The 10 Happiest Countries in the World

Conde Nast Traveler ^ | March 31, 2022 | Caitlin Morton

[Vigilanteman]

Happiness is a difficult thing to measure, but one initiative at the United Nations has been trying to figure it out. Every year since 2012, the U.N. Sustainable Development Solutions Network has published its World Happiness Report—a study that examines the connections between happiness and development, all while encouraging policymakers to place more of an emphasis on the former.

Around 1,000 people in each U.N. member state rate their quality of life on a scale from 0 to 10, while researchers cull data from six areas: GDP per capita, life expectancy, social support, trust and corruption, perceived freedom to make life decisions, and generosity. The World Happiness Report 2022 was just released, and while the results follow previous trends (every Nordic country made the cut), the list is a little more interesting because of COVID-19. The report paid special attention to evaluate how different governments have supported citizens’ happiness before, during, and likely after the pandemic.

[Vigilanteman]

Some years ago, National Geographic ran an issue on what they determined were the three happiest countries in the world (not necessarily in order) as Denmark, Costa Rica and Singapore.

The top ten countries according to Conde Nast Traveler are:

1. Finland
   
2. Denmark
   
3. Iceland
   
4. Switzerland
   
5. Netherlands
   
6. Luxemburg
   
7. Norway
   
8. Israel
   
9. New Zealand

   The two things this list has in common is (1)a near total lack of diversity and (2)Definitely first world with fairly strict immigration policies.

   The sole exceptions to (1)are Israel and Switizerland. The first is united by a common religion, the second carefully screens their immigrants.

[marktwain]

Notice Sweden no longer makes the cut.

[marktwain]

These “ratings” are all bogus, anyway. It all depends on how you set up the point system.

[dfwgator]

Finland...Finland....Finland....The place where I want to be...

[SpaceBar]

Possibly relevant to the discussion...

Eat the Rich: A Treatise on Economics by P.J. O'Rourke, 1999

In the tradition of his contemporary classic Parliament of Whores, renowned political humorist P. J. O’Rourkeis back with Eat the Rich, in which he takes on the global economy. P. J. O'Rourke leads us on a hysterical whirlwind world tour from the “good capitalism” of Wall Street to the “bad socialism” of Cuba in search of the answer to an age-old question: “Why do some places prosper and thrive, while others just suck?” With stops in Albania, Sweden, Hong Kong, Moscow, and Tanzania, O’Rourke takes a look at the complexities of economics with a big dose of the incomparable wit that has made him one of today’s most refreshing commentators.

[EEGator]

Getting raped affects happiness.

[EEGator]

I’ve been to three of them.
The clue, it’s white.
QED

[Vigilanteman]

Actually, Sweden was #9 and New Zealand was #10. My mistake. Apparently, Sweden hasn’t gotten their fill of diversity yet. Outside of Malmo anyway.

[Alberta's Child]

The first thing that list has in common is that the countries are predominantly white.

[Sequoyah101]

If memory serves me correctly:

They are all almost exclusively White.
They are all amost exclusively homogeneous
They tend to be socialist but certainly not all

The US will never be on this list.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Around 1,000 people in each U.N. member state rate their quality of life on a scale from 0 to 10, while researchers cull data from six areas: GDP per capita, life expectancy, social support, trust and corruption, perceived freedom to make life decisions, and generosity.

All this information tells us is that the UN equates these things to happiness - we have no way of knowing if the people in those countries also equate these specific factors (and only these factors) to happiness, or even if the people in those countries are particularly happy.

I think this survey is pure BS. Given the weather of most of these northern nations, and the proven impact of weather on mood, I'd be more surprised if the people in these countries are not, in fact, more depressed than the world average.

[wildcard_redneck]

According to the UN a country’s happiness is due to being ruled over by purple-haired harpies, being molested by perverts, and murdered by third world scumbags.

[MNDude]

I was about to note no diversity also

[Vigilanteman]

Talk to people from these countries and they will deny they are socialist. They will explain that they simply pay a high rate of taxes for a high rate of government services. Many of them can’t imagine why anybody would want to freeload off the government if they are able to work.

[KevinB]

The two things this list has in common is (1)a near total lack of diversity and (2)Definitely first world with fairly strict immigration policies.

This!

[alloysteel]

No longer is “Disney World” rated among the “happiest places on earth”. Since they have gone “woke”, they have become one of the more morose places around. Makes you wonder how “gay” ever got attached to that lifestyle.

[ncalburt]

Gang raping Muslim Hordes ruin a place .

[woodbutcher1963]

Luxemburg

Literally, one of the(if not the #1) richest countries in the world.

I have always been happiest when I was not stressed out on how I was going to pay my bills.

[johnthebaptistmoore]

So, this is a UN happy list of happiest countries in the world. Confusing.

[devane617]

cold. not for me