For the first time in history, the United States no longer is among the 10 most prosperous nations in the world. The London-based Legatum Institute, which compiles the list, now ranks the United States 12th among all nations, a steep decline from our sixth-place ranking in 2008.

Currently occupying the top five rankings are Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Australia and New Zealand. Coming in sixth is neighboring Canada, which has surpassed the United States for the first time ever. Rounding out the top 10: Finland, Netherlands, Switzerland and Ireland.

The rankings not only measure economic prosperity, but also health and educational opportunities, personal liberties, safety, governance and a host of other factors. To see how the Institute ranked each of the 142 countries studied, visit  http://www.prosperity.com/