The World's Happiest Countries

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Most of the nations atop our list are democratic, business-friendly, and boast strong social safety nets.

By Christopher Helman, Forbes Magazine

For most, being happy starts with having enough money to do what you want and buy what you want. A nice home, food, clothes, car, leisure. All within reason.

See the full list of The World's 10 Happiest Countries

The Top 5 Happiest countries in the World

1. Norway

2. Denmark

3. Finland

4. Australia

5. New Zealand

But happiness is much more than money. It's being healthy, free from pain, being able to take care of yourself. It's having good times with friends and family.

Furthermore, happiness means being able to speak what's on your mind without fear, to worship the God of your choosing, and to feel safe and secure in your own home.

Happiness means having opportunity--to get an education, to be an entrepreneur. What's more satisfying than having a big idea and turning it into a thriving business, knowing all the way that the harder you work, the more reward you can expect?

With this in mind, five years ago researchers at the Legatum Institute, a London-based nonpartisan think tank, set out to rank the happiest countries in the world. But because "happy" carries too much of a touchy-feely connotation, they call it "prosperity."

Legatum recently completed its 2010 Prosperity Index, which ranks 110 countries, covering 90% of the world's population.

To build its index Legatum gathers upward of a dozen international surveys done by the likes of the Gallup polling group, the Heritage Foundation and the World Economic Forum. Each country is ranked on 89 variables sorted into eight subsections: economy, entrepreneurship, governance, education, health, safety, personal freedom and social capital.

The core conceit: Prosperity is complex; achieving it relies on a confluence of factors that build on each other in a virtuous circle.

Ultimately how happy you are depends on how happy you've been. If you're already rich, like Scandinavia, then more freedom, security and health would add the most to happiness. For the likes of China and India (ranked 88th), it's more a case of "show me the money." What they want most of all? The opportunity to prove to themselves that money doesn't buy happiness.

No. 5: New Zealand

With very high levels of social cohesion and a first-place ranking in education, New Zealanders trust and help each other. The country ranks first in civil liberties. Ninety-four percent found the beauty of their physical environment satisfying (the other 6% must be blind).

No. 4: Australia

Excellent education, strong personal freedoms, a tight-knit society. Australia's economy is strong, led by raw materials exports, but it's also a good place to start a business, with plentiful Internet connectivity and low startup costs. Aussies trust their government.

No. 3: Finland

Excellent education, universal health care, plentiful personal freedoms, trusted government, peaceful. Lots of R&D and low business startup costs give the Finns economic strength. But as is to be expected in a country with the highest redistribution of wealth, only 75% of Finns believe working hard will help them get ahead.

No. 2: Denmark

The world's lowest business startup costs, excellent education, unrestricted civil freedoms. Danes have overwhelming faith in their government and in each other, and report the highest standard of living in the world.

No. 1: Norway

The world's highest per-capita GDP at $53,000 a year. Spending on health care is second-highest after the U.S. An unparalleled 74% of Norwegians say other people can be trusted, 94% are happy with the beauty of their environment, and a very high 93% believe hard work will help them get ahead in life. Having a lot of oil and gas reserves helps.

http://travel.yahoo....erests-37522775

[The_Dude 1,142]

Did you notice that all of those nations have homogeneous populations?

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Did you notice that all of those nations have homogeneous populations?

You mean everybody in the country is gay?

[james&olya 1,121]

This cannot possibly be true! These countries all have progressive income taxes and socialist programs like national health insurance! For them to be truly happy like the US they need to have their governments reduce taxes and spending on social programs! And how can they say Norway has the highest GDP per capita? We all know we are #1 in everything like this! I won't believe anything like this unless I see it on FOX news!

[elmcitymaven 9,711]

Socialist scumbags.

[DEDixon 39]

like i always say about this happy country BS, it is always countries that have nothing to do with leading the world. they have no responsibility except to themselves basically. there isn't any articles in their newspapers about what they are not doing to solve any of the world's problems. the articles are about what the USA is going to do to make the world different.

i think there is a certain level of stress on americans that the people of these small countries do not feel. articles in their newspapers are always about what the US aren't doing enough of, what we are doing too much of, and surely never an article of thanks to the USA for anything.

hillary clinton recently said that as SoS what first amazed her was the phone calls that she would get from leaders of small countries asking her to step in to solve issues that were basically child's play. i wonder how many calls denmark or finland's SoS receives compared to clinton?

sometimes i wish i was from the likes of denmark or finland. the feeling most be pretty good, you are from a relatively prosperous country, the world isn't looking to your country to solve any problem the world is faced with. these countries just wait for solutions provided by the US and other world leading countries. it has to better (mentally) just waiting for others to handle the whole world while these small happy countries simply concern themselves with internal matters.

so from my point of view, they can take their happy country status and stick it up their a##.

[alienlovechild 75]

Did you notice that all of those nations have homogeneous populations?

No, I'm afraid you're wrong again.

[james&olya 1,121]

like i always say about this happy country BS, it is always countries that have nothing to do with leading the world. they have no responsibility except to themselves basically. there isn't any articles in their newspapers about what they are not doing to solve any of the world's problems. the articles are about what the USA is going to do to make the world different.

i think there is a certain level of stress on americans that the people of these small countries do not feel. articles in their newspapers are always about what the US aren't doing enough of, what we are doing too much of, and surely never an article of thanks to the USA for anything.

hillary clinton recently said that as SoS what first amazed her was the phone calls that she would get from leaders of small countries asking her to step in to solve issues that were basically child's play. i wonder how many calls denmark or finland's SoS receives compared to clinton?

sometimes i wish i was from the likes of denmark or finland. the feeling most be pretty good, you are from a relatively prosperous country, the world isn't looking to your country to solve any problem the world is faced with. these countries just wait for solutions provided by the US and other world leading countries. it has to better (mentally) just waiting for others to handle the whole world while these small happy countries simply concern themselves with internal matters.

so from my point of view, they can take their happy country status and stick it up their a##.

It sure is a good thing for the world that we have been solving its problems! And obviously we must spend more per capita on foreign aid since we are number one and everything! I mean, that is right isn't it? It has to be right, I just know it because I am a patriot, after all. The world should just be so glad we are here to help them solve everything! We have been leading the way on all kinds of things like lowest infant mortality, longest life expectancy, lowest crime and murder rates, most efficient use of energy, etc. That all goes along with our being such a great world leader and all that!

[DEDixon 39]

It sure is a good thing for the world that we have been solving its problems! And obviously we must spend more per capita on foreign aid since we are number one and everything! I mean, that is right isn't it? It has to be right, I just know it because I am a patriot, after all. The world should just be so glad we are here to help them solve everything! We have been leading the way on all kinds of things like lowest infant mortality, longest life expectancy, lowest crime and murder rates, most efficient use of energy, etc. That all goes along with our being such a great world leader and all that!

i never said the US was a great world leader.

i never said we are solving any of the world's problems.

[alienlovechild 75]

It sure is a good thing for the world that we have been solving its problems! And obviously we must spend more per capita on foreign aid since we are number one and everything! I mean, that is right isn't it? It has to be right, I just know it because I am a patriot, after all. The world should just be so glad we are here to help them solve everything! We have been leading the way on all kinds of things like lowest infant mortality, longest life expectancy, lowest crime and murder rates, most efficient use of energy, etc. That all goes along with our being such a great world leader and all that!

Foreign aid is a joke compared to foreign direct investment in other countries. Guess which country is #1 in buying foreign products?

[mawilson 2,133]

This cannot possibly be true!

If Finns are so damn happy, why does Finland have the highest suicide rate in Western Europe?

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

If Finns are so damn happy, why does Finland have the highest suicide rate in Western Europe?

My theory is light deprevation. Same reason Alaska has the highest rate in the US.

[mawilson 2,133]

The world's highest per-capita GDP at $53,000 a year.

Now apply their 47.8% income tax, 14.1% payroll tax, 25% VAT, 14% GST (food

and drink in shops), 8% sales tax (transportation) and 11th highest cost

of living in the world, and you'll get the equivalent of US $20,000.

[Ban Hammer 12,845]

If Finns are so damn happy, why does Finland have the highest suicide rate in Western Europe?

being azz high in snow all the time might have something to do with it.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

No. 5: New Zealand

With very high levels of social cohesion and a first-place ranking in education, New Zealanders trust and help each other. The country ranks first in civil liberties. Ninety-four percent found the beauty of their physical environment satisfying (the other 6% must be blind).

New Zealand sheep are happy. Good to know...