Canada which recently elected her second youngest prime minister into power was found to be the best country in the world in terms of personal freedom according to a Legatum Institute study.
The London based think tank as per their annual prosperity index ranks 142 of the world’s prominent countries and ranks them in terms of prosperity depending on 8 sub- indices crucial to economic development.
The 12 sub-indicators include health, social capital, governance, entrepreneurship opportunities and personal freedom in addition to the economy.
As Canada ranks top in the social freedom index, neighbours US is at 15th. Not many countries of the European Union ranks in the top 10 while the UK occupies the 12th position. ‘
India is ranked 79th in the global freedom index with neighbours Pakistan at 129, China at 120, and Afghanistan at 133. India lost one rank compared to last year when it was ranked 78th in 2014.
However, countries like Bangladesh (52), Nepal (58), and Sri Lanka (54) fare better considerably.
The group has consistently ranked Norway as No. 1 since 2009, while Switzerland has held the No. 2 spot for three years running.
The report said, "Canada is now the freest country in the world, having risen five places to first in the personal freedom sub-index. The country is the most tolerant of immigrants in the world - 92 per cent of people think the country is a good place for immigrants. It is also the fifth most tolerant of ethnic minorities - 92 per cent of people think that the country is a good place for ethnic minorities. Ninety-four per cent of Canadians believe that they have the freedom to choose the course of their own lives - the fifth-highest in the world."