Vanuatu, the small island state in the pacific is a happy place, infact it is the happiest place on earth according to the study compiled by think-tank the New Economics Foundation (Nef).
The study is based on the 178-nation "Happy Planet Index" taking into account consumption levels, life expectancy and happiness, rather than national economic wealth measurements such as GDP.
According to the CIA Handbook, Vanuatu has :
"Population: 209,000
GDP/capita: $2,900 (£1,575)
Climate: tropical
Resources: forests, fish
Economy: agriculture, tourism
Environmental issues: deforestation and clean water"
The Group of Eight (G8) industrialised nations failed to make the top 50. The United States came in at 150 in the 178-nation survey, with the UK at number 108.
Richard Layard, director of the Well-Being Programme at the London School of Economics' Centre for Economic Performance, said that the index was an interesting way to tackle the issue of modern life's environmental impact.
"It reminds us that it is not good enough to be happy today if we are impoverishing future generations through global warming.
"Over the last 50 years, living standards in the West have improved enormously but we have become no happier," Mr Layard told the BBC.
"This shows we should not sacrifice human relationships, which are the main source of happiness, for the sake of economic growth."
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