An annual assessment of global wealth and well-being ranks Russia 68th in the world, or seven places lower than a year ago.
The 2014 Prosperity Index by London-based Legatum Institute rates 142 countries around the world based on eight categories, including: economy, personal freedom, education, governance, health, safety, and security.
Russia's lowest ranking -- 124th in the world -- comes in the personal freedom category, while its highest -- 37th -- is in education.
In health care, Russia is ranked 44th.
Norway leads the overall rankings for the sixth year, followed by Switzerland, New Zealand, Denmark, Canada, and Sweden.
China ranks 54th and the United States 10th.
Pakistan, Iraq, and Afghanistan rank among the lowest -- 127th, 128th, and 137th, respectively.
Among Central Asian states, Kazakhstan fares best at 55th, followed by Uzbekistan (57th), Kyrgyzstan (74th), and Tajikistan (94th).
Among other former Soviet republics, Belarus is ranked 53rd, Ukraine 63rd, Azerbaijan 79th, Georgia 80th, Moldova 89th, and Armenia 95th.
In the Western Balkans, Croatia is ranked 50th, Montenegro 65th, Macedonia 69th, and Serbia 77th.
The index defines prosperity as both wealth and well-being and states that, aside from a high gross domestic product, the most prosperous nations in the world are those that also have happy, healthy, and free citizens.
