Top 10 happiest countries of 2016

Denmark has reclaimed its spot as the happiest country in the world, pushing Switzerland to second place and leaving its fans even more joyful.

Following Denmark and Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, and Finland round out the top five countries, according to the World Happiness Report Update 2016, published in Rome by the United Nations' Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

Denmark has dominated the rankings, winning the title three times out of the four reports released, with Switzerland only overtaking it once.

Burundi ranks at the bottom of the list in terms of life satisfaction, followed by Benin (153rd), Afghanistan (154th), Togo (155th), and Syria (156th), according to the survey of 156 countries.

The United States ranked 13th in overall happiness, trailing behind countries like Canada (6), the Netherlands (7), New Zealand (8), Australia (9), Sweden (10), Israel (11), and Austria (12). Germany was in 16th place, with other global powers such as the United Kingdom (23), Japan (53), Russia (56), and China (83) much further down the list.

Countries that experienced a decline in happiness, such as Greece, Italy, and Spain, were affected by economic and political instability, while Ukraine’s turmoil and violence significantly contributed to its drop in happiness levels.

Understanding happiness is crucial

According to the report’s editors, happiness provides a more comprehensive measure of human well-being than evaluating education, health, poverty, income, and governance separately.

The report identifies seven key factors that contribute to happiness: longer life expectancy, stronger social support, greater personal freedom, lower corruption perceptions, higher levels of generosity, less inequality in happiness, and a higher GDP per capita.

Jeffrey Sachs, co-editor of the report and director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, stated, 'Measuring self-reported happiness and well-being should be a priority for every country as they work toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.'

Sachs emphasized that the Sustainable Development Goals themselves reflect the notion that human well-being should be supported through a comprehensive strategy that integrates economic, social, and environmental objectives. 'Instead of focusing solely on economic growth, we must foster societies that are prosperous, just, and environmentally sustainable,' he said.

It’s not just about money

According to the report, Iceland and Ireland both endured severe banking crises that heavily impacted their economies but did not significantly affect their happiness levels. Both countries benefit from strong social support systems, which placed Iceland in third and Ireland in 19th place this year.

John Helliwell from the University of British Columbia cautioned that focusing solely on financial well-being can obscure the broader picture of true happiness and quality of life.

In Norway, it's a common practice for people to paint each other's homes, even when they can afford to hire someone to do it, said Helliwell, co-editor of the report and co-director of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research.

Helliwell explained, 'They make an effort to help one another, turning it into a social event, which significantly boosts well-being. In a world where people are more likely to buy services than to do them for each other, something valuable is lost.'

Happiness inequality

The report revealed that people tend to be happier in countries with less inequality in well-being. Happiness inequality has grown notably in many countries and regions when comparing data from 2012-2015 with that of 2005-2011, said Helliwell.

Bhutan, renowned for tracking its citizens' 'Gross National Happiness,' ranked first for happiness equality, followed by Comoros and the Netherlands. In contrast, South Sudan, Sierra Leone, and Liberia had the highest levels of happiness inequality.

A country might have a significant wealth gap, with the poor unable to afford a decent life. Alternatively, people may have financial resources but lack social support, friendships, or live in regions plagued by corruption or limited freedom to shape their own lives, he explained.

The rise of 'Gross National Happiness'

Bhutan’s top ranking is no surprise, even without being a global economic powerhouse. In 2011, the country’s Prime Minister proposed World Happiness Day to the United Nations, sparking international attention on the subject of happiness.

Following Bhutan’s example, the U.N. General Assembly officially declared March 20 as World Happiness Day in 2012, recognizing happiness and well-being as universal aspirations for all people across the globe.

In recent years, several countries have incorporated happiness into their public policies. Bhutan, Ecuador, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela have all appointed 'Ministers of Happiness' to focus on improving the well-being of their citizens.

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