Switzerland has been named the world’s most prosperous country in the 2026 Legatum Prosperity Index, while Mauritius remains Africa’s highest-ranked nation, highlighting those strong institutions and quality of life matter as much as economic growth.
The annual index, published by the Legatum Institute, ranks 167 countries by looking beyond the size of their economies. Instead of focusing only on GDP, it measures whether people have access to good healthcare, quality education, personal freedoms, economic opportunities, effective governance and safe, cohesive communities.
This year’s report introduces a new scoring method that places greater emphasis on balance. Countries can no longer rely on strong economic performance to offset weaknesses in areas such as governance, social cohesion or personal freedom.
Switzerland takes the top spot
Switzerland climbed to first place globally after recording consistently strong performances across the index’s key categories, with no major weaknesses dragging down its overall score.
The 2026 rankings assess countries across three main areas:
- Development – including health, education and living standards.
- Freedom – covering personal, economic and institutional freedoms.
- Society – measuring social trust, safety, governance and community strength.
Together, these indicators provide a broader picture of prosperity than economic output alone.
Mauritius remains Africa’s leader
Mauritius retained its position as Africa’s most prosperous country, ranking 45th worldwide. The Indian Ocean island nation stood out for its balanced performance across development, freedom and societal wellbeing.
Botswana ranked second in Africa, supported by decades of political stability and sound economic management, although the report noted there is still room for improvement in several development indicators.
North African countries also performed strongly. Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria all secured places among Africa’s top six, reflecting relatively solid institutions and social outcomes despite ongoing economic challenges.
South Africa and Ghana among Africa’s top 10
South Africa ranked seventh in Africa and 86th globally. While the continent’s most industrialised economy scored well in areas linked to business and economic development, weaker results in social cohesion and family stability reduced its overall ranking.
Ghana emerged as West Africa’s highest-ranked country, placing eighth in Africa and 88th globally. Gabon and Senegal completed the continent’s top 10.
Prosperity goes beyond economic size
The latest rankings suggest that having a large economy does not automatically translate into higher prosperity.
Several smaller African countries outperformed larger economies by maintaining stronger public institutions, protecting individual freedoms and building more resilient societies.
The report argues that long-term prosperity depends on achieving balanced progress across multiple areas, rather than relying solely on economic expansion.
For African countries seeking to attract investment and improve living standards, strengthening governance, expanding opportunities and reinforcing social institutions could prove just as important as increasing national income.