Pacific's Vanuatu is 'happiest place on earth'
Updated Wed. Jul. 12 2006 11:38 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
The happiest place on earth is the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, a new survey claims.
The small island state, which has a population of just 209,000, came out top because its people are happy, live to nearly 70 and do little to damage the planet, the survey, published Wednesday, says.
The so-called 'Happy Planet Index' was compiled to prove that people can live long, happy lives without consuming large amounts of the Earth's resources.
"People are generally happy here because they are very satisfied with very little," said Marke Lowen, of Vanuatu Online.
"This is not a consumer-driven society. Life here is about community and family and goodwill to other people. It's a place where you don't worry too much."
The survey, compiled by the New Economics Foundation (NEF) and Friends of the Earth, indicates that although living standards in the West have improved dramatically over the past 50 years, it does not mean people are any happier.
The NEF was set up in 1986 to question the agenda of the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations.
Unfortunately, Canada does not even make it into the top 100 of the index, which was based on life expectancy, happiness and consumption levels, rather than national economic wealth indicators such as GDP.
Canada languishes at 111, behind the United Kingdom (108) but ahead of the United States (150).
Colombia is rated second in the index, with Costa Rica third and Dominica fourth.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe is ranked a dismal 178 -- the bottom of the heap. Russia is ranked at 172, while Japan comes out at 95 and Germany at 81.
Retail therapy doesn't buy happiness
Nic Marks, one of the author's of the NEF study, said the aim of the index was to show that well-being did not have to be linked to high levels of consumption.
"No single nation listed in the index has got everything right, but it does reveal patterns that show how we might better achieve long and happy lives for all while living within our environmental means," Marks said.
"The challenge is, can we learn the lessons and apply them?"
The survey was compiled using three factors: life expectancy, human well-being and damage done via a country's "environmental footprint".
Although Vanuatu tops the happiness index, it is ranked 207th out of 233 economies when measured against Gross Domestic Product.
The island's economy, like several Latin American nations, is built around small-scale agriculture and tourism.
The survey also suggests that life satisfaction varies greatly from country to country.
When questioned on how happy they were, on a scale of one to 10, 29 per cent of Zimbabweans, who have a life expectancy of 37, rated themselves at one, while just 6 per cent rated themselves at 10.
In contrast, 28 per cent of Danes rate their happiness at 10 out of 10, while less than 1 per cent rate it at one.
At the bottom of the index, above Zimbabwe, were three other African nations -- Swaziland, Burundi and Congo.
Life expectancy
Life expectancy also varies significantly from country to country, the survey reveals.
While Japanese people can expect to live to 82, Swazis on average die at just 32.
Generally, island nations scored well above average in the index, with Malta taking the lead in the western world and Bahrain beating its fellow Gulf states.
The NEF survey calls for a "global manifesto for a happier planet" to remind nations not to sacrifice human relationships for the sake of economic growth.
The survey's recommendations include eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, ensuring economic policies stay within environmental limits and recognizing the contribution of individuals.
