Costa Rica tops the Happy Planet Index, a ranking of ecological efficiency among the world's nations, survey officials say. Costa Ricans reported the highest life satisfaction and have an average life expectancy second only to Canada, said a release from the New Economics Foundation, a British think tank that promotes ecology and sustainable economics. Nine of the 10 highest-scoring nations were in Latin America, with the United States reportedly greener and happier 20 years ago than it is today. Of the 143 nations surveyed for the Happy Planet Index, the United States ranked 114. While ecological progress is being made, residents in most countries are far from achieving healthy lives within the Earth's finite resources, said Nic Marks, a foundation spokesman.

LONDON, July 4 /PRNewswire/ -- As the G8 prepare to meet in Italy this week, the second global ranking of the ecological efficiency with which the world's nations deliver long and happy lives for the people who live there - the 'Happy Planet Index' - reveals a surprising picture of the relative wealth and progress of nations. - Latin America tops the Index with Costa Rica the 'greenest and happiest' country.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The tiny nation of Vanuatu, one of the "happy isles of Oceania," has topped a new index that measures quality of life against environmental impact, with industrial countries, perhaps unsurprisingly, faring badly.