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'Happy Life Years'; Costa Rica Outscores U.S.

Date:
October 30, 2009
Source:
Erasmus University Rotterdam
Summary:
Quality-of-life in nations is measured using an index of ‘Happy Life Years’, developed at Erasmus University Rotterdam in The Netherlands. This index combines average appreciation of life with average length of life. Costa Rica is on top with 66.7 and Zimbabwe at the bottom with only 12.5 happy life years. The USA rank in the sub-top with an average of 58 years lived happily.
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Quality-of-life in nations is measured using an index of 'Happy Life Years', developed at Erasmus University Rotterdam in The Netherlands. This index combines average appreciation of life with average length of life. Costa Rica is on top with 66.7 and Zimbabwe at the bottom with only 12.5 happy life years.

The USA rank in the sub-top with an average of 58 years lived happily. Canada outscored the U.S. with an average ranking of 64 years.

Rank lists are published periodically on the World Database of Happiness. The latest rank list counts 148 nations and covers more than 95% of the world's population.

These findings are presented at the 3rd OECD World Forum, 27-30 October in Busan, South Korea. The focus of this conference is on measures of social progress other than GDP. This measure of Happy Life Years is such an alternative measure.

Detailed list of countries and their 'Happy Life Year' score.


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Materials provided by Erasmus University Rotterdam. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Cite This Page:

Erasmus University Rotterdam. "'Happy Life Years'; Costa Rica Outscores U.S.." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 30 October 2009. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091029160931.htm>.
Erasmus University Rotterdam. (2009, October 30). 'Happy Life Years'; Costa Rica Outscores U.S.. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091029160931.htm
Erasmus University Rotterdam. "'Happy Life Years'; Costa Rica Outscores U.S.." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091029160931.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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