You're reading: Ukraine climbs one place up in Legatum Institute’s Prosperity Index 2014

Moscow - Ukraine has climbed from 64th to 63rd place in the 2014 Legatum Institute's Prosperity Index.

Russia is the worst performing country in Europe this year, falling seven places on the Prosperity Index to 68th.

In the post-Soviet space Lithuania has the best ranking (42nd), as well as Latvia (44th). Belarus climbed from 58th to 52nd, while Kazakhstan worsened the ranking by eight places, to 55th.

Norway is again the highest ranked country followed by Switzerland which retained its place from 2013, while New Zealand the country has risen two places this year, to the third place. The top ten most prosperous countries also includes Denmark, Canada, Sweden, Australia, Finland, the Netherlands and the United States.

The Prosperity Index covers 142 countries in the world, accounting for 96 percent of the world’s population and 99 percent of global GDP making it the most comprehensive tool of its kind.

Central African Republic is the lowest ranked country.

The most prosperous in Europe is Britain (13th), while Germany was 14th, France was 21st, Spain was 26th and Italy – 37th.

The Index measures the broad set of indicators that tell us not only how nations perform economically but in vital areas of education, health, freedom, opportunity, social capital, and more.