These are the 22 countries where people prosper most
Scientists from Harvard University have been researching more than 200,000 people from 22 countries about their health, happiness, meaning of life, character, relationships, economic security and spiritual well -being.
Overall, these seven variables were defined as « bloom » by the researchers.
The results have revealed that people living in Indonesia are more prosperous, followed by Israel, the Philippines and Mexico.
On the contrary, the US took 12th place on the list, while the United Kingdom took the frustrating 20th place out of 22, According to the Daily Mail.
Are all ‘developed’ countries
According to the researchers, the findings emphasize the old saying that money is not everything.
« Welfare is multidimensional and different countries are prosperous in different ways, » the team wrote in its study.
« While many developed countries report comparatively higher levels of economic security and evaluation of life, the same countries do not prosper in other ways, often referring to lower meaning, sociality and quality of relationships. »
Several previous studies have attempted to understand what the happiest countries in the world are, with Finland usually taking the first place.
However, so far, there have been few investigations on how people prosper.
The new study
In their study, published in Nature Mental Health, the team, led by Tyler Vanderwele, explained: « The study aims to broaden our knowledge of the distribution and decisive factors of prosperity worldwide. »
The group incorporated 203,000 people in 22 countries and six residential continents.
According to experts, this accounts for about 64% of the world population.
Participants were asked about seven variables, as well as demographics such as age, gender, family and work status, education, health, religion and personal history.
The results showed that Indonesia took first place, with a welfare score of 8.3.
It was followed by Israel (7.87), the Philippines (7.71), Mexico (7.64) and Poland (7.55).
On the contrary, the US took 12th place on the list, while the United Kingdom (Image Archive) took the frustrating 20th place among 22 countries.
Source: Daily Mail
How is « well -being » measured?
The study examined 7 basic variables to measure ‘bloom’:
- Health
- Happiness
- Meaning
- Character
- Relations
- Financial security
- Spiritual prosperity
Although Indonesia is not the richest country, it has taken a high position in indices related to relationships and social characteristics, which promote social relations and the community.
Which country is less prosperous
At the other end of the scale, Japan was found to be the country where people prosper less, with a frustrating score of 5.89.
This was followed by Turkey (6.32), the United Kingdom (6.79), India (6.87) and Spain (6.9).
Japan is richer and its inhabitants live longer, but the respondents there were the least likely to answer « yes » to a question about whether they have a close friend.
Brendan Case, Deputy Research Director at the Human Flourishing Program and author of the study, explained:
« We are not here to say that these results of wealth, longer life are not important, or that we should not be interested in democracy, we should not be interested in economic growth, we should not be interested in public health.
But it is interesting to think that the Global Flourishing Study study raises some important questions about the possible offspring of this process. «
The issue of age
The results also revealed a relationship between age and prosperity, with elderly participants receiving higher scores from younger respondents.
« On average, when the results of the 22 countries are concentrated, prosperity remains virtually stable with age from 18 to 49 years and then increasing with age, » the researchers explained.
« This is intensely contradicted with previous studies, focusing mainly on life’s satisfaction/evaluation and have indicated a more dramatic U with age. »
What does the research tell us?
The findings raise important questions about the future progress of society, according to researchers.
« We are investing quite a bit in the future, given the remarkable difference in prosperity between age groups, with the younger ones often having the worst performance? » They wondered.
« Can we promote economic growth in ways that do not undermine meaning, purpose, relationships and character, since many economically developed countries are not doing so well in these areas?
With economic growth and secularization, have we neglected, or even suppressed, strong spiritual paths to prosperity?
If society ultimately wants to prosper, these issues of age, development and spiritual dynamics must be taken into account. «
