There are so many rankings out there. Best place to live, best place to work, best place to retire, best place to be buried etc. Often with laughable results.

Gallup and Healthways have now published The Gallup-Healthways Global Well-Being Index. On 124 pages their scientific methodology is described and results shown, highlighting continents and countries. Well worth reading. (here)

There are five categories contributing to our overall well-being:

– job / purpose

– social

– community

– physical

– financial

Panama became #1, the only country where more than 60% of people are predominantly happy in more than 3 of these 5 categories. Actually, they are happy in 4 of them, except finance.

I am glad to see this and it explains why so many people walking the streets are just smiling at you. And drivers almost never honk their horn, show a finger or so.

This is where countries like Germany are leading, but not even reaching the top ten altogether. Even worse, in Germany 24% of employed people indicate to be actively “disengaged” in their professional position.

How about living and doing business in the land of well-being?

Panama is growing strongly, on its way to improve the financial situation for the average and poor people. So in 10 years from now, they’ll still lead but be happy in each of 5 categories. Good luck.