Where do the richest and happiest people in the world reside? And where is poverty rife? The Legatum Institute has released its 2015 Prosperity Index, which measures prosperity across eight categories including personal freedom, education, safety, governance, entrepreneurship and healthcare. Here are the 30 most prosperous countries and the 20 least. Picture credit: Andrey Bayda fpolat69/Shutterstock.com

The United Arab Emirates is ranked as the 30th most prosperous nation. While the UAE government has worked hard to improve the country’s ability to attract foreign investment, particularly within the technology sector, in just one year the nation has fallen 11 spots in the index’s economy sector. It also ranks outside the top 50 (it’s in 65th place) for personal freedom. Picture credit: AshrafJandali/Shutterstock.com

Poland is ranked as 29th in overall prosperity. In the past few years Poland’s economic ranking has risen consistently, moving from 52nd in 2012 to 34th in 2015. The country’s most significant change has been in its approach to personal freedom, leaping from 58th in 2014 up to 29th this year, likely as a result of its increasingly modern, democratic approach to political and civil rights. Picture credit: Shutterstock.com

In 28th place we find South Korea. In recent years South Korea has had great success in reducing poverty while improving its economy, fueled by a 20% growth in exports and a 30% rise in investments. Picture credit: SeanPavone/Shutterstock.com

For the third year running Portugal is 27th. The country continues to score highly for safety & security (18th place overall) and personal freedom (16th) but is ranked in 62nd place for its economy. While its unemployment rate has also dropped, confidence in opportunities has fallen slightly from 30th to 31st. Picture credit: Shutterstock.com

Up three places from last year to 26th, the Czech Republic is showing continued signs of improvement. It ranks in the Top 30 for five of the eight sections – compared to Portugal’s two – including opportunities, safety, health, and education. Picture credit: Shutterstock.com

Slovenia takes 25th spot overall, taking an impressive 11th spot for education. It is also regarded as a safe place to live, coming 14th for security.The country has suffered as a result of the European economic crisis, which partially explains its middling economic ranking of 58th. Picture credit: Shutterstock.com

Spain has struggled in recent years. Its economy – which is the fifth largest in the EU – is still dealing with the fallout of the 2008 financial crisis, and it has an unemployment rate of 21%. Its overall ranking is up two places from last year, but economically it lingers outside the Top 30 at 37th. On a more positive note, it ranks in the Top 30 for all other areas. It holds its strongest position for education (19th), but can only tale 24th spot overall. Picture credit: Shutterstock.com

Malta stays at 23rd place for the second year running. The World Bank classifies Malta as a high-income country, and its strong economy – bolstered by its convenient strategic position – has helped give it an economic ranking of 27th, up five places from 2014. Where it remains weakest is in education, where it ranks at 42 – down one place from last year. Picture credit: Shutterstock.com

Reduced household spending and a decline in business investments saw France drop eight places in the economic index. However, it did retain its position in the top 10 for health for the fourth year in a row. The French health system combines the private and public sectors to provide universal coverage to all citizens, with the government covering most medical bills. It is ranked 22nd overall. Picture credit: beboy/Shutterstock.com

Up one spot from last year, Taiwan is now ranked in 6th place for safety & security and improved five spots in social capital to 22nd overall. Its economy didn’t fare as well, dropping six places. This is largely due to a slowdown in demand for its exports such as electronics and machinery. It is 21st overall. Picture credit: hxdyl/Shutterstock.com

For three consecutive years, Hong Kong (20th overall) ranked number one overall in the index’s safety & security category, largely due to recording the lowest percentages of theft of any country. While education remains its weakest ranking (53rd), it has improved seven places overall since 2014. Picture credit: Shutterstock.com

The Japanese economy hasn’t revived as much as its government would have liked, which is why it has dropped a whopping 18 places in the economy section to 25th place. Despite its health sector dropping three places since 2014, to seventh place overall, Japan boasts the highest number of hospital beds per capita of anywhere in the world. It is ranked 19th overall. Picture credit: lkunl/Shutterstock.com

For the third year in a row Belgium’s highest score is for health, holding on to its top 10 ranking. Disappointingly, since 2014 it has dropped seven places for person freedom (to 20th overall), three places in education (21st) and one place in both education (17th) and opportunity (24th). It is 18th overall. Picture credit: MatejKastelic/Shutterstock.com

Singapore (17th overall) has the best economy in the world according to the Legatum Institute. This is due to the strength of its export market and productivity rate. It has also greatly improved its social capital, moving up 20 places since 2014 (25th), although that and its low personal freedom score mean it remains outside the top 10 overall. Picture credit: anekoho/Shutterstock.com

Despite slipping one place overall since 2014 to 16th, Austria still sits comfortably in the top 20 most prosperous nations. The main reason for the shift is due to the country’s economy, which has been described by experts as “sluggish”; this saw its economic ranking drop four places to 23rd overall. While opportunity gained eight places, moving to 7th overall, personal freedom slipped four spots. Picture credit: canadastock/Shutterstock.com

The UK (15th overall) saw improvements across most categories. It jumped from 28th to 19th in the economy category thanks to a surge in employment. It also moved into 6th position in opportunity and entrepreneurship, up two places since 2014. Low start-up costs, a favourable climate and a can-do attitude from its citizens make the UK the best country in the European Union to start a business, the Legatum Institute says. Picture credit: skyearth/Shutterstock.com

For the fourth year in a row, Germany sits comfortably in 14th place. The German economy remains robust, jumping three places since 2014 to 5th overall. Other areas of improvement include social capital, up one spot to 16th, and health up one spot to 6th place. Picture credit: S.Borisov/Shutterstock.com

Luxembourg has jumped three places overall to 13th since last year. It’s been boosted by a huge leap in personal freedom, moving 28 places to 4th overall, as well as moving up five places to 6th spot in the economy category. The country’s workers enjoy one of the highest per capita earnings in the world. Picture credit: ReinhardTiburzy/Shutterstock.com

Iceland has slipped one spot in the overall rankings since 2014 to 12th. The fall is largely due to its flagging economy; sitting in 31st place, the country is still trying to recover from its banking crisis five years ago. However, in other areas Iceland is on the up, jumping five spots in the opportunity and entrepreneurship sector to fourth place overall. Picture credit: DennisvandeWater/Shutterstock.com

The US ranks just outside the top 10, mainly due to its safety & security score. Ranked 33rd overall, two spots up from 2014, the US is the only Western country on the list to register high levels of state-sponsored violence. Its scores in other categories, including economy and education, have improved and it retains the number one ranking in the world for health. Picture credit: NoelMoore/Shutterstock.com

Ireland has climbed two places in the global rankings to 10th. This is largely thanks to high rankings in safety & security (4th place overall), personal freedom (6th place) and improvements in its economy, up 11 spots to 18th. The index also listed Ireland as one of the top five most tolerant countries towards immigrants. Picture credit: DavidSoanes/Shutterstock.com

While Finland’s 2015 overall ranking of 9th represents a slip of one place from last year, its safety & security was named the world’s third best and its governance and social capital were both ranked 5th in their respective categories. The reason for the slip is due to its economy ranking; dropping seven places it now sits at 33rd. Picture credit: VeronikaGalkina/Shutterstock.com

The Netherlands has moved up one place in the global rankings to 8th. The boost came from significant improvements in the country’s economy, jumping 15 places since 2014 to 10th overall, thanks to a large trade surplus and moderate unemployment rate. It has, however, seen drops in its opportunity (down three places to 13th) and governance rankings (down one to 12th). Picture credit: INTERPIXELS/Shutterstock.com

For the third year in a row, Australia remains in 7th spot overall. The nation takes top spot in the education category with the highest rate of high school enrolment in the world. Despite the end of the country’s mining boom, Australia’s economy rating remains the same (12th place overall) as it did in 2014, as do its ratings for safety & security (16th) and personal freedom (3rd). Picture credit: bbofdon/Shuterstock.com

Despite dropping one place overall to 6th, Canada is ranked as the most free country in the world. Its citizens enjoy high levels of personal freedom (5th place overall) and social capital (4th). The index also reported Canada as having the highest tolerance of immigrants and ethnic minorities. Picture credit: AlbertoLoyo/Shutterstock.com

Sweden has jumped one spot in the overall rankings to secure 5th place. Despite this ranking, the report did express concern around the country’s economy, which has fallen five places since 2012 to 7th position. The index says this is due to high unemployment figures. On a more positive note, for the third year in a row it topped the entrepreneurship & opportunity category. Picture credit:S-F/Shutterstock.com

Although New Zealand has slipped one place in the overall rankings since 2014 to 4th, it has high rankings across several areas including education (6th), governance (2nd) and personal freedom (2nd). It also moved into first place for social capital with 90% of New Zealanders believing they’re tolerant of immigrants. Picture credit: MartinDworschak/Shutterstock.com

The Danes have jumped up one spot to 3rd since 2014 with a big improvement in its economy ranking. Thanks to Denmark’s foreign trade and high-tech agricultural sector, it’s moved into 9th position in the economy table, up nine places from last year. The country also enjoys four top five rankings for opportunity (2nd), governance (3rd), education (3rd) and social capital (3rd). Picture credit: LeonidAndronov/Shutterstock.com

It’s the third year in a row that Switzerland has been pipped at the post. It ranks very highly for its economy (2nd place overall), opportunity (3rd), health (3rd) and is number one in governance, due to its transparent political system. However, if it wants to take the top spot next year, it will need to improve in the education category, where it currently sits in 18th place overall. Picture credit: BorisStroujko/Shutterstock.com

Despite slipping in every single category since 2014, Norway has taken top spot for the seventh year in a row. Although it didn’t come first in any of the eight categories, it’s in the top 10 for every one, and is the only country to achieve this feat. Its highest scores are for social capital (2nd place overall), personal freedom (3rd), health (4th) and its economy (4th). Picture credit: VladaZ/Shutterstock.com Now let's look at the 20 least prosperous countries.

Since US forces withdrew from the country in 2011, Iraq’s government has struggled to hold the country together. High levels of violence and conflict for decades have hindered any chance of reviving its weak economy. As you would expect, it scores particularly poorly for governance and safety & security. It is ranked the 20th least prosperous nation on Earth. Picture credit: padchas/Shutterstock.com

More than a decade since the country’s brutal 10-year civil war, Sierra Leone still bears the scars with high levels of poverty and unemployment. It was dealt a further blow last year when it was hit by the deadly Ebola virus. It has the lowest life expectancy of any country on the list and its health score is among the lowest on the list. It is 19th overall. Picture credit: Shutterstock.com

Sadly, over the last three years Nigeria (18th overall) has fallen a massive 37 places in the personal freedom category, with Nigerians having little freedom to choose what to do with their lives. Immigrants and ethnic minorities are the most affected. Picture credit: Jordi C/Shutterstock.com

In Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, more than half of its residents live in slums. The country’s economy is largely reliant on agriculture, where productivity remains low to due to frequent droughts. Its education and entrepreneurship scores are among the worst on the list. It is ranked 17th on the least prosperous list. Picture credit: Martchan/Shutterstock.com

Also referred to as Congo-Brazzaville, the Republic of Congo (ranked 16th) has been plagued by years of civil war and militia conflicts. Its health score is among the lowest on the list and its economic score has also fallen heavily since the 2014 index, with the World Bank estimating that nearly half the country lives in poverty. Picture credit: Chris Warham/Shutterstock.com

Zimbabwe (15th) continues to battle political instability, collapsing industries and drought, plunging it into the depths of recession. Its economy and entrepreneurship scores have decreased slightly compared to 2014, as has personal freedom in a country ruled by a heavily autocratic government. Picture credit: Herbwithcamera/Shutterstock.com

Despite being one of the largest producers of phosphate, approximately half of the population of Togo (ranked 14th) live below the international poverty line. In good news the country, which has a population of just seven million, has risen 24 places in the safety & security index over the last four years due to lower levels of political violence and theft. Picture credit: Anton_Ivanov/Shutterstock.com

Pakistan ranks in the bottom ten overall for safety & security, largely due to constant political upheavals and conflicts. Its economy has slightly improved since last year, moving up six places, but its personal freedom score is one of the worst on the entire index. It is ranked 13th overall. Picture credit: Patrick Poendl/Shutterstock.com

Its mineral wealth should make Guinea one of Africa’s richest countries, but years of economic mismanagement, political instability and the Ebola epidemic has made this one of the world’s poorest nations. As a result, it unsurprisingly has the second worst economic score in the whole index and poor scores for governance, education and health too. It is ranked 12th least prosperous overall. Picture credit: trevorkittelty/ Shutterstock.com

For the second year in a row, Liberia (which takes 11th place overall in the least prosperous table) ranks as having the lowest performing economy. Still suffering from the 20-year civil war that killed over 200,000 people, the country is ravaged by poverty and corruption. Its safety & security and personal freedom scores have both got much worse since the 2014 index. Picture credit: MickyWiswedel/Shutterstock.com

Despite being one of Africa’s major oil producers, Angola (ranked 10th) is one of the world’s poorest countries as it struggles to rebuild after a 27-year civil war ravaged the nation. Aside from a weak economy it has one of the lowest rankings for personal freedom on the index, dropping four places since last year. Picture credit: Shutterstock.com

Sudan has long been plagued by brutal civil wars that to date have cost the lives of 1.5 million people. The index ranks the nation as having the highest level of state-sponsored political violence. Surprisingly, however, it ranks within the top 50 countries for social capital. It is the 9th least prosperous nation on the planet. Picture credit: Vlad Karavaev/Shutterstock.com

For the second year in a row, Yemen (8th least prosperous) has taken the bottom spot in the personal freedom category. This is due to ongoing human rights issues, where freedom of the press is almost nonexistent, police brutality is a constant and corruption levels are high. Picture credit: Dmitry Chulov/Shutterstock.com

Since last year’s index, Syria hasn’t managed to improve in a single category, with its health, education, governance, opportunity and economy scores all worsening, largely due to the violence of extremist group ISIS. It is ranked 7th least prosperous. Picture credit: fpolat69/Shutterstock.com

For three years in a row the Democratice Republic of Congo has ranked lowest in the safety & security index, due to long-running conflicts that continue to prevent political and economic development. It takes 6th spot overall. Picture credit: ValerriyaAnufriyeva/Shutterstock.com

Currently in the midst of political crisis, Burundi (ranked in 5th place) struggles with low levels of development, widespread poverty and high levels of corruption. Its economic score is particularly bad, as is health. The average life expectancy in the country is just 50 years old. Picture credit: gulionapolitano/Shutterstock.com

Chad is plagued by poverty and internal conflict. While the country’s economy is experiencing a mini-boom thanks to its oil resources, giving it 76th position out of all the countries, it ranks the lowest in the whole index for education. It is ranked 4th least prosperous. Picture credit: Mark Knobil from Pittsburgh, USA/Wikimedia Commons

Haiti, ranked the 3rd least prosperous nation, is still struggling with the after-effects of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck near the capital Port-au-Prince in 2010, killing 220,000 and injuring over 300,000. After a few years of improving scores, it is sadly declining again, with the first round of recent elections marred by violence and disorder. Picture credit:Glenda/Shutterstock.com

The horrific reign of the Taliban crippled Afghanistan's economy and infrastructure with many of its people now refugees. Despite implementing an internationally recognized government in 2004, it struggles to exert any real authority. It has the lowest score for education, and the second lowest score for safety & security and scores poorly for everything else except entrepreneurship, which provides one glimmer of hope. Picture credit: Pal Teravagimov/Shutterstock.com

The Central African Republic is not only the world’s poorest country, it is also one of the least developed, plagued by years of corruption, weak governments, poverty and violence. It’s the lowest ranked country for entrepreneurship, education and health. Picture credit: sandissveicers/Shutterstock.com