MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Uruguay leads the 'prosperity index' in Latin America and ranks 30 worldwide

Uruguay excelled in Personal Freedom, having ranked eight worldwide; however in Education the country stood at position 68.

Uruguay is ranked in position 30 at global level among 'high prosperity' countries, according to the 2014 Legatum Prosperity Index, and remains at top position regarding Latin America. It's the same ranking as in 2013 and confirms Uruguay in the leading position for the region for several years running.

 The Legatum Prosperity Index ranks countries according to their performance across eight equally-weighted sub indexes: Economy, Entrepreneurship & Opportunity; Governance; Education; Health; Safety & Security; Personal Freedom and Social Capital.

The short list of ten 'high prosperity' countries begins with Norway, and follows with Switzerland, New Zealand, Denmark, Canada, Sweden, Australia, Finland, Holland and United States.

In the region Chile figures in position 33, Argentina, 46; Brazil, 49; Mexico, 64; Colombia, 66; and Venezuela 100.

Uruguay excelled in Personal Freedom, having ranked eight worldwide; however in Education the country stood at position 68. Other scores: Economy, 55; Entrepreneurship & Opportunity, 52; Governance, 31; Health, 41; Security and Safety, 27; and 47 in Social capital.

The index also shows that 46.7% of Uruguayans interviewed feel that corruption in private business and government is well extended, but this is below the world average of 66.4%.

Regarding jobs, 45.2% believe it's a good moment because of strong labor demand, whiel 87.9% said Uruguay is a good place for immigrants to live.

In security and safety, 49% feel safe walking in the streets at night and 19.2% admitted to having been victims of robbery in 2013.

As to the economy, 67% said they were satisfied with the financial system and 71% with the standard of living. Likewise 57.1% trust the government and 57.8% in the judiciary system and 59.9% satisfied with the government's efforts to combat poverty.