OREANDA-NEWS.  November 07, 2014. The 2014 Legatum Prosperity Index, which offers an assessment of wealth and well-being in 142 countries, was published. Estonia is ranked 32nd this year, four places up from 2013 but one down from its best in 2009.

The countries are ranked based on their performance in eight fields: economy, entrepreneurship and opportunity, governance, education, personal freedom, health, safety and security, and social capital.

The 2014 Index ranks Norway as the most prosperous country for the sixth year in a row, followed by Switzerland, New Zealand, Denmark and Canada. Of Estonia's closer neighbors, Sweden is placed sixth, Finland eighth, Lithuania 42nd, and Latvia 44th. Russia has fallen seven places to 68th.

The last places are occupied by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad and the Central African Republic.

Estonia does best in the categories of governance (26th) and entrepreneurship and opportunity (27th), and worst in personal freedom (70th).