Why these 10 countries are the world's happiest

The popular Abba single, "Money, money, money...must be funny in a rich man's world" seems true for people from these countries. At least that is what one can deduce from New Economics Foundation's Happy Planet Index (HPI).

The latest HPI results show how these countries produce long, happy and sustainable lives for their people. The overall index scores rates countries based on their efficiency, how many long and happy lives each produces per unit of environmental output.

Each of the three component measures – life expectancy, experienced well-being and ecological footprint. Also, the overall ranking is not based on GNP and growth figures, but purely on environmental factors.

Thus, NEF's list of happiest countries does not feature the usual suspects.

Source: Happy Planet Index

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Costa Rica

Ranking: 1

Happy Planet Index score: 60.4

2009 HPI Rank: 5

Experienced Well-Being: 5.8

Life Expectancy: 75.2

Ecological Footprint: 1.4

GDP Per Capita: $3,205

Population: 86.9 million

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Vietnam

Ranking: 2

Happy Planet Index score: 60.4

2009 HPI Rank: 5

Experienced Well-Being: 5.8

Life Expectancy: 75.2

Ecological Footprint: 1.4

GDP Per Capita: $3,205

Population: 86.9 million

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Colombia

Ranking: 3

Happy Planet Index score: 59.8

2009 HPI Rank: 6

Experienced Well-Being: 6.4

Life Expectancy: 73.7

Ecological Footprint: 1.8

GDP Per Capita: $9,453

Population: 46.3 million

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Belize

Ranking: 4

Happy Planet Index score: 59.3

2009 HPI Rank: 27

Experienced Well-Being: 6.5

Life Expectancy: 76.1

Ecological Footprint: 2.1

GDP Per Capita: $6,670

Population: 345,000

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El Salvador

Ranking: 5

Happy Planet Index score: 58.9

2009 HPI Rank: 8

Experienced Well-Being: 6.7

Life Expectancy: 72.2

Ecological Footprint: 2

GDP Per Capita: $6,668

Population: 6.2 million

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Jamaica

Ranking: 6

Happy Planet Index score: 58.5

2009 HPI Rank: 3

Experienced Well-Being: 6.2

Life Expectancy: 73.1

Ecological Footprint: 1.7

GDP Per Capita: $7,673

Population: 2.7 million

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Panama

Ranking: 7

Happy Planet Index score: 57.8

2009 HPI Rank: 18

Experienced Well-Being: 7.3

Life Expectancy: 76.1

Ecological Footprint: 3

GDP Per Capita: $13,608

Population: 3.5 million

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Nicaragua

Ranking: 8

Happy Planet Index score: 57.1

2009 HPI Rank: 11

Experienced Well-Being: 5.7

Life Expectancy: 74

Ecological Footprint: 1.6

GDP Per Capita: $2,913

Population: 5.8 million

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Venezuela

Ranking: 9

Happy Planet Index score: 56.9

2009 HPI Rank: 36

Experienced Well-Being: 7.5

Life Expectancy: 74.4

Ecological Footprint: 3.0

GDP Per Capita: $12,233

Population: 28.8 million

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Guatemala

Ranking: 10

Happy Planet Index score: 56.9

2009 HPI Rank: 4

Experienced Well-Being: 6.3

Life Expectancy: 71.2

Ecological Footprint: 1.8

GDP Per Capita: $4,785

Population: 14.4 million