Disneyworld brags it is the “happiest place on earth” but the most satisfying place to live on the planet is officially tiny Costa Rica, winner of the Happy Planet Index.
The Index measures three things: high life expectancy, high life satisfaction, and a low ecological footprint. 143 countries were rated, representing 99 per cent of the world’s population, and Costa Rica came out on top—by a lot.
Essentially, the Index asked: 1. Where are the places with the world’s longest life expectancy ( premise: it is better to live longer than die young)? 2. During one’s lifetime, where are people most satisfied with the quality of their life (premise: living longer but miserably is not very satisfying)? 3. What is the cost to the world’s resources (premise: sustainable development is better than exhausting resources)?
Most of us assume that the richest, most developed countries should be at the top but it just is not so. In fact, the developed nations fall somewhere in the middle. Great Britain comes in at at 74th place and the U.S. is way back in 114th place.
Particularly dramatic is the difference between Costa Rica and the USA. Costa Ricans (who have universal health care provided at almost no cost) live slightly longer than Americans, and report greatly higher levels of satisfaction of their life (think Pura Vida!), but have a carbon footprint less than a quarter the size of the U.S.
Costa Rica reached the top of the rankings for many reasons. The country does not just talk about sustainable development, it is committed to it. While the developed world and rising powers of China and India rely upon nonrenewable resources (think oil) for power while contributing to serious global pollution and global warming, an incredible 99% of Costa Rica’s energy is completely renewable and sustainable. As the States and other developed countries dither about how to address power needs, chase more and more resources to use up, and argue about the challenges of global warming, tiny Costa Rica has been taking action. Even as more and more of the world is being deforested, there are 20% more forested areas in Costa Rica than just 20 years ago. And, though there may be large oil deposits off its shores, the country has ignored its Siren Song and refuses to allow oil drilling. Also, it is the first, and so far the only, country to commit to being completely carbon neutral by 2021.
Costa Rica’s per capita income is only about $11,000, but it is the #1 place in the world for life satisfaction. Other countries can endlessly debate all the ways things cannot be done or rethink their model.
Author Victor Krumm posts from his home in Costa Rica. Go to his authoritative, lovely website about Costa Rica Vacations and be sure to look at the spectacular Seven Wonders of Costa Rica