ICELAND gives its citizens the best chance of a prosperous and fulfilled life according to the UN's annual human development index. This ranks 177 countries on measures of health, wealth and education. Icelanders' longevity has allowed the country to overhaul Norway and claim first place this year. America, despite being wealthy, drops four places to 12th. The bottom 24 countries are in sub-Saharan Africa. Violence, poor governance and HIV/AIDS are mainly to blame. Iraq and Afghanistan do not produce enough data to be included.

AFP