JOHANNESBURG — It’s official: Zimbabweans are much happier than South Africans. This is according to the 2012 Happy Planet Index, which portrayed a gloomy picture of the life-outlook of South Africans.
The index, released last week, placed South Africa 142nd of 151 countries on experience of well-being (happiness), life expectancy (health) and ecological footprint.
Even South Africa’s embattled northern neighbour, Zimbabwe, has a better outlook, being in 115th position, with Ethiopia 94th. Botswana occupies the bottom ranking.
The Happy Planet Charter has been endorsed by leading environmentalists, economists and politicians ahead of this week’s United Nations Earth Summit.
Topping the happiness index is Costa Rica, with Vietnam and Colombia in third place.
The United States , Russia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and France did not do so well either, with none of them making the top 10. The US is ranked 105, Russia 122, the UK 41, Germany 46, Japan 45 and France is placed 50th.
Nic Marks, of the New Economics Foundation, the creator of the index, said: “The index measures what really matters — long and happy lives now and the potential for good lives in the future.
“For too long we have relied on incomplete measures of progress that focus only on economic activity, such as gross domestic product.
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“Rich and poor nations face different challenges, but their ultimate goal is the same,” he said.
Foundation senior researcher Saamah Abdalla said that countries such as Costa Rica outrank the UK — and other bigger countries — because their inhabitants live long and happy lives using a fraction of the planet’s resources.
“They point the direction towards a development model that can achieve healthy, happy and sustainable lives.”
South Africa scored 52,8 on life expectancy, 4,7 on experience of well-being, 2,6 on ecological footprint and its index score is 28,2.
