proximity to the arctic?

or maybe distance from the equator? here are some nation rankings for you…

first, the world’s happiest countries in 2012 — by which they (the legatum institute people) mean the world’s most prosperous countries (i think i see the hajnal line there…):

top 10 countries:
– Norway
– Denmark
– Sweden
– Australia
– New Zealand
– Canada
– Finland
– Netherlands
– Switzerland
– Ireland

bottom 10 countries:
– Ethiopia
– Yemen
– Zimbabwe
– Togo
– Burundi
– Haiti
– Chad
– Afghanistan
– Republic of Congo
– Central African Republic

see their methodology here.
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and now … world internet usage, june 2012 — world regions – percentage of population:

– North America = 78.6%
– Oceania/Australia = 67.6%
– Europe = 63.2%
– Latin America/Caribbean = 42.9%
– Middle East = 40.2%
– Asia = 27.5%
– Africa = 15.6%

within the americas (north and latin):

– Greenland = 90.1%
– Canada = 83.0%
– United States = 78.1%
– Argentina = 66.4%
– Chile = 58.6%
– Jamaica = 54.7%
– Brazil = 45.6%
– Dominican Republic = 45.6%
– Mexico = 36.5%

within europe:

– Sweden = 92.7%
– United Kingdom = 83.6%
– France = 79.6%
– Italy = 58.4%
– Albania = 49.0%
– Kosovo = 20.5%

within asia:

– South Korea = 82.5%
– Japan = 79.5%
– Sinagpore = 75.0%
– Hong Kong = 74.5%
– China = 40.1%
– Georgia = 28.4%
– Pakistan = 15.3%
– India = 11.4%
– Afghanistan = 5.0%

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