Costa Ricans are the happiest in the world

Forget Disneyland! Costa Rica is the happiest place in the world, according to an independent research group in Britain with the goal of building a new economy, centered on people and the environment.

Forget Disneyland! Costa Rica is the happiest place in the world, according to an independent research group in Britain with the goal of building a new economy, "centered on people and the environment".

In a report released recently, the group ranks nations using the Happy Planet Index, which seeks countries with the most content people.

heaven on earth: Costa Rica is famous for its lush rain forests and pristine beaches

The runner-up was the Dominican Republic, followed by Jamaica, Guatemala and Vietnam.

Most developed nations lagged in the study. While Britain ranked 74th, the US snagged the 114th spot, because of its hefty consumption and massive ecological footprint.

Other populous nations, such as China and India, had a lower index brought on by their vigorous pursuit of growth-based models.
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In addition to happiness, the index by the New Economics Foundation considers the ecological footprint and life expectancy.