WORLD’S HAPPIEST NATIONS ANNOUNCED

Although the pandemic has definitely taken its toll on the attitude and optimism of people all over the world, it seems as if there might be an increase in happiness again.

That’s according to the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network which did a global survey in more than 150 countries. According to the report, countries are ranked on happiness based on their average life evaluations over the three preceding years, in this case 2020 to 2022.

The report was released on 20 March known as World Happiness Day. It identifies the happiest nations in the world and also those at the very bottom of the happiness scale.

Several factors are considered and they vary with every report. This year, the helping of strangers stayed high after it went up dramatically in 2021.

If the results are anything to go by, the Scandinavian countries are those that have the happiest people.

Finland has been named the world’s happiest country for the sixth year in a row. Its neighbours like Denmark, Iceland, Sweden and Norway all score very high as well.

CNN reports that Israel moves up to number 4 this year from its number 9 ranking last year. The Netherlands came in at number 5, Switzerland is ranked at number 8, Luxembourg is number 9 and New Zealand came in at number 10.

Other countries that made it into the top 20 are Australia (12), Canada (13), Ireland 14), the United States (15) and the United Kingdom (19).

Image credit: Commonwealth Fund