The World's Happiest Nations Are . . .
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Just like beauty, happiness is very subjective - What makes one person happy does not necessarily work for another. Yet there are various agencies that attempt to gauge the happiness of entire nations using disparate criteria. The most recent 'World Happiness Report' was released by the United Nations on September 9th and without further ado, here are the results . . .
The good news is that between 2010-2012, the 156 nations surveyed for this report have overall become slightly (by 0.5%) happier then they were when the 2012 report which used data from 2005-2007, was published.
As to who is the happiest of all? That honor goes to the people of Denmark which scored a high 7.7 out of a maximum of 10 in the survey that was taken by 3,000 residents and included questions about income, mental and physical health, social support - i.e. having someone they could rely on, freedom to make their own choices, living under a government that is not corrupt and last but not least, their willingness to help others.
Following closely behind were Norway, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Sweden. The US unfortunately placed all the way down to 17 and what was even sadder is that the happiness level of its residents declined by 0.283% as did that of the people of Japan, Hungary and Finland.
Given the political unrest in Egypt and the economic woes in Greece, it came as no big surprise that the biggest declines in happiness levels were experienced there. Nor was the fact that the overall joy levels of the countries undergoing the 'Arab Spring' in the Middle East and North Africa, declined by 11.7%. As for the unhappiest countries in the world? Those happened to be poor third world countries like Central African Republic which came in at 154, Benin which came in at 155 and tiny Togo,which placed last!
This is not the only survey that tries to determine how happy the residents of a country are. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) also publishes a similar report using slightly different criteria. Their latest report also placed the European countries of Sweden, Norway, Switzerland and Denmark high on the list of happiness. The only difference? Their top pick was Australia. Of course the Happy Planet Index produced by U.K..'s New Economics Foundation begs to differ - They rank Costa Rica, Vietnam and Colombia as the top three because their focus is based primarily on environmental impact!
Resources: Telegraph.co.uk,fastcoexist.com
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224 Comments
- benabout 11 yearsI think this isn't fact just opnion.
- mystery manabout 11 yearsaccurate?
- Matthew B.about 11 yearsI hope the world was happy because laughter/happiness is the best medicine
- Kiera H.about 11 yearsI wish most people in the world were happier.. I mean we live in a golden age all people should be happy. Even though we live in the "golden age' not that many people are happy i wish that they were.... Be happy especially Africa
- Sarah C.about 11 yearsI learned that North and South America are happier than the other half of the world. In places like Africa though, the happiness level is very low, alot lower then in other places around the world.
- Jonathan P.about 11 yearsThe acticle of the "World's Happlies Countries was instesting because the people of the Arab countries are not happy and to no surpise because many are going though a revolution. What is suripusing is that the US,Canada,Mexico,Austrlia,and New Zeland are in the blue for happines because there is corruption, bad govenmenting, or a reccision.
- Alexis S.about 11 yearsI've learned that North America seems to be the happiest continent. America's happiness did only make #17 on the list, but it is still pretty happy compared to some other countries. I think that world happiness is important, to slim chances of conflict between countries. I also don't think it is fair to try to sum up a country's happiness by interviewing a number of people. Countries are pretty big, and there was not enough interviews to sum up the majority. Some people are happier than others.
- Michaela Lewis about 11 yearsI learned that the United States placed #17 of happiness out of the world. Which doesnt seem right because we are way better off than most people in this world we actually have oppertunities for our children. Yes, it may be hard to find a job but if you tried hard enough you could find one or make your own. People dont realize how furtunate we are to have what we have. Another thing that i learned was that when they asked denmark all these questions about physical activity, mental and physical health, Denmark scored 7.7 out of 10. They are willing to help each other. And from what i see in the United States people arnt that nice. They want a reward for something they do all the time not just the thought of being nice.
- Briona Mabout 11 yearsThe first facts I have learn is that Denmark and Norway are the top country that are happier than any in 2010-2012. The second fact I just learn is that France is the lowest happiest country (rank 25) on part 1 of the chart. I wonder what country is going to be the happiest for this year.
- Briona C.about 11 yearsThe first facts I have learn is that Denmark and Norway are the top country that are happier than any in 2010-2012. The second fact I just learn is that France is the lowest happiest country (rank 25) on part 1 of the chart. I wonder what country is going to be the happiest for this year.