Official Site - The Legatum Prosperity Index is the world's only global assessment of wealth and wellbeing; unlike other studies that rank countries by actual levels of wealth, life satisfaction or development, the Prosperity Index produces rankings based upon the very foundations of prosperity – those factors that help drive economic growth and produce happy citizens over the long term.

Personal Freedom Sub-Index

When citizens enjoy their rights to expression, belief, organisation, and personal autonomy in a society welcoming of diversity, their country enjoys higher levels of income and social wellbeing. The Personal Freedom sub-index measures countries’ performance in two areas: individual freedom and social tolerance. As illustrated in the chart below, the variables in the sub-index are categorised into these areas.

The Personal Freedom sub-index assesses the effects of freedom of choice, expression, belief, and movement on a country’s per capital GDP and the subjective wellbeing of its citizens. It also assesses how the levels of tolerance for both minorities and immigrants affect countries’ economic growth and citizen satisfaction. A strong empirical link exists between individuals’ freedom to choose what to do, where to go, what to believe, and overall life satisfaction. There is also a strong link between the levels of tolerance within a society for ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity, and the overall satisfaction people enjoy within that society.

Societies that strengthen civil rights and freedoms through democratisation, have been shown to experience increases in levels of satisfaction among their citizens. When citizens’ personal liberties are protected, a nation also enjoys higher levels of economic growth.

Sub-Index Rankings