Some countries in the world consistently rank as the happiest year on year. Several reports published annually rank the Scandinavian countries and Finland among the top.
What makes these places so happy? Especially that the weather conditions are not quite optimal in this part of the world.
Who are the Happiest Countries?
The World Happiness Report, published annually by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, studies happiness indicators.
Several factors determine the overall index of each country. They mainly include the economical and the financial facets of citizens. On the other hand, health care and life expectancy are two focal elements in the report. Additionally, two factors contribute to the total score. These are the freedom to make life choices and perceptions of corruption.
Many people find it hard to define what makes them happy, motivated or engaged. This report has shifted the sentimental feelings into concrete numbers. As a result, the figures can show succinct comparisons across all participant countries.
Finland with its capital city of Helsinki, ranks at the top position. Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland and Netherlands are not very far behind.
Moving away from Europe comes Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Also Costa Rica, a Central American country, holds a reputable rank. Costa Rica has put in place crucial measures in painting a sustainable environment, and that is reflected in its happiness score.
Are the Report Findings Controversial?
While the report indices give a general overview of the measured scores, some controversies surround the topic. Many analysts claim that the climate constitutes an important element in human lives. They stress that the weather conditions greatly influence the well being and happiness of citizens.
On the other hand, social psychologists add the entrepreneurial incentives dimension. They state that the country’s overall culture contains more components than simply the freedom to make life choices.
Some countries are classical and support governmental social work for their labour force. While others pursue a more capitalist approach. They endorse small business owners with incentives to kick start their ventures and employ talents. Therefore, many factors come into play when measuring the overall satisfaction of an individual.
On the other hand, happiness traces back immensely to personal perceptions about the world surrounding us. While cultures might play a fundamental part in shaping our contentment, happiness will always be a personal choice. Therefore, our take on this is to choose living where you feel most alive.
“If you’re not happy where you are, then move, you are not a tree”.
