Even though Vanuatu’s national airline, Air Vanuatu, is going through bankruptcy, it does not take away from the fact that for the second time in 20 years, Vanuatu has been voted in and ranked as the top country on earth according to the 6th edition of the Happy Planet Index, which was issued on 2 May 2024. This recognition was conferred by the Human Development Index based in the United Kingdom.
Of the countries in the top 10, Vanuatu is the only Pacific country, followed by Sweden, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Denmark, Spain, Panama, France, and Chile.
Vanuatu’s success in this regard can be attributed to its cultural values and practices, which prioritize respect, as well as it unwavering commitment to environmental protection and climate change mitigation.
Vanuatu places significant emphasis on sustainable development and happiness.
Life expectancy in Vanuatu grew from 60 in 1980’s to 70.45 years in 2021.
The Minister of Health, John Still Tariqetu explained in his official speech that an index is a statistical tool that combines different indicators to gain an understanding of something.
“Nowadays, there are various types of indices that we use, such as the poverty index, corruption index, development index, and price index of goods bought from shops or markets.”
“All of these, plus more can combine to determine the state of human well-being in a place, and thus of happiness,” he said.
