Which country has the happiest people? Study: Denmark is the happiest country in the world. The importance of social factors

Surely some of us have thought about the question of what a person needs to live a happy life in his country. It is not difficult to answer, because all it requires is a high and high-quality level of education, a good healthcare system, rising wages, trust in the government and a clean environment. It is these factors that determine the happiest country. Let's see which one comes out on top.

The happiest countries 2017

More recently, as well as individual studies, Sweden and Switzerland were named among the first on this list. But today the situation in the world has changed dramatically, and these countries no longer occupy leading positions. It would be interesting to know who has supplanted the more recent favorites? The top three will look like this: Norway, Denmark and Iceland. Now let’s try to figure out why these countries are ranked this way in the ranking of the happiest countries in the world and what other states are among the leaders.

Australia

It is one of the highly developed economic powers in the world. The majority, namely 70-80 percent of the working population, have a permanent job. And the average income can hardly be called small, since Australians earn about $32,000 per year. Many of them work in their specialty, and foreigners often move to live here due to the high level of education. In addition, Australia has a large amount of architectural heritage, which attracts many tourists. Australians trust their government, which is why they are active citizens. And the average life expectancy can only be envied, because it is approximately 82 years.

Sweden

More recently, namely 2 years ago, Sweden ranked second in the ranking of the happiest countries, and now it is only ninth. Why did this happen? Let's try to figure it out. The majority of voters trust their government, as evidenced by a recent opinion poll. But less than 50% of the working-age population has a paid job. Moreover, the literacy rate in this country reaches almost 100%. The Swedes are also very lucky with the environment. And life expectancy here is the same as in Australia.

New Zealand

For many years now, this country has been confidently included in the list of the happiest countries. There is a very high level of personal freedom here, but, unfortunately, there are problems with healthcare. And the unemployment rate is so low that it is no more than 7 percent. And New Zealanders are confident that the state will support them if they suddenly lose their jobs.

Canada

It is one of the most livable countries in North America. Of course, because the average annual income here is very high. This is why the crime rate is low. In addition, the country has almost 100 percent, and high-quality and almost free education attracts many migrants here. Canadians are also not afraid of being left without work, because the government is developing all kinds of programs to support the unemployed population. This country has very clean air due to the abundance of trees. Canada has many nature reserves and parks.

Netherlands

About 80 percent of the working population have a regular job, and the average annual income can reach $26,000. This is approximately the amount the Dutch retain after paying taxes. This country has a high level of education and literacy. The government also provides good social support to citizens and provides high-quality and affordable healthcare. And the nature here is simply amazing, which attracts many tourists. That is why the life expectancy of the Dutch on average reaches 81 years. For these reasons, the Netherlands is included in the list of the happiest countries in the world.

Finland

This year the Finns managed to rise to 5th place. What helped them do this was a high-quality education system, affordable medicine and improved working conditions. In Finland, primary and higher education are completely free not only for Finns, but also for EU citizens. This country has a very friendly atmosphere, as residents love to communicate and help people, which has been proven more than once by social surveys. The health of pregnant women and women with children is very carefully monitored here, as evidenced by the low maternal mortality rate. The average life expectancy of Finns is the same as that of the Dutch.

Switzerland

Unfortunately, it has lost its first place in the ranking of the happiest countries and dropped to 4. Although it maintains an efficient economy and unconditional trust in the government, and the unemployment rate does not exceed 3 percent. The country has cheap education, but experts have questions about its quality. Despite this, the local residents themselves are happy with it and show almost no complaints about it. Besides being beautiful and tidy, Swiss cities have low crime rates at any time of the day. Citizens receive high-quality medical services, paying for them through insurance.

Iceland

The country has unique nature, traditions and culture. Employment of the working-age population reaches 80 percent. And it is much easier for a woman to get a job here than in many European cities. High-quality and accessible education raises the country's literacy rate by almost 100 percent. The Irish are not afraid of being robbed, because there is a very low crime rate here, and they treat criminals completely differently here. People receive support not only from law-abiding citizens, but also from the government, which does not prevent them from getting a normally paid job. This country has a fairly high level of medicine, due to which the average life expectancy is very low and reaches 82 years.

Denmark

She ranks second on the list of the happiest people who get here thanks to indicators such as the healthcare and education systems. It is rightfully considered a country with a high level of gender equality and political activity of citizens. Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, is considered one of the cleanest cities in the world. Despite the fact that taxes are very high, the free health care and education systems are considered the best in the world.

Norway

It is she who leads among the happiest countries in the world. Norway attracts not only its high level of income, but also its low unemployment rate. The government of the country is trying to protect all segments of society and provide quality education to all citizens. And most hospitals are public, thanks to which Norwegians receive medical services for free. In addition, the nature of Norway captivates with its genuine beauty; there are many lakes and you can even see the northern lights.

), which assessed the happiness of residents of 156 countries and the happiness of immigrants in 117 countries. This year's report paid particular attention to migration within and between countries.

Source: facebook.com/HappinessRPT/

The happiest countries of 2018

Finland took first place in the ranking of the happiest countries in 2018. The top ten leaders have not changed for 2 years, they just change places. Following Finland are Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Switzerland. These countries have been at the top of the happiness rankings for the past four years.

The six criteria used by the report's authors are: GDP per capita, life expectancy, social support, personal freedom, trust and generosity. All leading countries have high values ​​of these indicators.

World Happiness Index 2018

Who's position in the happiness rating changed and by how much?

An analysis of changes from 2008–2010 to 2015–2017 showed that Togo rose the most in the ranking (by 17 positions), and Venezuela showed the largest decline - by 2.2 points on a scale from 0 to 10.

Changes in the happiness index of countries from 2008–2010 to 2015–2017

Source: World Happiness Report 2018

How the happiness index has changed for individual countries can be seen on pages 10–15 (pdf).

Immigrant Happiness Rating

Perhaps the report's most striking finding is that countries rank nearly the same for the happiness of their immigrant populations as the rest of the population. The ten happiest countries in the overall ranking also occupy ten of the top eleven places in the immigrant happiness ranking. Finland is at the top of both rankings.

The closeness of these two ratings shows that happiness can and does change depending on the quality of the society in which people live. The happiness of immigrants, like natives, depends on a number of features of the social structure that go far beyond the higher incomes that have traditionally been thought to encourage migration. The countries with the happiest immigrants are not the richest countries. These are countries with a more balanced set of social and institutional supports for a better life. However, the approximation of the immigrant’s happiness to the happiness of the local population is not complete; the “footprint” effect of the source country of immigration remains. This effect ranges from 10–25%. This explains why the happiness of the immigrant is less than the happiness of the inhabitants of the native countries.

The report also looked at rural-to-urban migration based on the recent Chinese experience, which has been called the greatest migration in history. The experience of such migration also demonstrates that migrants are approaching the satisfaction of life of city residents, as in international migration, but still remaining less than the average feeling of happiness in the city.

The importance of social factors

The report also examines the importance of social factors in the happiness of both migrants and non-migrants. The positions of Latin American countries are due to the great warmth of family and other social relationships. The final part of the World Happiness Report 2018 focuses on three health problems that threaten happiness: drug addiction and. Despite the global context, much of the evidence and discussion focuses on the United States, where the prevalence of all three problems is growing faster than most other countries.

History of the World Happiness Report

The World Happiness Report was first released in April 2012 by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN SDSN).

In July 2011, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution asking member countries to measure the happiness of their people and use it to guide their public policies. On April 2, 2012, the first UN high-level meeting “Happiness and Prosperity: Defining a New Economic Paradigm” was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Jigme Thinley of Bhutan. It is the only country that has adopted gross national happiness instead of gross domestic product as its main indicator of development.

Six indicators are taken into account when calculating the level of happiness

1. GDP per capita (GDP per capita) based on domestic prices (PPP) in 2011 USD (World Bank, September 2017). The equation uses the natural logarithm of GDP per capita because this form fits the data significantly better than GDP per capita (pdf, ranking on pp. 57–59).

2.Healthy life expectancy (healthy life expectancy) (World Health Organization, 2012, Human Development Indicators, 2017). Life expectancy in a given year * (Healthy life expectancy in 2012 / Life expectancy in 2012) (pdf, ranking on pp. 63–65).

3. Social support (social support) is the national average response to the question (about or 1) Gallup World Poll (GWP) “If you had a problem, could you count on family or friends to help you if needed?” (If you were in trouble, do you have relatives or friends you can count on to help you whenever you need them, or not?) (pdf, rating on pp. 60–62).

4. Freedom of life choice(freedom to make life choices). National average response to Gallup World Poll (GWP) question (0 or 1): “Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the freedom to choose what you do with your life?” (Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with your freedom to choose what you do with your life?) (pdf, rating on pp. 66–68).

5. Generosity (generosity): “Did you spend money on charity in the past month?” (Generosity is the residual of regressing national average of response to the GWP question “Have you donated money to a charity in the past month?” on GDP per capita.) (pdf, rating on pp. 69–71).

6. Perception of corruption (perceptions of corruption) is the national average response to the Gallup World Poll (GWP) question (about or 1): “Is government corruption widespread or not?” (“Is corruption widespread throughout the government or not?”) and “Is corruption widespread in business or not?” (“Is corruption widespread within businesses or not?”). Where data on government corruption is not available, perceptions of business corruption are used as a general measure of corruption perceptions. (pdf, rating on pp. 72–74).

In addition, the result was influenced by the subjective feeling of happiness or unhappiness. For example, responses to questions about the past day were taken into account: did you laugh? was there a feeling of happiness? were you feeling anxious? anger? Each country is also compared to a hypothetical country called "Dystopia". Dystopia represents the lowest national averages for each key variable.

When preparing the publication TheWorldOnly the following text was used:
Helliwell, J., Layard, R., & Sachs, J. (2018). World Happiness Report 2018, New York: Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

Read about Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index.

The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), commissioned by the UN, conducted a study that resulted in a ranking of the happiest countries. The release of the report was timed to coincide with the International Day of Happiness, which is celebrated on March 20.

The top six countries whose citizens are considered the happiest in the world include Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, Finland, and the Netherlands.

Interestingly, the happiest country of last year did not make it to first place in the new ranking. There are also a number of fairly prosperous countries that have lost their positions, for example the USA. The author of the report, Jeffrey Sachs, linked the country's movement in the ranking from 13th to 14th place with the new policy pursued by the 45th American President Donald Trump.

“Trump's economic measures are aimed at increasing inequality - cutting taxes on the highest income brackets, defunding health care, cutting funds for the program to deliver free lunches to the sick and poor in order to increase military spending. I think these are all steps in the wrong direction,” says Sachs.

Russia’s performance this year, on the contrary, has improved: it rose in the ranking from 56th to 49th place, overtaking Japan and missing a few points to 48th place, which was taken by Italy.

The authors of the study looked at the lives of people in 155 countries. When compiling the list, six main criteria were taken into account. Economists took data on two of them from publicly available country statistics: GDP per capita and life expectancy. Three more criteria were taken from public survey data: social support of the population in difficult situations, freedom of choice and trust in the government. The last aspect taken into account in the ranking was generosity - but here the researchers had to take the respondents' word for it. Each of them was asked how much they had recently donated to charity.

Controversial parameters

The parameters on which the study is based are quite controversial, therefore the results should be viewed critically, says Andrei Gribanov, a representative of the Institute of Socio-Economic and Political Research Foundation.

“The parameters by which they determined human happiness are quite strange. I have no questions about the parameter about generosity in charity. This is understandable to the average person. But the remaining points are not easy to correlate with the abstract concept of “happiness,” the expert said.

It is difficult to directly link GDP per capita with happiness: after all, you can be economically secure, but at the same time, for example, not have health, notes Gribanov.

• Reuters

“Life expectancy is also a controversial parameter. After all, statistics are a rather crafty thing. Some people in their immediate circle die quite early, while others have long-lived family members. Japan, for example, has one of the longest life expectancies, but there are also a lot of stories about how lonely old people commit suicide,” explained Andrei Gribanov, adding that everyone has their own understanding of freedom of choice.

The happiness of the patient in the VIP ward

“The ranking is headed by those countries where there is a very high rate of depression and suicide. How can the people of these countries be happy? Holland is generally the number one country in this sense. These are countries where the climate is quite rainy, there are not many sunny days (unlike southern countries), plus a certain level of stability and monotonous human employment, that is, search activity is not particularly required there.”

The expert compared such happiness with the external well-being of a patient who is in a hospital in comfortable conditions, but at the same time does not cease to be sick.

“You can, for example, wonder whether a person who is in a hospital in a VIP ward is happy. He also has good conditions there: he is alone in the room, there is air conditioning. But is he happy alone with his diagnosis? - he urged us to think.

The psychologist also believes that, taking into account all these parameters, the researchers “did not look into the soul,” but only measured external factors. But very often the feeling of happiness is subjective and is assessed by everyone in their own way.

“All research criteria come from an external factor, implying that if all six components are present, a person should be happy. But there is not a single subjective criterion here, there is no position that would come from the people. That is, they are supposed to be happy because they are given such conditions,” the expert said.

The elusive prosperity of the United States

Senior researcher at the Institute of the USA and Canada, economist Vladimir Batyuk commented on the decrease in the “happiness rating” in the United States compared to last year. In his estimation, a drop of one position is a minor deterioration that should not be given much attention. And the comments of the report’s author, Jeffrey Sachs, that there are fewer happy people in the United States due to the policies of the new President Donald Trump have no basis at all.

“Trump took office only two months ago, and it is too early to make any statements about the impact of his policies on the lives of the population. It seems that the author of the report is initially an ill-wisher of Trump,” the expert suggested.

In addition, according to his assessment, based on this report it is hardly possible to judge the real well-being of the countries included in the rating.

What are the main factors that determine the happiness of the people of a certain country? The Better Life Index was developed by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). With its help, the happiest places on Earth are determined annually. This ratio is based on several factors including education, employment, life satisfaction, income, health and environment. I present to your attention a list of the 10 happiest countries in the world. The happiness quotient reflects the assessment of the country's residents about their lives. Its value ranges from 0 to 10.

Netherlands, happiness factor: 7.4

The Dutch are some of the most satisfied people in the world. 75% of the country's residents aged 15 to 64 are employed. The average household income in the Netherlands after paying all types of taxes and insurance is $25,493. This is a fairly important indicator of the country's standard of living. The Dutch consider education an important part of life, and the literacy rate in the Netherlands is 99%.


The Dutch pay great attention to the balance of work and rest, which has a positive effect on the level of happiness. Only a few percent of Dutch people work more than 7 hours a day. Both women and men devote sufficient time to household chores and children. Social support is quite well developed in the country; people try to help each other and support each other in difficult situations. Thanks to a very developed healthcare system, the average life expectancy of a Dutch citizen is 81 years. Without a doubt, this is one of the happiest countries in the world.

Sweden, happiness quotient: 7.4

Sweden is one of the least corrupt countries in the world. A transparent government is one of the key factors for the well-being of citizens. Sweden also has quite high voter turnout - 85% of the country's residents participate in elections and trust the elected government. In terms of employment, 74% of Swedes aged 15-64 are employed. Sweden also has a high total net income of US$23,047 and high living standards.

Sweden also does not practice long working hours, which guarantees a better balance of service hours. Swedish parents have plenty of time to raise their children. The country's literacy rate reaches an impressive 99%. The compulsory system of learning a second language other than Swedish ensures better language skills. Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, is the first green capital in Europe. The city is known for its large number of green areas and parks. Swedes also have access to the cleanest tap water in the world. The average life expectancy of Swedes is 82 years. The government spends 9% of the national GDP (US$558.9 billion) on healthcare annually to provide good healthcare to its citizens.

Finland, happiness level: 7.4

An advanced education system, affordable healthcare, strong social support and better working conditions make Finland one of the happiest countries in the world. Unlike other developed countries, school hours in Finland are much shorter. This ensures an advanced educational system, excellent teacher-pupil relationships and welfare monitoring for all children. 83% of Finns have a high-quality higher education. Finland has an average employment rate of 70%. Finns have a combined net annual income of US$25,739 per family. They invest the bulk of their income in education, acquiring new skills and abilities. Well-educated Finns are also very friendly. They maintain strong social bonds and help other people, which maintains a positive atmosphere in the community.


Finland also experiences gender equality - 40% of Finnish government positions are occupied by women. Finland also has a very low infant mortality rate due to child care and an advanced medical system. This makes Finland one of the best places to become a mother. Finns are among the healthiest people in the world, with an average life expectancy of 81 years. Without a doubt, this is one of the happiest countries in the world.

Australia, happiness quotient: 7.4

With a GDP of US$1.5 trillion, Australia is one of the most... rich economies peace. 72% of Australians aged 15 to 64 are employed. Australians have a combined net income of US$31,197 per year per household, supporting a higher standard of living. Australia also has a very low risk of job loss. Australia's world-class education system employs foreigners as teachers. A special program in Australian schools allows students to gain specific job skills that allow them to work immediately after completing their studies. Such programs in Australia not only open up a world of opportunity, but also create a productive workforce.


Australia is also home to many natural wonders and attractions. The Great Barrier Reef in Queensland is the largest coral system on Earth, 2300 km long, visible even from space. It also has beautiful beaches, pink lakes and amazing national parks, making Australia a popular tourist destination. Voter turnout in the country is 93%, indicating high civic engagement. Open government also ensures the well-being of citizens. Australians are very satisfied with their lives. They maintain good relationships with each other and have an average life expectancy of 82 years.

Iceland, happiness factor: 7.5

Iceland is a rich, beautiful, peaceful and educated country. It's no surprise that some of the happiest people on Earth live here. Iceland has a high percentage of the working population, with 80% of citizens employed. Iceland also has one of the highest female employment rates (over 79%). But Icelanders maintain a fine balance between work hours and family commitments. The education rate in the country is quite high due to the availability of a university degree, where students only need to pay an entrance fee. Iceland has one of the lowest crime rates in the world, which plays an important role in the well-being of its citizens.


Iceland is the ideal of gender equality in the world, where women are present in all major areas, like politics, employment and education. The first female president in Europe was elected in Iceland back in 1980. The average life expectancy of Icelanders is 82 years. A favorable environment and clean air are important factors in the health of citizens, as is an organized healthcare system. Iceland's infant mortality rate is also very low.

Austria, happiness coefficient: 7.5

Security is an important factor that determines the happiness of citizens in a country. In this regard, Austria is one of the best places to live due to its very low crime rate. The country is also known for its cleanliness and beautiful scenery. The employment rate in Austria is 73%. Even full-time workers find time for socialization, raising children and their hobbies. Austrians also enjoy a lot of holidays and weekends, as some of the most relaxed citizens in the world. The country has a developed education and healthcare system, rich culture and many attractions. The capital of Austria, Vienna, is known for its historic architecture, outstanding music concerts and the highest quality of life.


Austria is a surprisingly clean and tidy country with clean air and strict environmental laws. Austrians are also satisfied with the quality of drinking water and city parks. The public transport system here is one of the most efficient in the world. The average life expectancy of Austrians is 82 years. The country has an extensive network of hospitals and many private doctors. All Austrian citizens have free access to healthcare.

Denmark, happiness quotient: 7.6

Denmark consistently ranks well in many areas, including security, trust in government, health, wealth and education. Trust is the main factor that makes Danes one of the happiest people in the world. The Danes maintain a high level of trust not only in the state, but also in each other. They focus more on relationships rather than money. Strong social support makes Danes' lives more peaceful, where a sense of human equality prevails.


The government does its best to promote the well-being of citizens, receiving in return trust and a high voter turnout of 88%. Even on working days, the Danes try to pay attention to socialization, raising children, household chores and their own hobbies. This helps prevent depression and anxiety in everyday life. Even during the winter season, Danes gather in parks and on the streets to spend time together. Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, is one of the greenest cities in the world. Most residents in the city travel on foot or by bicycle. The city has wonderful cycling routes. Thanks to its environmental policy, the city plans to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2025. Taxes in Denmark are very high, but the government offers free health care and education to citizens. Denmark rightfully takes its place in the list of the happiest countries in the world.

Canada, happiness index: 7.6

Compared to other North American countries, Canadians enjoy life satisfaction and more positive emotions. The country has a high total household income of US$30,000. More than 70% of Canadians own their own home and car. The country maintains a balance between work hours and daily life so that people have time to relax and raise children. Canadians are not afraid of robbery due to the low crime rate. Canada is also one of the least corrupt countries in the world. The authorities here are striving to introduce new programs for the development of the country and for the well-being of citizens. The Canadian government also provides great support for citizens in case of unemployment and health issues. This is a country with one of the best medical systems in the world.


Thanks to a productive educational system, the literacy rate reaches 99%. Canada's affordable and extraordinary education system also attracts foreigners from all over the world. There is no age discrimination in Canada. Citizens under 65 years of age easily obtain vacancies and continue to work. Another important factor is the natural beauty, with many national parks and attractions. The abundance of forests and parks throughout the country helps maintain high air quality.

Norway, happiness index: 7.7

Undoubtedly, Norway is one of the happiest countries in the world. Norway ranks high on lists of the happiest, safest, healthiest and most well-educated countries. The unemployment rate here is only 3.4%. The working population enjoys five weeks of public holidays each year. Norway has extremely low levels of crime and corruption. The Norwegian government is committed to providing equal benefits to all members of society. The elderly and disabled will also receive health insurance and pension from the government. The education system in Norway is inexpensive and of exceptional quality.


Norway is also famous for its natural beauty. The country is home to thousands of lakes, national parks and breathtaking fjords. The Lofoten archipelago in Norway is a great place to see the Northern Lights. The average life expectancy of Norwegians is 81 years. Most hospitals in Norway are public, providing basic medical services free of charge.

Switzerland, happiness index: 7.8

Small and beautiful Switzerland is the homeland of the happiest people on Earth. The country has a strong economy and a transparent government. The unemployment rate in Switzerland is only 2.9%, the tax system is quite democratic, and wages are among the highest in the world. Most Swiss citizens try to maintain a balance between work and leisure with family, raising children and socializing with friends. People try to exercise daily and lead a healthy lifestyle. The crime rate in Switzerland is extremely low and the cities are clean and tidy. All educational institutions in Switzerland are relatively inexpensive. The government also offers scholarships for international students.


Switzerland has an extensive network of hospitals with excellent patient care. Most services are paid for through health insurance. It's no surprise that Swiss citizens are some of the healthiest people in the world. The average life expectancy of a Swiss is 83 years. The majority of citizens are satisfied with the quality of water and air in the country. If you have not yet found the answer to the question " What is happiness?", then an article on LifeGlobe can help with this.