Bangladesh 11th happiest country
The Happy Planet Index 2012 has ranked Bangladesh 11th among 151 countries, ahead of both India and Pakistan, which ranked 32nd and 16th respectively.
The Happy Planet Index is calculated using life expectancy, well-being and ecological footprint of the countries with data collected from various sources including UNDP and Gallup.
The index was introduced in July 2006 by a British NGO, the New Economics Foundation, which also has a branch in the US.
The HPI 2012 ranked Costa Rica as the happiest country in the world, followed by Vietnam and Colombia.
Bangladesh was higher up on the scale with two factors -- life expectancy and experienced well-being -- termed “mediocre” and ecological footprint -- another factor -- termed “good”.
India showed mediocre life expectancy and well-being but a “good” ecological footprint. India's total HPI was 50.9.
The total HPI of Pakistan was calculated at 54.1.
The US scored low because of its ecological footprint, which was worse than the "poor" category. The life expectancy and well-being were, however, ranked "good". Afghanistan was ranked 109.
The countries which landed at the bottom of the Happiness Index were mostly from Sub-Saharan Africa.
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