Australia ranks sixth in the world for youth friendliness, according to a new global index that rates countries on how well people aged 15 to 29 can flourish and prosper there.

The Youthonomics Global Index, compiled by Paris-based think tank Youthonomics, aims to help young people assess their current and future prospects – political, economic and social – around the world.

It assesses 64 countries using 59 criteria, including youth unemployment, economic opportunities, quality and cost of education, housing affordability, age of elected leaders, work and living conditions and health and wellbeing.