Malta placed 42nd out of 145 countries in the 2015 Gallup and Healthways wellbeing report, with the physical well-being score contributing majorly to the ranking. For the second time round, Panama, in Central America, ranked first.
The report is based on five concepts – financial, social, purpose, community and physical wellbeing. In Malta, 24.4% of those surveyed are thriving in 3 or more elements.
In purpose well-being, Malta ranked 61/145. In Social well-being it ranked 20/145, In Financial wellbeing it placed 25/145 and in community well-being it ranked 26/145. But the country got the worst score in physical well-being, with a placing of 98/145.
America has a strong presence in the countries with the highest well-being score, with seven countries in the continent making their way in the top 10. Costa Rica and Puerto Rico placed in second and third place respectively. In Europe, Switzerland, Denmark and Austria placed in the top ten. Tunisia, Togo, Cameroon, Bhutan and Afghanistan placed the worst.
53% of residents of Panama are thriving in three or more elements. Panama is also the highest country for purpose (60%) and physical well-being (52%). 63% of Puerto Ricans are thriving in social well-being; 69% of Norwegians are thriving in financial well-being; and 50% of Sri Lankans are thriving in community well-being.
Higher well-being has been associated with healthcare utilization, intent to migrate, trust in elections and local institutions, daily stress, food/shelter security, volunteerism, and willingness to help others.
The Global Well-Being Index measures well-being across five elements: purpose, social, financial, community and physical. Individual responses are categorized as thriving, struggling or suffering.
145,000 surveys were conducted in 145 countries.
Since 2008, Gallup and Healthways have partnered to understand the well-being of both individuals and populations. “Well-being” is a concept that captures the important aspects of how people feel about and experience their daily lives — in other words
Top 10 countries:
Panama
Costa Rica
Puerto Rico
Switzerland
Belize
Chile
Denmark
Guatemala
Austria
Mexico