If the continuing sunshine has you thinking that Ireland might just be the best place on Earth, you wouldn't be wrong.

Ireland has placed top in the Good Country Index, which aims "to measure what each country on earth contributes to the common good of humanity."

The index uses a variety of metrics from the UN, the World Bank and other international organisations to rank each nation's work towards the "greater good".

Finishing first in prosperity and equality, and top-10 in culture, world order, and health and wellbeing; Ireland ranks just above Finland and Switzerland.

Regionally, the Nordic countries rated higher than any other area, and Western Europe claimed all but one of the top-10 positions.

Costa Rica at 22nd were the highest ranked outside the 'Western' sphere and Kenya was the best performing African country, placed at 26th.

Policy advisor Simon Anholt, who developed the index, explains the rationale behind it:

"What the Index does aim to do is to start a global discussion about how countries can balance their duty to their own citizens with their responsibility to the wider world, because this is essential for the future of humanity and the health of our planet."