Below is a list of the top 15 healthiest countries in the world as ranked by Forbes magazine. To arrive at their rank, research staff at Forbes examined statistics such as pollution; the percentage of a country's population with access to improved drinking water and sanitation; infant mortality rates; the rate of prevalence of tuberculosis; the density of physicians per 1,000 people; undernourishment rates; and healthy life expectancy for men. Forbes eliminated from the analysis the countries that did not have statistics in every measure (including some that would likely have made the top 15 such as Ireland, Belgium, and Norway.

The 15 healthiest countries in the world are:

1. Iceland
   This small Scandinavian island in the North Atlantic is the healthiest country in the world due to its long healthy life expectancies, low pollution levels, high density of physicians per capita, and low TB and infant mortality rates.
2. Sweden
   The largest of the Scandinavian countries – both in area and population – Sweden has some of the cleanest air in the world. Its infant mortality rate and TB prevalence are some of the lowest in the world. But the physician density, while relatively high, is not enough to knock Iceland from the top spot.
3. Finland
   Rounding out the top three is yet another Scandinavian country. Finland shares the clean air, low TB prevalence, and low infant mortality rate of its regional brethren ahead of it on the list, but comes up just a little short on those measures to crack the top two.
4. Germany
   The German health care system, one of the best in the world, provides one of the highest physician densities on the list and Germany’s clean air solidifies its position in the top five.
5. Switzerland
   Switzerland has the second-highest health spending per capita of all the countries considered and has one of the world’s highest physician densities and longest healthy life expectancies. However, its air pollution levels are higher than the others in the top five.
6. Australia
   Australia has an excellent health care system that requires insurance companies to charge policyholders the same premiums regardless of their status or past. The country also has some of the world’s cleanest air, but its relatively high TB prevalence keeps it out of the top five.
7. Denmark
   While this forth Scandinavian country to make the list has some of the highest income taxes to help pay for the country’s universal health care coverage, the Danish health care system isn’t very efficient, perhaps due in part to its having one of the lowest physician densities on the list. The country does have one of the highest healthy life expectancies on the list.
8. Canada
   Canadians enjoy one of the world's longest life expectancies despite having the lowest physician density on the list. Our neighbor to the north also has one of the lowest TB rates, but gets marked down for its relatively high infant mortality rate.
9. Austria
   Austria has a relatively high physician density and a low infant mortality rate, but its poor air quality and high TB prevalence prevent it form climbing any higher on the list.
10. Netherlands
    This highly urbanized, densely populated nation suffers from pollution in the water, air, and soil, but its low TB rate and average healthy life expectancy keep in the top ten.
11. United States
    The U.S.far outspends any other country on health care, but 15% of the population still lacks health insurance. However the U.S does have the lowest infant mortality rate in the world, the second-highest healthy life expectancy, and a low TB rate.
12. Israel
    Israel has one of the highest levels of air pollution on the list, but its physician density is the highest in the world and life expectancy is average for the countries on the list.
13. Czech Republic
    The Czech Republic has one of the list’s lowest healthy life expectancies as well and relatively poor sanitation and high TB prevalence. However, the country now boasts one of the world’s lowest infant mortality rates.
14. Spain
    A high physician density, healthy life expectancy, and low infant mortality rate make Spain a pretty healthy place to live, but a high tuberculosis rate and air pollution temper this somewhat.
15. France
    France’s excellent health care system, clean air and high density of physicians per capita landed it on the list, while poor wastewater treatment and a high tuberculosis rate kept France from climbing any higher.

_{Source: Forbes Special Report: World's Healthiest Countries, Allison Van Dusen and Ana Patricia Ferrey, April 08, 2008.
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