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.
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Definitions

Inflation. Annual change in consumer price index. Percentage year-on-year increase. World Development Indicators. Most data are from 2009

Gross Domestic Savings. Gross domestic savings are calculated as GDP less final consumption expenditure. The domestic savings rate is this figure divided by GDP. Percentage of GDP. World Development Indicators. Most data are from 2009

Unemployment. Percentage of labour force not employed. Percentage of labour force. World Development Indicators. Most data are from 2009

Employment Status. Survey: do you currently have a job or work (either paid or unpaid)? Percentage of population. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Adequate Food and Shelter. Survey: Have there been times in the past 12 months when you did not have enough money to buy food that you or your family needed? Have there been times in the past 12 months when you did not have enough money to provide adequate shelter or housing for you and your family? 0=no access, 100= full access. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Satisfaction with Standard of Living. Survey: Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with your standard of living, all the things you can buy and do? Percentage who are satisfied. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Perceived Job Availability. Survey: Thinking about the job situation in the city or area where you live today, would you say that it is now a good time or a bad time to find a job? Percentage who said it was a good time to find a job. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Expectations of the Economy. Right now, do you think that economic conditions in the city or area where you live, as a whole, are getting better or getting worse? 1=getting worse, 3=getting better. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

5-year rate of Growth. 5-year average GDP per capita growth (% annual) 2005-2009. % yr. avg of recent 5-yr. World Development Indicators. Data are from 2005 - 2009

Capital Per Worker. The value, in dollars, of the physical capital available to the average worker in the country. International Dollars (PPP). Own Calculations. Most data are from 2009

Market Size. Domestic consumption plus country exports minus country imports Current US Dollars. World Development Indicators. Most data are from 2009

Hi-tech Exports. High-tech exports as a percentage of manufactured exports. Percentage of manufactured exports. World Development Indicators. Most data are from 2009

FDI Size and Volatility. Foreign direct investment is net inflows of investment to acquire a lasting management interest (10 percent or more of voting stock) in an enterprise operating in an economy other than that of the investor. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, other long-term capital, and short-term capital as shown in the balance of payments. Adjusted by the three moving average volatility. Current US Dollars/ 3 years volatility. World Development Indicators. Most data are from 2009

Non-performing Loans. Percentage of loans that have not been re-paid 90 days after the end of the borrowing term. Percentage of all loans. World Development Indicators. Most data are from 2009

Confidence in Financial Institutions. Survey: in your country, do you have confidence in each of the following, or not? How about financial institutions or banks? Percentage who are confident. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Royalty Receipts. Royalty and licence fees are payments and receipts between residents and non-residents for the authorized use of intangible, non-produced, non-financial assets and proprietary rights (such as patents, copyrights, trademarks, industrial processes, and franchises) and for the use, through licensing agreements, of produced originals of prototypes (such as films and manuscripts). Current US Dollars. World Development Indicators. Most data are from 2009

R+D Expenditure. Expenditures for research and development are current and capital expenditures (both public and private) on creative work undertaken systematically to increase knowledge, including knowledge of humanity, culture, and society, and the use of knowledge for new applications. R&D covers basic research, applied research, and experimental development, as a percentage of GDP. For missing values, we imputed missing values from a set of explanatory variables not used in the sub-index itself. Percentage of GDP. World Development Indicators. Most data are from 2009

ICT Exports. Information and Communication Technology exports as a percentage of total goods exports. Percentage of total goods exported. World Development Indicators. Most data are from 2009

Good Environment for Entrepreneurs. Survey: Is the city or area where you live a good place or not a good place to live For entrepreneurs forming new businesses? Percentage who believe it is a good place. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Business Start-up Costs. Start-up business costs measured as share of GNI per capita Percentage of GNI per capita. World Development Indicators. Data are from 2010

Mobile Phones per Household. Does your home have a cellular phone? Percentage who said yes. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Mobile Phones. Cellular devices per 100 capita Devices per 100 people. World Development Indicators. Most data are from 2009

Internet Bandwidth. The contracted capacity of international connections between countries for transmitting Internet traffic. Megabytes per second. World Development Indicators. Most data are from 2007 - 2009

Secure Internet Servers. Secure servers are servers using encryption technology in Internet transactions. Servers per one million people. World Development Indicators. Most data are from 2009

Uneven Economic Development. Group-based inequality, or perceived inequality, in education, jobs, and economic status. Also measured by group-based poverty levels, infant mortality rates, education levels. 1= equal development, 10=unequal development. Failed States Index. Data are from 2010

Perception that Working Hard Gets You Ahead. Survey: Can people in this country get ahead by working hard, or not? Percentage who believe they can get ahead. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Government Type. The extent to which a society is autocratic or democratic. This measure depends on the competitiveness of executive recruitment, constraints on chief executives, regulation of political participation, and competitiveness of political participation. -10=Autocracy, 10= democracy. Polity IV. Most data are from 2009

Government Effectiveness. This variable captures the efficiency and quality of bureaucracy, level of government stability and effectiveness with respect to the implementation of policies. Ordinal Rating. World Bank Governance Indicators. Data are from 2009

Regime Stability. The number of years since the most recent regime change. Number of Years. Polity IV. Data are from 2009

Political Constraints. The extent to which a change in the preference of a political actor may lead to policy change. This is an indicator of the existence of checks and balances in a political system. 0=No constraints, 1=High constraints. Witold Henisz. Most data are from 2007

Separation of Powers. Composite variable including five components that are highly correlated: Competitiveness in Executive Branch - The extent of competition in the participation of various political fractions in the executive branch. Competitiveness in Legislative Branch - The extent of competition in the participation of various political fractions in the legislative branch. Judiciary Independence - The extent to which the judiciary system is independent in its actions from the preferences of the executive authorities. Regulation of Executive Election - Regulation refers to the extent to which a polity has institutionalised procedures for transferring executive power. Political participation - This variable indicates to what extent citizens enjoy freedom of political choice and the legal right and ability in practice to change the laws and officials that govern them through free and fair elections. Composite number: 1 to 32, higher number is better. Cingranelli and Richards Human Rights database, Polity IV, Database on Political Institutions & Polity IV & Database of Political Institutions . Data are from 2009

Government Approval . Survey: do you have confidence in the National Government? Percentage who are confident. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Efforts to Address Poverty. Survey: In the country where you live, are you satisfied with the efforts to deal with the poor? Percentage who said yes. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Environmental Preservation. Survey: In the country where you live, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with efforts to preserve the environment? Percentage who are satisfied. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Business and Government Corruption. Survey: Is corruption widespread in businesses and throughout the government? 0=no corruption; 100= full corruption. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Rule of Law. The extent to which individuals within a society respect property rights, the police and the judiciary system, as well the quality of police and legal safeguards. Ordinal Rating. World Bank Governance Indicators. Data are from 2009

Regulation. Measures the extent of regulation within the business sector. It captures general regulation with respect to investment and competition. Ordinal Rating. World Bank Governance Indicators. Data are from 2009

Confidence in Military. Survey: Do you have confidence in each of the following or not? How about the military? Percentage who are confident. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Confidence in the Judicial System. Survey: Do you have confidence in each of the following or not? How about the judicial system? Percentage who are confident. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Political Rights. Ability to participate in political processes such as voting in legitimate elections, joining parties, running for office, etc. This variable captures elements relating to the electoral process, political pluralism and participation as well as the functionality of the government and additional discretionary political rights. 1 = No political rights, 7=full political rights. Cingranelli and Richards Human Rights database, Polity IV, Database on Political Institutions. Data are from 2010

Voiced Concern. Survey: Have you voiced concern to a public official in the past year? Percentage who voiced concern. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Confidence in the Honesty of Elections. Survey: Do you have confidence in each of the following or not? How about the honesty of elections? Percentage who are confident. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Net Primary Enrolment. The percentage of students enrolled in primary schools as a percentage of official school age population. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music. Percentage of primary education age-group. World Development Indicators. Most data are from 2008 - 2009

Gross Secondary Enrolment. The ratio of total enrolment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of secondary education. Secondary education completes the provision of basic education that began at the primary level, and aims at laying the foundations for lifelong learning and human development, by offering more subject- or skill-oriented instruction using more specialized teachers. Percentage of secondary education age-group. World Development Indicators. Most data are from 2008 - 2009

Gross Tertiary Enrolment. The ratio of total enrolment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of tertiary education. Percentage of tertiary education age-group. World Development Indicators. Most data are from 2008 - 2009

Girls to Boys Enrolment Ratio. This variable is defined as the ratio of the gross enrolment rate of girls to boys in primary and secondary education levels in both public and private schools. Girls per boys. World Development Indicators. Most data are from 2008 - 2009

Satisfaction with Educational Quality. Survey: In the city or area where you live, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the educational system or the schools? Percentage who are satisfied. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Perception that Children are Learning in Society. Survey: Do most children in your country have the opportunity to learn and grow every day, or not? Percentage who said children have opportunity to learn. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Pupil to Teacher Ratio. The number of pupils enrolled in primary school divided by the number of primary school teachers. Students per teacher. World Development Indicators. Most data are from 2008 - 2009

Secondary Education per Worker. Average years of secondary education completed amongst the labour force. Number of Years. Own Calculations. Most data are from 2010

Tertiary Education per Worker. Average years of tertiary education completed amongst the labour force. Number of Years. Own Calculations. Most data are from 2008 - 2010

Infant Mortality. Number of infants dying before the age of one per 1,000 live births in a given year. Deaths per 1000 births. World Development Indicators. Data are from 2009

Life Expectancy. Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life. Number of Years. World Development Indicators. Data are from 2009

Health-Adjusted Life Expectancy. Health-Adjusted Life Expectancy (HALE) measures life expectancy adjusted by health status. As opposed to life expectancy, which assigns the same weight to all years of life, HALE weights sick years less than healthy years. Number of Years. World Development Indicators. Data are from 2007

Undernourishment. The share of population whose daily calorie intake is consistently less than the daily minimum standards (predicted). Percentage of population. World Development Indicators/own calculation. Most data are from 2007

Rate of Immunisation Against Infectious Disease. Child immunisation measures the percentage of children ages 12-23 months who received vaccinations before 12 months or at any time before the survey. A child is considered adequately immunised against diphtheria, pertussis (or whooping cough), and tetanus (DPT) after receiving three doses of vaccine. Percentage of children aged 12-23 months. World Development Indicators. Most data are from 2009

Rate of Immunisation Against Measles. Child immunisation measures the percentage of children ages 12-23 months who received vaccinations before 12 months or at any time before the survey. A child is considered adequately immunised against measles after receiving one dose of vaccine. Percentage of children aged 12-23 months. World Development Indicators. Most data are from 2009

Health Expenditure per Person. Health expenditure per capita with external aid in international PPP dollars International Dollars (PPP). World Health Organisation. Most data are from 2008

Hospital Beds. Number of hospital beds per 1,000 capita. This includes public, private, generalised and specialised hospitals. Beds per 1000 people. World Development Indicators. Most data are from 2008 - 2009

Sanitation. The percentage of the population with access to private or shared waste disposal facilities that can effectively prevent human, animal and insect contact with excreta. This variable captures the percentage of population having access to such facilities. Percentage of population. World Development Indicators. Most data are from 2008

Water Quality. Survey: In the city or area where you live, are you satisfied with the quality of water? Percentage who said yes. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Death from Respiratory Diseases. Death rate from respiratory diseases and infections per 100,000 capita Deaths per 100,000 people. World Health Organisation. Most data are from 2008

Incidence of Tuberculosis. Incidence of tuberculosis is the estimated number of new pulmonary, smear positive, and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis cases. Cases per 100,000 people. World Development Indicators. Data are from 2009

Satisfaction with Health. Survey: Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with your personal health? Percentage who are satisfied. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Level of Worrying. Survey: Did you experience the following feelings during A LOT OF THE DAY yesterday? How about worry? Percentage who worry. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Well Rested. Survey: Now please think about yesterday, from the morning until the end of the day. Think about where you were, what you were doing, who you were with, and how you felt. Did you feel well-rested yesterday? Percentage who are well rested. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Health Problems. Survey: Do you have any health problems that prevent you from doing any of the things people your age normally can do? Percentage who said yes. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Satisfaction with Environmental Beauty. Survey: In the city or area where you live, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the beauty or physical setting? Percentage who are satisfied. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Refugees and IDPs. Forced uprooting of large communities as a result of random or targeted violence and/or repression, causing food shortages, disease, lack of clean water, land competition, and turmoil that can spiral into larger humanitarian and security problems, both within and between countries. 1 = No refugees, 10 = High amount. Failed States Index. Data are from 2010

Group Grievances. based on recent or past injustices, which could date back centuries. Including atrocities committed with impunity against communal groups and/or specific groups singled out by state authorities, or by dominant groups, for persecution or repression. Institutionalized political exclusion. Public scapegoating of groups believed to have acquired wealth, status or power as evidenced in the emergence of "hate" radio, pamphleteering and stereotypical or nationalistic political rhetoric 1 = No group grievances, 10=Excessive group grievances. Failed States Index. Data are from 2010

State-Sponsored Political Violence. This is a measure of state-sponsored political violence and repression within a country. Countries reporting a higher level of disappearances, torture and political violence are rated as more insecure according to this variable. 5=pervasive terror, 1=no terror. Amnesty International & US State Department. Most data are from 2009

Human Flight. Flight of professionals, intellectuals, and political dissidents; and voluntary emigration of the middle class to other nations. 0=stable,10=unstable. Failed States Index. Data are from 2010

Civil War. Magnitude score of episode(s) of civil violence, ethnic warfare and ethnic violence involving that state in that year. Real Number. Polity IV. Most data are from 2010

Demographic Instability. Pressures deriving from high population density relative to food supply and other life-sustaining resources; Pressures deriving from group settlement patterns that affect the freedom to participate in common forms of human and physical activity, including economic productivity, travel, social interaction, religious worship; Pressures deriving from group settlement patterns and physical settings, including border disputes, ownership or occupancy of land, access to transportation outlets, control of religious or historical sites, and proximity to environmental hazards; and Pressures from skewed population distributions, such as a "youth or age bulge," or from divergent rates of population growth among competing communal groups. 0= No pressures, 10 = High pressures. Failed States Index. Data are from 2010

Assault. Survey: Within the past 12 months: Have you been assaulted or mugged? Percentage who said yes. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Property Stolen. Survey: Within the past 12 months: Have you had money or property stolen from you or another household member? Percentage who said yes. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Ability to Express Political Opinion without Fear. Survey: In your opinion, how many people in your country, if any, are afraid to openly express their political views? 1= Most are afraid, 4= No one is afraid. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Safe Walking Alone at Night. Survey: Do you feel safe walking alone at nights in the city or area where you live? Percentage who said yes. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Civil Liberty and Free Choice. In (country of respondent), are you satisfied or dissatisfied with your freedom to choose what you do with your life? Freedom of expression and belief, associational and organisational rights, rule of law, and personal autonomy are included in this variable. Composite variable. 0 = Limited freedom, 1 = High freedom. Freedom House /GWP. Most data are from 2010

Satisfaction with Free Choice. Survey: In your country, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with your freedom to choose what you do with your life? Percentage who are satisfied. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Tolerance for Immigrants. Survey: Is the city or area where you live a good place or not a good place to live for immigrants? Percentage who said yes. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Tolerance for Ethnic Minorities. Survey: Is the city or area where you live a good place or not a good place to live for racial and ethnic minorities? Percentage who said yes. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Trust Others. Percentage of survey respondents who claimed that others in their society could be trusted Percentage who said they could be trusted. Gallup World Poll & World Values Survey. Most data are from 2010

Donations. Survey: Have you done any of the following in the past month? How about donated money to a charity? Percentage who donated. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Formal Volunteering. Survey: Have you done any of the following in the past month? How about volunteered your time to an organization? Percentage who volunteered. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Helping Strangers. Survey: Have you done any of the following in the past month? How about helped a stranger or someone you didn’t know who needed help? Percentage who helped a stranger. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Perceptions of Social Support. Survey: Do you have relatives or friends whom you can count on to help you when you need them, or not? Percentage who have people to count on. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Marriage. Percentage of survey respondents who claim they are married Percentage who are married. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Religious Attendance. Survey: Have you attended a place of worship or religious service within the last seven days? Percentage who have attended. Gallup World Poll. Most data are from 2010

Economy Sub-Index Scores. The Economy sub-index measures countries’ performances in four areas that are essential to promoting prosperity: macroeconomic policies, economic satisfaction and expectations, foundation for growth, and financial sector efficiency. Sub-Index Score. Own Calculations. Data are from 2011

Entrepreneurship and Opportunity Sub-Index Scores. The Entrepreneurship & Opportunity sub-index measures countries’ performances in three areas: entrepreneurial environment, innovative activity, and access to opportunity. Sub-Index Score. Own Calculations. Data are from 2011

Governance Sub-Index Scores. The Governance sub-index measures countries’ performances in three areas: effective and accountable government, fair elections and political participation, and rule of law. Sub-Index Score. Own Calculations. Data are from 2011

Education Sub-Index Scores. The Education sub-index measures countries’ performances in three areas: access to education, quality of education, and human capital. Sub-Index Score. Own Calculations. Data are from 2011

Health Sub-Index Scores. The Health sub-index measures countries’ performances in three areas: basic health outcomes, health infrastructure and preventative care, and physical and mental health satisfaction. Sub-Index Score. Own Calculations. Data are from 2011

Safety and Security Sub-Index Scores. The Safety and Security sub-index measures countries’ performances in two areas: national security and personal safety. Sub-Index Score. Own Calculations. Data are from 2011

Personal Freedom Sub-Index Scores. The Personal Freedom sub-index measures countries’ performances in two areas: individual freedom and social tolerance. Sub-Index Score. Own Calculations. Data are from 2011

Social Capital Sub-Index Scores. The Social Capital sub-index measures countries’ performances in two areas: social cohesion and engagement, as well as community and family networks. Sub-Index Score. Own Calculations. Data are from 2011

Gross Domestic Savings (Wellbeing). Gross domestic savings are calculated as GDP less final consumption expenditure. The domestic savings rate is this figure divided by GDP. Percentage of GDP. World Development Indicators. Most data are from 2009

Business Start-Up Costs (Income). Start-up business costs measured as share of GNI per capita. Percentage of GNI per Capita. World Development Indicators. Data are from 2010

State-Sponsored Political Violence (inverted). This is a measure of state-sponsored political violence and repression within a country. Countries reporting a higher level of disappearances, torture and political violence are rated as more insecure according to this variable. 1=pervasive terror,5=no terror. Amnesty International & US State Department. Most data are from 2009

Civil Liberty. Freedom of expression and belief, associational and organisational rights, rule of law, and personal autonomy are included in this variable. 1=no liberties, 7=full liberties. Freedom House. Data are from 2010