Despite this assertion, a rival study has come to destroy all we thought we knew about ourselves. According to a little known group called ‘the UN’, the United Kingdom is actually amongst the happiest countries in the world. That’s right. Based on the UN’s calculations, we are the 20th happiest nation on Earth, being narrowly beaten out by Lithuania, Czechia, and our neighbours to the west, Ireland.
So how did the UN come to this conclusion? Well, gathering data on a range of factors including GDP per capita (how much money a country is generating per person), freedom to make life choices, generosity and life expectancy, they were able to do some maths and give each nation an overall numerical ranking on their population’s joy.
The elderly ranked as ‘significantly happier than the young’ in Britain, so clearly we should all be spending a lot more time with our grannies.
Finland came out on top, followed swiftly by Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden. Whatever is in the water in Scandinavia is working for them, as they regularly top international satisfaction rankings. Maybe the secret to life is hygge after all.
So head over to your nan’s house with a candle or two, and take this as a positive sign. We’re NOT as miserable as everyone thinks, and that’s something to be proud of. Someday we might even reach thestate ofbliss that the Scandinavians feel every day.
According to a little known group called 'the UN', the United Kingdom is actually amongst the happiest countries in the world. That's right. Based on the UN's calculations, we are the 20th happiest nation on Earth, being narrowly beaten out by Lithuania, Czechia, and our neighbours to the west, Ireland.
Is the UK on the list of the happiest countries? The UK is not in the top 10 of the happiest countries in the world. It comes in at number 20, dropping one place from its 19th slot in 2023. It follows behind Ireland (17th), Canada (15th), Costa Rica (12th) and New Zealand (11th).
Finland ranked as the happiest country in the world again, according to The World Happiness Report. For the seventh year in a row, Finland has landed the top spot on the World Happiness Report's annual ranking of the happiest countries in the world.
The UK clings on in 20th place, having fallen from position 17 in the last report, of 2021. Nordic countries continue to dominate the top spots. Few countries with large populations feature at the top, with only two countries in the top 10 (the Netherlands and Australia) having populations of over 15 million.
The United States has fallen eight spots and is no longer in the top 20 happiest countries in the world, falling behind countries like Canada, Israel, Kuwait, Lithuania and the United Arab Emirates, according to the 2024 World Happiness Report released by Gallup and its partners.
Afghanistan remains bottom of the overall rankings as the world's 'unhappiest' nation. For the first time, the report gives separate rankings by age group, in many cases varying widely from the overall rankings.
It found that happiness levels rose after 1945 and peaked in 1957 before de- clining during the 1960s and 1970s until a nadir in 1978's Winter of Discontent.
What About the United States? Finland was voted the happiest country in the world for the fifth straight year, and it is joined by other European countries in the annual World Happiness Report.
Key points. The United States ranks 23rd, and Canada 15th, on a global measure of happiness across countries. People under 30 are far less happy than people over 60. Happiness depends as much on perception and expectations as economic wellbeing.
The top three overall, Norway, Australia and the Netherlands offer high living standards, strong economies, an excellent work-life balance, robust social security systems and inclusive, diverse work environments.
The 10 countries at the bottom of the list included Zambia at 137th rank, followed by Malawi, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Lesotho, Botswana, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Lebanon and Afghanistan.
The basis for Finland's consistent #1 position in happiness is explained by the high levels of trust and freedom in its society – which research shows contributes to well-being and productivity. Finland consistently ranks among the best in the world for transparency and the perceived lack of corruption.
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