Healthiest Countries

The dimensions of a country's health aren't solely defined by life expectancy but encompass several factors, including access to clean water, availability of medical care, and even lifestyle choices made by the nation's citizens. In this regard, the Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index and the World Health Organization's (WHO) records provide an insightful guide to the healthiest countries based on a variety of these elements, including environmental factors, access to clean water, basic hygiene, diet, and healthcare systems.

The journey to health is a proactive and often complex one, influenced by the social, economic, and political climates of individual nations. Keeping track of which countries are leading this race for optimum health can shed some light on the strategies, policies, and cultural practices that contribute to population-level health outcomes.

From our data analysis, the following key findings emerge: 

• As per the Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index, Spain was ranked as the healthiest country in the world, due to its robust public healthcare system and the famous Spanish Mediterranean diet, rich in lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats.
• Australia shines high in the global health ranking, primarily owing to their outdoor lifestyle and efficient pollution control.
• Despite finishing in the top 35, the United States lags behind other developed nations, ranked significantly lower than many of its peers. Issues such as obesity prevalence and deaths from chronic diseases impacted its ranking.
• Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases are the leading causes of death globally, accounting for 71% of all deaths worldwide.
• Surprisingly, the world's poorest countries, which have historically had the worst health outcomes, demonstrated significant improvements in the past decade, a testament to community-wide efforts to improve sanitation, access to clean water and medical care.

These findings provide critical insight into factors that contribute to a country’s health standing, enabling us to identify best practices and mitigate health challenges faced on a global scale.

Among the world's countries, Spain, Italy, Iceland, Japan, Switzerland, Sweden, Australia, Singapore, Norway, and Israel rank at the top in terms of the Bloomberg Global Health Index. Leading the list is Spain with an impressive health index of 92.75. Italy follows closely in second place with a health index of 91.59.

Iceland is third with a health index of 91.44, closely followed by Japan at 91.38. Next is Switzerland with 90.93, Sweden with 90.24, Australia with 89.75, and Singapore with 89.29. Norway demonstrates a high health index with a score of 89.09. Lastly, Israel completes the top ten with a health index of 88.15.

Top 10 Healthiest Countries:

1. Spain - 92.75
2. Italy - 91.59
3. Iceland - 91.44
4. Japan - 91.38
5. Switzerland - 90.93
6. Sweden - 90.24
7. Australia - 89.75
8. Singapore - 89.29
9. Norway - 89.09
10. Israel - 88.15

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The countries with the lowest health indices include Serbia, Argentina, Mexico, China, Turkey, Panama, Oman, Hungary, Uruguay, and the United Arab Emirates.

At the bottom is Serbia with the lowest health index of 60.99. Argentina is next with a health index of 61.19. Following are Mexico with 62.09, China with 62.52, and Turkey with 62.81.

Completing this list are Panama with a health index of 64.01, Oman with 64.07, Hungary with 64.43, Uruguay with 65.66, and the United Arab Emirates with 67.14.

Bottom 10 Least Healthy Countries:

1. Serbia - 60.99
2. Argentina - 61.19
3. Mexico - 62.09
4. China - 62.52
5. Turkey - 62.81
6. Panama - 64.01
7. Oman - 64.07
8. Hungary - 64.43
9. Uruguay - 65.66
10. United Arab Emirates - 67.14

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To sort the data in the table, click on the column headers.

Year: 2023

Source: Bloomberg's Global Health Index

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