Vietnam has been rated as the second happiest nation in the world thanks to its citizens’ high level of life satisfaction, high life expectancy, and environmental sustainability.
The Southeast Asian nation scored 60.4 in the top-ten list just behind Costa Rica that got 64 overall, according to the 2012 Happy Planet Index (HPI) report released by New Economics Foundation (NEF).
HPI uses global data on life expectancy, experienced well-being and Ecological Footprint to rank countries.
HPI was first announced in 2006 when Vietnam was positioned 12th. The country made great strides in improving people’s well-being, ranking 5th in the list when NEF published its HPI report for the second time in 2009.
Nine other countries in the top ten came from Latin America and the Caribbean.
In Southeast Asia, Indonesia was placed 14th, Thailand 20th, the Philippines 25th, Laos 37th, Myanmar 61st, Malaysia 84th, Cambodia 85th, and Singapore 90th.
Elsewhere in Asia, India was ranked 32nd, China 60th and the the Republic of Korea 63rd.
Among the group of eight industrial nations, the UK was placed 41st, Japan 45th, Germany 46th, France 50th, Italy 51st, Canada 65th, the US 105th, and Russia 122nd.
NEF is a UK-based non-governmental organization, working for a model of wealth creation, based on equality, diversity and economic stability.
Vietnam is second happiest nation globally
Vietnam has been rated as the second happiest nation in the world thanks to its citizens’ high level of life satisfaction, high life expectancy, and environmental sustainability.
Source: VOV
