KYRGYZSTAN HAPPIER THAN KAZAKHSTAN, MORE MISERABLE THAN TAJIKISTAN, UZBEKISTAN
By Anton LYMAR

Bishkek – News Agency "24.kg"
06/07-2009 14:37

According to the Happy Planet Index published by the New Economics
Foundation, an independent think tank, Kyrgyzstan is happier than
Kazakhstan, but more miserable than Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The HPI measures happiness according to a country’s average life
expectancy, quality of life data, and environmental track record.

A total of 143 countries were scored from 0 to 100 based on three
index targets: high life expectancy, high life satisfaction, and a
low ecological footprint.

Meanwhile, the "happiest place in the world," according to the HPI,
is Costa Rica, which reported the highest life satisfaction rating
in the world (8.5) and the second highest average life expectancy
in the region (78.5). This boosted its HPI score, despite its poor
ecological footprint (2.3 gha).

The least happy place in the world is Zimbabwe, which scored 16.6
out of 100 on the index.

Moldova turned out to be the happiest former USSR state (32nd
place), followed by Tajikistan (34th), Uzbekistan (45th), Armenia
(48th). Kyrgyzstan honorary occupies the 61st place in the index,
while Russia is on the 109th place.