What is the unhealthiest country
These Are the Healthiest Countries in the World, According to a 2023 Study
If youve ever visited one of the healthiest countries in the world, then you already know what it feels like to end a trip feeling stronger and more refreshed than when you started. Theres something about following in the footsteps of citizens with impeccable diets and universal health care that simply makes you feel healthierwithout counting calories or taking frequent trips to the hotel gym.
There are many factors that determine how healthy a country isfrom life expectancy to the quality of hospitalsas evidenced by the cache of annual rankings scattered across the internet. While Bloombergs Global Health Index has historically been the most popular version of this type of list, the index hasnt been updated since the COVID-19 pandemicsomething which very obviously affected global health as a whole.
We were curious which countries have been able to stay relatively well since 2020 (or at least well enough to still be recognized on worldwide rankings), so we referred to a recent study from CEOWORLD magazine to compile this years list. The study pulled data from several reputable sources, including the United Nations Population Division, the World Bank, the Lancet study, and the World Health Organizationthe latter of which pays particular attention to factors like COVID-related deaths and vaccination rates.
The bad news: The United States did not make the top 10 (it currently sits at position 45). The good news: Some of our absolute favorite countries are ranked among the worlds healthiest, which means you can sample some amazing cuisines and see one-of-a-kind landscapes while tackling those resolutions. Without further ado, here are the healthiest countries to visit next.
This article has been updated since its original publish date.
The Healthiest (& Unhealthiest) Countries in the World
It's been 75 years since the start of the United Kingdoms National Health Service, the first universal health system available to all, free at the point of delivery. In light of this, were looking at how different health systems compare around the world, using data from Legatum Prosperity Index, created by The Legatum Institute Foundation, a London think tank.
As the following chart shows, the UK ranks in 34th place out of the 167 indexed countries and territories, based on not only its healthcare system (such as access to health services) but also its populations state of health (including mortality rates, illness and risk factors). While fairly high, the country has been sliding down the list for the Health category, having placed in 23rd position in 2019, 20th in 2016 and 19th in 2013.
According to the index, Singapore was rated as having the top service and state of health globally in 2023. Asia is well represented generally, with the five top places rounded off by Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China. Meanwhile, the United States trails just behind the UK in rank 38. The bottom five places are Somalia, Lesotho, Chad, South Sudan and the Central African Republic.
The ranking was created as part of a wider index, which also looks at indicators such as education, investment environment and governance. When taking all analyzed areas into account, the Legatum Centre for National Prosperity says that the Nordic countries of Denmark, Sweden and Norway come out on top as the most prosperous societies.
*This chart has been updated due to mistakenly having Israel in the fifth position instead of China. Israel ranks sixth.
Healthiest Countries
The dimensions of a country's health aren't solely defined by life expectancy but encompass several factors, including access to clean water, availability of medical care, and even lifestyle choices made by the nation's citizens. In this regard, the Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index and the World Health Organization's (WHO) records provide an insightful guide to the healthiest countries based on a variety of these elements, including environmental factors, access to clean water, basic hygiene, diet, and healthcare systems.
The journey to health is a proactive and often complex one, influenced by the social, economic, and political climates of individual nations. Keeping track of which countries are leading this race for optimum health can shed some light on the strategies, policies, and cultural practices that contribute to population-level health outcomes.
From our data analysis, the following key findings emerge:
- As per the Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index, Spain was ranked as the healthiest country in the world, due to its robust public healthcare system and the famous Spanish Mediterranean diet, rich in lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats.
- Australia shines high in the global health ranking, primarily owing to their outdoor lifestyle and efficient pollution control.
- Despite finishing in the top 35, the United States lags behind other developed nations, ranked significantly lower than many of its peers. Issues such as obesity prevalence and deaths from chronic diseases impacted its ranking.
- Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases are the leading causes of death globally, accounting for 71% of all deaths worldwide.
- Surprisingly, the world's poorest countries, which have historically had the worst health outcomes, demonstrated significant improvements in the past decade, a testament to community-wide efforts to improve sanitation, access to clean water and medical care.
These findings provide critical insight into factors that contribute to a countrys health standing, enabling us to identify best practices and mitigate health challenges faced on a global scale.
10 Healthiest Countries In The World
We bet you did not think it was possible to rank countries based on how healthy each one of them is? Well, think again, because the Bloomberg Global Health Index does just that. Taking several factors into account, this index tries to point out countries that do the most when it comes to keeping their citizens healthy. The factors include pollution rates, clean drinking water, and the quality and accessibility ofhealth care. There are many more, of course, and when a country is rated positively on all of those factors, it can be considered a healthy country.
If you are wondering if there are countries we would consider unhealthy, the answer is yes.Those countriesdo not have access to health care and are deficient in managing the cleanliness of their environment. We will not be focusing on them, however, but will instead name the top 10 healthiest countries according to the Bloomberg Health Index.
10. Israel
An extremely healthy diet rich in fish, unsaturated fat, and plenty of veggies, is the main reasonIsraelranked this high on the list. One study even reported that Israel is the country with the lowest number of deaths that are related to diets, meaning stuff like diabetes or high cholesterol.
9. Norway
Moving the list back to Scandinavia, we have Norway, a country with extremelyclean air and water. Some other things that help its placement on this list are low homicide rates and high life expectancies. Another thing worth noting is that the health care system in Norway has continuously been praised as being above average ever since the Norwegian government took control over the hospitals in the country.
8. Singapore
One of the healthiest countries in Asia,Singapore, is known for its hawker food centers, serving multiple types of locally sourced cuisine. Mix that with a more active lifestyle that is prevalent across the country, and it is a recipe for success. The emphasis is so huge in Singapore that the government was distributing free fitness trackers to all citizens.
7. Australia
Next up isAustralia, a country notable for a significant decrease in the number of smokers, as well as death rates, over the past several years. All other vital factors in keeping a country healthy are accounted for here, good health care, high life expectancy, and a diet consisting of primarily locally sourced food.
6. Sweden
Due to its extremely high quality of life and high health care standards,Swedenis considered to be one of the best places to raise a family. The diet in this Scandinavian country is known to be low in carbs and features the right kind of fats, making it great for keeping people healthy.
Of course, as is par for the course with this list, the life expectancy in Sweden is quite high, 82 years on average. Did we mention that people in Sweden lead active lifestyles? Because they do, as you could have guessed already.
5. Switzerland
While Switzerland does not have universal health coverage, the health care system in this country is recognized by many to be the best in the world. The hospitals throughout the country are known to have extremely high standards, avoiding some common faults such as long waiting times orlanguage barriersfor tourists. Such an impressive feat has led to an exceptionally high life expectancy of 84 years on average.
4. Japan
Japans healthcare system is considered to be exquisite, which could be the reason why this country has the oldest population in the world. If you move toJapan, expect to lead a long life. Other reasons include a combination of a healthy diet and plenty of exercise, but that is to be expected since most countries in the top five share similar traits.
One thing worth noting is the practice ofhara hachi bu, which is spread across certain parts of Japan. This literally translates to eating until you are 80 percent full, and it also might help in remaining healthy.
3. Iceland
The people of Iceland lead active lives, preferring to spend their time doing outdoor activities, which certainly helps their health. Adventure sports such as rock climbing are quite popular in this country. Fresh seafood is the basis ofNordic cuisine, so Icelanders can expect to have a lengthy life expectancy for both men and women.
2. Italy
The second and first place might be interchangeable, given how similar the reasons for their placements are. Italy, just like Spain, has an excellent health care system, and its citizens enjoy a healthy diet.
Who knewpasta and pizzacould lead to a life expectancy of over 80 years? However, the main reasons for that are again, vegetables and olive oil, so do not forget your veggies, please. Italians also lead an active lifestyle, which is always helpful in staying healthy.
1. Spain
According to the latest rankings,Spainis the healthiest country in the world. It is official; spicy food makes you healthier! Jokes aside, the diet is one of the many reasons the citizens of this country are healthy. They prioritize fresh, local ingredients, and their diet contains plenty of vegetables, olive oil, and lean meats. They also eat less fast food than average and have an excellent health care system.
Health ranking of countries worldwide in 2023, by health index score
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Legatum Institute Foundation. (February 24, 2023). Health and health systems ranking of countries worldwide in 2023, by health index score [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved April 27, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1290168/health-index-of-countries-worldwide-by-health-index-score/
Legatum Institute Foundation. "Health and health systems ranking of countries worldwide in 2023, by health index score." Chart. February 24, 2023. Statista. Accessed April 27, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1290168/health-index-of-countries-worldwide-by-health-index-score/
Legatum Institute Foundation. (2023). Health and health systems ranking of countries worldwide in 2023, by health index score. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: April 27, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1290168/health-index-of-countries-worldwide-by-health-index-score/
Legatum Institute Foundation. "Health and Health Systems Ranking of Countries Worldwide in 2023, by Health Index Score." Statista, Statista Inc., 24 Feb 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1290168/health-index-of-countries-worldwide-by-health-index-score/
Legatum Institute Foundation, Health and health systems ranking of countries worldwide in 2023, by health index score Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1290168/health-index-of-countries-worldwide-by-health-index-score/ (last visited April 27, 2024)
Health and health systems ranking of countries worldwide in 2023, by health index score [Graph], Legatum Institute Foundation, February 24, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1290168/health-index-of-countries-worldwide-by-health-index-score/
