Annual Global Prosperity Index Study Reveals Canada Is The 'Freest Country' And Most Tolerant Of Immigrants Globally

An annual global prosperity index study conducted by think tank from Legatum Institute named Canada as the world's "freest country." Aside from that, the study also revealed that the country has the greatest tolerance for immigrants globally.

Yahoo! News reported Nov. 3 that the quality-of-life metrics was also used as one of the bases of the study, along with the country's material wealth.

"By combining those two types of data, the objective and the subjective, we really get a more complete picture of prosperity around the world," Prosperity Index program director Nathan Gamester said.

Global News noted that Canada moved up five notches for this year from 2014 to top in the sub-index.

"Canada has risen to first place in the personal freedom sub-index this year, reflecting high scores in measures of tolerance and civil liberties," Legatum Institute executive director Sian Hansen said in the foreword of the report.

Results have revealed that 92 percent of Canadians think that Canada is a good place for immigrants. Aside from that, 92 percent of the people surveyed also think that Canada is good place for ethnic minorities.

Aside from that, the recent study also revealed that 94 percent Canadians say they have the freedom to choose their way of life.

According to reports, the 2015 Legatum Prosperity Index ranks countries according to eight categories: economy, entrepreneurship and opportunity, governance, education, health, safety and security, social capital and personal freedom.

142 countries were included in this year's global prosperity index study by the Legatum Institute. Norway landed on the top spot, while Central African Republic ranked last.

On the other hand, Canada ranked in the top 10 for the six categories, while it landed on the 11th and 15th spots for categories health and entrepreneurship and opportunity. The country landed on the sixth spot for the overall ranking this year.

"The Index recognizes the need for a country to promote high levels of per capita income, but also advocates improvements in the subjective well-being of its citizens," the report stated.