Global Wellness Index: A Dive into the Healthiest and Unhealthiest Nations
The Healthiest and Unhealthiest Countries in the World
“Exploring the Factors that Define Health: From Nutrition to Healthcare Systems, Unveiling the World’s Pinnacles of Well-being and Areas in Need of Vital Improvement.
What makes a country healthy? Is it the quality and accessibility of its health care system, the state of well-being of its population, or the level of environmental and social factors that affect health outcomes? Different metrics may have different answers to this question, but one of the most comprehensive and widely used sources is the Legatum Prosperity Index (LPI), created by the Legatum Institute Foundation, a London-based think tank.
The LPI ranks 167 countries and territories based on 12 pillars of prosperity, which include health, education, governance, personal freedom, safety and security, and natural environment. The health pillar measures the extent to which people are healthy and have access to the health services they need, as well as the risk factors that may harm their health, such as obesity, smoking, and pollution.
According to the LPI, the healthiest country in the world in 2020 was
Singapore,
with a health score of 97.3 out of 100. Singapore ranked first in terms of health care quality, health care access, and basic physical and mental health. Singapore also had low rates of mortality, illness, and risk factors, such as malnutrition, unsafe water, and air pollution.
The second healthiest country was
Japan,
with a health score of 96.3 out of 100. Japan had the highest life expectancy in the world, at 84.5 years, and the lowest infant mortality rate, at 1.8 per 1,000 live births. Japan also had low levels of obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption, and high levels of physical activity and mental health.
The third healthiest country was
South Korea,
with a health score of 95.9 out of 100. South Korea had the second highest life expectancy in the world, at 83.3 years, and the third lowest infant mortality rate, at 2.1 per 1,000 live births. South Korea also had high standards of health care quality and access, and low rates of communicable diseases and risk factors.
The top 15 healthiest countries in the world, according to the LPI, were as follows:
1 Singapore 97.3
2 Japan 96.3
3 South Korea 95.9
4 Taiwan 95.6
5 China 94.8
6 Israel 94.4
7 Switzerland 93.4
8 Sweden 93.3
9 Australia 93.2
10 Norway 92.6
11 Iceland 92.5
12 Italy 92.4
13 Spain 92.3
14 France 92.1
15 Canada 91.9
On the other hand, the unhealthiest country in the world in 2020 was
the Central African Republic,
with a health score of 24.6 out of 100. The Central African Republic ranked last in terms of health care quality, health care access, and basic physical and mental health. The Central African Republic also had high rates of mortality, illness, and risk factors, such as malnutrition, unsafe water, and violence.
The second unhealthiest country was
South Sudan,
with a health score of 26.3 out of 100. South Sudan had the lowest life expectancy in the world, at 57.3 years, and the highest infant mortality rate, at 60.8 per 1,000 live births. South Sudan also had low standards of health care quality and access, and high levels of communicable diseases and risk factors.
The third unhealthiest country was
Chad,
with a health score of 28.4 out of 100. Chad had the second lowest life expectancy in the world, at 58.3 years, and the second highest infant mortality rate, at 55.3 per 1,000 live births. Chad also had poor health care quality and access, and high rates of mortality, illness, and risk factors.
The bottom 15 unhealthiest countries in the world, according to the LPI, were as follows:
153. Yemen 39.3
154. Afghanistan 38.6
155. Guinea-Bissau 37.9
156. Liberia 37.8
157. Niger 37.7
158. Sierra Leone 36.8
159. Nigeria 36.6
160. Somalia 35.9
161. Lesotho 35.8
162. Congo (DR) 34.9
163. Mali 33.7
164. Chad 28.4
165. South Sudan 26.3
166. Central African Republic 24.6
The LPI provides a comprehensive and holistic view of the health and well-being of the people around the world, as well as the factors that influence them. However, it is important to note that the LPI is not the only metric that can measure national health, and that different metrics may have different definitions, methodologies, and data sources. Therefore, the LPI should be used as a reference, not as an absolute truth, and should be complemented by other sources of information and analysis.
Sources:
The Legatum Prosperity Index 2020
The healthiest (and unhealthiest) countries in the world
Healthiest Countries 2024 — World Population Review
The Healthiest (& Unhealthiest) Countries in the World — Statista
