Where-to-be-born Index

The Economist Intelligence Unit’s where-to-be-born index (previously called the quality-of-life index, abbreviated QLI) attempts to measure which country will provide the best opportunities for a healthy, safe and prosperous life in the years ahead. It is based on a method that links the results of subjective life-satisfaction surveys to the objective determinants of quality of life across countries along with a forward-looking element.

Methodology

The index calculated for 2013 includes data from 80 countries and territories. The survey used ten quality of life factors along with forecasts of future GDP per capita to determine a nation's score.[1]

The life satisfaction scores for 2006 (on a scale of 1 to 10) for 130 countries (from the Gallup Poll) are related in a multivariate regression to various factors. As many as 11 indicators are statistically significant. Together these indicators explain some 85% of the inter-country variation in life satisfaction scores. The values of the life satisfaction scores that are predicted by the indicators represent a country's quality of life index. The coefficients in the estimated equation weight automatically the importance of the various factors. The estimated equation for 2006 can be utilized to calculate index values for year in the past and future, allowing for comparison over time as well across countries.[2]

The independent variables in the estimating equation for 2006 include:

  • Material well-being as measured by GDP per capita (in $, at 2006 constant PPPS)
  • Life expectancy at birth
  • The quality of family life based primarily on divorce rates
  • The state of political freedoms
  • Job security (measured by the unemployment rate)
  • Climate (measured by two variables: the average deviation of minimum and maximum monthly temperatures from 14 degrees Celsius; and the number of months in the year with less than 30mm rainfall)
  • Personal physical security ratings (based primarily on recorded homicide rates and ratings for risk from crime and terrorism)
  • Quality of community life (based on membership in social organisations)
  • Governance (measured by ratings for corruption)
  • Gender equality (measured by the share of females holding seats in national Houses of Assembly)

2013 rankings

Where to be born index 2013 World map
RankCountryScore
(out of 10)
1  Switzerland8.22
2 Australia8.12
3 Norway8.09
4 Sweden8.02
5 Denmark8.01
6 Singapore8.00
7 New Zealand7.95
8 Netherlands7.94
9 Canada7.81
10 Hong Kong7.80
11 Finland7.76
12 Ireland7.74
13 Austria7.73
14 Taiwan7.67
15 Belgium7.51
16 Germany7.38
17 United States7.38
18 United Arab Emirates7.33
19 South Korea7.25
20 Israel7.23
21 Italy7.21
22 Kuwait7.18
23 Chile7.10
23 Cyprus7.10
25 Japan7.08
26 France7.04
27 United Kingdom7.01
28 Czech Republic6.96
28 Spain6.96
30 Costa Rica6.92
30 Portugal6.92
32 Slovenia6.77
33 Poland6.66
34 Greece6.65
35 Slovakia6.64
36 Malaysia6.62
37 Argentina6.52
38 Saudi Arabia6.49
39 Brazil6.41
40 Cuba6.39
40 Mexico6.39
42 Colombia6.27
43 Peru6.24
44 Estonia6.07
44 Venezuela6.07
46 Croatia6.06
46 Hungary6.06
48 Latvia6.01
49 China5.99
50 Thailand5.96
51 Turkey5.95
52 Dominican Republic5.93
53 South Africa5.89
54 Algeria5.86
54 Serbia5.86
56 Romania5.85
57 Lithuania5.82
58 Iran5.78
59 Tunisia5.77
60 Egypt5.76
61 Bulgaria5.73
62 El Salvador5.72
63 Philippines5.71
63 Sri Lanka5.71
65 Ecuador5.70
66 India5.67
66 Morocco5.67
68 Vietnam5.64
69 Jordan5.63
70 Azerbaijan5.60
71 Indonesia5.54
72 Russia5.31
73 Syria5.29
74 Kazakhstan5.20
75 Pakistan5.17
76 Angola5.09
77 Bangladesh5.07
78 Ukraine4.98
79 Kenya4.91
80 Nigeria4.74

1988 rankings

The original Where-to-be-born Index was released in 1988. However, this index was a little less serious than 2013 one, as it included a "philistine factor" for a lack of culture and a "yawn index" which measured how boring a country might be despite all its other advantages.[3][4]

RankCountry
1 United States
2 France
3 West Germany
4 Italy
5 Canada
6 Japan
7 Hong Kong
8 United Kingdom
9 Netherlands
10 South Korea
11 Austria
12 Norway
13  Switzerland
14 Belgium
15 Ireland
16 Spain
17 Australia
18 Finland
19 New Zealand
20 Argentina
21 Soviet Union
22 Poland
23 Denmark
24 Hungary
25 Philippines
26 Greece
27 India
28 Mexico
29 Brazil
30 Israel
31 China
32 Portugal
33 United Arab Emirates
34 Venezuela
35 East Germany
36 Singapore
37 Malaysia
38 Yugoslavia
39South Africa South Africa
40 Turkey
41 Indonesia
42 Pakistan
43 Egypt
44Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Libya
45 Saudi Arabia
46 Nigeria
47 Iran
48 Iraq
49 Zimbabwe

See also

Measurement and metrics

Indices

Notes

  1. ↑ "The lottery of life". The Economist. 21 November 2012.
  2. ↑ "The lottery of life methodology". The Economist. 21 November 2012.
  3. ↑ the economist
  4. ↑ WOND: Economist Where To Be Born Index - Business Insider
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