Once Again, the Small Central American Nation Leads the Latin American Region in Terms of Happiness.
Anyone with a general knowledge of Costa Rica has probably heard about the country’s happiness. Whether that’s an accurate depiction of Ticos’ actual self-perception is another conversation, but since the first Happy Planet Index was released in 2006, Costa Rica’s global image has become almost synonymous with wholesomeness and joie de vivre.
Recently, this small Central American nation was placed in 23rd place worldwide for 2022’s World Happiness Report, published by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network. This placement is by far the best for a Latin American nation, and solidifies the country’s history as a referent in social development.
The report measures per capita income, health, and life expectancy, as well as more abstract values like freedom, generosity, and social support, and is based on both people’s own assessment of their happiness and a thorough analysis of economic and social data. Despite having a relatively low GDP in comparison with other countries within this range, Costa Rica still leads the Latin American region year after year, and even if it’s not ranked #1, reports about the famed Tico way of life and their “secret to happiness” always come up in response to these publications.
In reality, there’s no secret behind Costa Rica’s success in these happiness rankings, since its competitive advantages have been well documented for years. The country’s robust social security system, high education rates, and pioneering sustainability commitment are outliers even in comparison with some leading world powers, and when compared with the rest of the region, its sociopolitical stability is virtually unparalleled. Such is the case that other rankings like the Happy World Index have the Ticos in an even higher standing.
This index takes into account the well-being and longevity of a population, measures how equally both are distributed, and then sets the results against each country’s ecological footprint. Given the international acclaim of Costa Rica’s environmental efforts, it should come as no surprise that with this equation, the country comes out on top.
Costa Rican life expectancy is nearly 79 years, which is one of the highest in the world. This level of well-being is usually attributed to solid social networks, a balanced diet, and the benefits of a vast natural environment, and when grouped with the country’s renewable resources, it all adds up to a virtually unmatchable ranking, as Costa Rica spends barely a quarter of the energy most leading nations use.
No matter the placement, the parameters, or the type of calculation, the fact that a developing country from Central America is constantly amongst the happiest on Earth should set an example for other countries about how to prioritize their efforts.
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