What Is the Happiest Country in the World?

On Monday, March 20, the world celebrated International Day of Happiness. The date was established by the United Nations (UN) in 2012 to raise awareness about the importance of happiness in people’s lives.But do you know where the happiest people in the world are?For the sixth consecutive year, Finland is the happiest country in the world, according to the “World Happiness Report,” a survey published by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. The study, based on data from global surveys of people in over 150 countries, ranks countries according to evaluations of their populations’ lives over the past three years, in this case, from 2020 to 2022.The Nordic country and its neighbors Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and Norway scored very well in the categories that the report uses to define happiness: life expectancy, GDP per capita, social support, low corruption, generosity, and freedom to make important life decisions.But since we can’t all move to Finland, is there something that other societies can learn from this ranking?The research highlights that in the small country north of the Arctic Circle, with a population of about 5.5 million, work commutes tend to be quick, freeing up more time during the day for people to have fun. That is, there is a greater balance between work and leisure compared to other societies.In addition, the report mentions the natural beauty of the place and the long summer days as reasons for a higher quality of life. From May to August, the sun does not set in Finland. Further south, the sun can be visible almost 24 hours a day during the months of June and July.Other “happy” countriesIsrael rose to 4th place this year, up from 9th place last year. Netherlands (No. 5), Switzerland (No. 8), Luxembourg (No. 9), and New Zealand (No. 10) complete the top 10.Australia (No. 12), Canada (No. 13), Ireland (No. 14), United States (No. 15), and United Kingdom (No. 19) made it to the top 20.The least happy countries in the worldAt the bottom of the list is Afghanistan, in 137th place. Lebanon is one position above, in 136th. The average life ratings in these countries are over five points lower (on a scale of 0 to 10) than in the 10 happiest countries.India also stood out in this ranking. It ranked 126th among the 137 countries surveyed. A worse placement than neighbors like Nepal, China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and others. The country is in a worse position than war-torn Ukraine (92nd).And Brazil?The Brazil was ranked as the 49th happiest country in the world.The happiest countries in the world in 2023 1. Finland 2. Denmark 3. Iceland 4. Israel 5. Netherlands 6. Sweden 7. Norway 8. Switzerland 9. Luxembourg 10. New Zealand 11. Austria 12. Australia 13. Canada 14. Ireland 15. United States 16. Germany 17. Belgium 18. Czech Republic 19. United Kingdom 20. LithuaniaSource: https://worldhappiness.report and CNN