DUSHANBE, July 6, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- The 2009 Happy Planet Index (HPI) published by an independent think-and-do tank, New Economics Foundation (NEF), last week has ranked Tajikistan 32nd among 143 countries.

Of other former Soviet republics, Moldova has been ranked 34th, Uzbekistan 45th, Armenia 48th, Kyrgyzstan 61st, Georgia 72nd, Azerbaijan 85th, Lithuania 86th, Kazakhstan 91st, Ukraine 95th, Latvia 101st, Belarus 104th, Russia 109th, and Estonia 131st.

This report presents results from the second global HPI.  HPI 2.0 has been calculated with new improved data sets for 143 countries, covering 99 per cent of the world’s population.  Scores range from 0 to 100 – with high scores only achievable by meeting all three targets embodied in the index – high life expectancy, high life satisfaction, and a low ecological footprint.

The highest HPI score is that of Costa Rica (76.1 out of 100). As well as reporting the highest life satisfaction in the world, Costa Ricans also have the second-highest average life expectancy of the New World (second only to Canada).  All this with a footprint of 2.3 global hectares.  Whilst this success is indeed impressive, Costa Rica narrowly fails to achieve the goal of ‘one-planet living’: consuming its fair share of natural resources (indicated by a footprint of 2.1 global hectares or less).

The first global HPI was carried out in 2006 and on the first global HPI, Tajikistan was ranked 25th among 178 countries.

NEF is an independent think-and-do tank that inspires and demonstrates real economic well-being.  It aims to improve quality of life by promoting innovative solutions that challenge mainstream thinking on economic, environment and social issues.  NEF was founded in 1986 by the leaders of The Other Economic Summit (TOES), which forced issues such as international debt onto the agenda of the G7 and G8 summits.  The foundation reportedly works with all sections of society in the UK and internationally - civil society, government, individuals, businesses and academia - to create more understanding and strategies for change.