scandinavian country tops the Prosperity Index once again in 2015. It has been first every year for the last seven years. Norway is the only country rank in the top ten of every sub-index.
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