Top 10 happiest countries in the world
Here is a list of TOP 10 happiest countries in the world. The basis of this list is research done by professor Ruut Veenhoven who runs the World Database of Happiness at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
How is happiness measured?
Happiness can be very subjective. Some people are happy when it rains, others are happy when the sun is shining. So how is it measured? Apparently the people at World Database of Happiness take into account a number of different things such as average life expectancy and most importantly the answer to the following multiple choice question “How happy are you?” (Although the actual question has varied a bit throughout the years). Having all the variables they run it through a computer and get a number from 1 to 10. The bigger the number, the happier the country
Happiest countries in the world
10. Luxembourg - 7.6 points
Living in the worlds richest country inevitably puts a smile on your face! This small landlocked European country has an army of 800 people (yes, 800). They don’t have a navy nor an air force but together with Belgium they can afford to own 1 military cargo plane. Beat that US! 
According to the Guinness Book of World Records Luxembourg holds the world record as the country that consumes most alcohol in the world per citizen.
9. Guatemala - 7,6 points
This Central American country borders with Mexico in the north and is located between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. This location makes it a very difficult country to stay happy in - Guatemala is frequently ravished by hurricanes and earthquakes that often kill thousands of people. Main exports of Guatemala include coffee, sugar and bananas. The latter is probably why they are so happy - have you ever seen someone that can stay sad while eating a banana? 
56% of all Guatemalans live in poverty. If you ask me, they can use the cheap bananas!
8. Canada - 7,6 points
Many people have no idea that Canada’s head of state is actually Queen Elizabeth II - the head of the British Monarchy. This meant that when Britain declared war on Germany in World War I, Canada was automatically at war with the soon to be Nazi country. Unlike the neighboring US, Canada has never cancelled its relations with Cuba and has declined to take part from the Iraq War - instead, it has played a leading role in the United Nations peacekeeping missions and helped to launch a $1.5 billion initiative to help develop vaccines that could save millions of people in poor countries. It seems that happy people make a happy country!
7. Sweden - 7,7 points
This “welfare state” model is an excellent example of effective national taxes. Among other things the state provides universal tax-funded childcare, parental leave, health care, education (including university), retirement pensions and sick leave. Including value added tax (VAT - kind of like sales tax), it is possible to pay up to 80% of your income as taxes. Contrary to popular belief, Swedes are quite OK with their high taxes. After all it gives them tons of free and high quality services - what’s not to be happy about!
Sweden is also the home of IKEA - the worlds largest furniture store. IKEA’s founder Ingvar Kampard is famous for being the 7th richest person in the world (Net worth $31 billion) and driving a 15 year old Volvo station wagon. It has been claimed that more people read the Ikea catalogue than the Bible - and that one in ten Europeans have been conceived on an Ikea bed.
6. Australia - 7,7 points
The name “Australia” comes from the Latin word “Australis”, meaning “Southern”. Australia is the only country in the world, that consists of an entire continent. Between 1788 and 1868 the British used Australia as a colony to deport their convicted criminals - these people are the predecessors to many of today’s citizens. Australians are famous for playing rugby and calling each-other “mates”.
5. Finland - 7,7 points
This is the country that brought us Nokia - the worlds largest manufacturer of mobile phones. In 2003 Nokia accounted for about a quarter of Finland’s exports and in 2006 it generated more revenue than the entire budget of Finland. Before starting to make mobile phones Nokia made (yes, it’s true) rubber boots! Finland was also home to Simo Häyhä - considered to be the most deadly sniper through history with 542 kills. According to World Economic Forum Finland has the most competitive economy in the world. Plenty to be happy about!
4. Iceland - 7,8 points
This geologically active country is rich in volcanoes and geysers (A geyser is a hot spring that erupts water in certain intervals). Thanks to geothermal power Iceland gets its electricity and hot water dirt cheap. There have been occasions where steel has been shipped for processing from Australia or Africa and when finished shipped back to the originating country. Cheap local energy actually makes this cost effective. According to the Human Development Index, Iceland (together with Norway) is the world’s most developed country.
3. Austria - 8,0 points
Austria is the home to the popular energy drink Red Bull. This country is also one of the few in the world, that allows legal voting beginning from age 16. Upon turning 18, all Austrian males have to take part of a 6 month military service. The country has declared itself formally a neutral country or a “perpetual neutrality” as they say it, but in reality it has taken part of various peacekeeping missions and also took part of the UN sanctions against Iraq. Thanks to the wide use of wind-, solar- and hydropower Austria produces around 80% of its energy from renewable resources. Education is mostly free, with the exception of an average semester fee of 583 dollars (370 eur) in universities. As you probably guessed - student loan debts are not an issue in Austria.
2. Switzerland - 8,1 points
This cheese and chocolate producing land is the world’s 10th richest country. Switzerland’s neutrality helped their banks to raise some serious cash - for decades it was possible to open a bank account without having to identify yourself. Upon opening an account, you were given a special number that anyone could use to deposit or withdraw money. This law was later changed since it attracted illegal money. Switzerland is also one of the top garbage recyclers in the world (66% to 96% recyclable materials recycled). They achieve this by keeping recycling free, but asking money for regular garbage - thus giving people a financial incentive to recycle.
1. Denmark - 8,2 points
Just like Sweden, Denmark is a Nordic welfare state with most of its services free to the citizens. Expect to pay 72% of your money to the government on the highest income tax bracket. According to Wikipedia Denmark has the worlds highest taxes!
When buying a car in Denmark one has to pay 25% VAT to the import price of the vehicle and then a 180% registration tax on top. That means when a car sells for $20 000, you have to pay an additional $45 000 as taxes for the government (total of $65 000). That’s why people in Denmark ride bikes or use one of the best public transport systems in the world.
Denmark also has 2 autonomous provinces - the Faroe Islands and Greenland. The latter is over 50 times larger than Denmark but has about 100 times less people.
Other notable countries
- USA - 7.4 points - 17th place
- Great Britain - 7.1 points - 22nd place
- France - 6.5 points - 39th place
- China - 6.3 points - 44th place
- India - 6.3 points - 45th place
- Japan - 6.3 points - 46th place
I’ve been to 4 out of 10 happiest countries in the world - Luxembourg, Sweden, Finland and Denmark! What’s your score?
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Where is the greatest country for the “CRAIC” Ireland in the league of the happiest countries in the world? I don’t see them listed on your results table, and as a great & happy Irishman, I don’t think that can be right. Now “CORRECT IT, PLEASE”!!!!
I had to look up what “CRAIC” means!
Im not gonna change this list because it was not made by me but by the scientist at the world database of happiness!
Jaker, you can make your own list!
Why didn`t you include the Philippines?
According to my research, the Philippines is the happiest country in the world!
you are right franz peter, there’s a recent study that tells Philippines is on no. 2 spot as the world’s happy people…
Wow. You don’t SOUND “very happy”.
“Great and happy” people don’t say things like “NOW FIX IT” and are the four “!!!!” really needed Mr great and happy Irishman?
Eritrea is one of the happiest countries in the world. A tiny country in East Africa, by the red sea. How about that? Maybe it needs to be mentioned somewhere. True people are not rich there but surely are HAPPY
I totally agree! True richness comes from within!
“This meant that when Britain declared war on Germany in World War I, Canada was automatically at war with the Nazi country.”
This is true, except the Nazis didn’t rule Germany in WWI, that was the second world war, and in the second world war Canada did not automatically go to war when the UK declared it, because we had been granted the right to self determaination by then (due to our contribution during WWI). We instead waited just over a week after Britain declared war, to show that we supported the fight against the Nazis, but that we were doing it on our own free will.
Anyways, thought I’d just add that. Nice list!
Thanks for your comment Eric! Of course you are right and I made a little adjustment to the original sentence!
Thanks!
I am Australian and find that there are quite a few stereotypes associated with my country. While some are untrue, the concept that Australians are laid back and easy-going is generally accurate. With the common realxed lifestyle and attitude, I was not surprised by its inclusion in the list.
It is true that rugby is popular here but the country is very sports-oriented overall. Codes like cricket, swimming and tennis (not really these days) compete in the sports market.
Other domestic national codes such as rugby league and Australian Rules Football compete for fans alongside rugby Union. Each of the ball sports is usually dominant in a pacticular state or area, such as the national Australian rules competition having a majority of Victorian teams. Rugby league is predominantly played in New South Wales and Queensland.
The information about Canada is incorrect. Canada made a point of declaring war on Germany independent of Great Britain. Canada was fully independent by virtue of its Confederation in 1867 and the Statute of Westminster in 1931. While Canada is a constitutional monarchy, the monarch has little to no say in governing the country. The Governor General is the representative of the Queen but her duties are purely ceremonial (Canadians are proud that the G-G is a black, female, Haitian refugee)
As to happiness, I would characterize it as a country that is relatively placid, where good order and social justice are prized.
Thanks for letting me know!
It seems that you know what you’re talking about but the information about Canada is from Wikipedia so I have no reason to doubt it…
As soon as I get back from vacation I’ll go over it!
in Denmark you don’t need a car simply because public transport works, and works very well.
Buses, trains, metros etc are ON TIME, ALWAYS
trains have arrivals countdown up to 30 seconds and you bet the train will actually be there in that time.
Taxes are high, no doubt, but you get perfectly public services so paying taxes in such a country is something that will return you something back.
Moreover people from Denmark are fantastic: relaxed, nice to talk with, easy going and girls are absolutely hot (and they’ll drink more beer than you can for sure)
I’ve been to Denmark probably about 5 to 10 times and everything you say is actually true. Denmark is a super nice country to live in!
None of these happy countries seem to be places that consider themselves at all responsible for the fate of the world… nor will bear any more marks in history but latitude and longitude and population stats.
Yepp, Switzerland sounds like the place to be. They have high salaries, good employment rates and most of all … bank after bank full of more or less legal mafia money … So, yeah, I can understand what makes them happy!
As per the conditions, I believe Norway or Ireland or Iceland should be the most happiest countries. This is because they never go to any controversies with others ( Islams ) and they do not have high tax rates like Denmark. Though you can be saved if you donot buy a car but what about the basic necessities in a city like Copenhagen ? You may not have any money left …..
I don’t know about others but Norway actually has one of the highest taxes in the world…
I LOVE MY INDIA…………..
India is the most happiest country in the world.
Even though our country is not rich, I consider the people happy and hospitable in the Philippines.
I’ve never been to Philippines, but I’d sure like to visit and experience the hospitality myself!
One of the factors is also expectations. In an interview in “60 Minutes”, Denmark people are full of humour and get this, education is free, and government pay people to go to Universities to study! To balance this, the tax is very high.
People dont have too “high” expectations and so they rarely get disappointed in life, that is why they are happy people.
“Australians are famous for playing rugby and calling each-other “mates”.”
What? We constantly say ‘mate’ in the UK and rugby isn’t even that popular in Oz, ranking behind cricket and Aussie Rules.
i was surprized to find out that Denmark is the most happiest country i really thought that it would be Morocco or Italy so thanks for posting this
!
I am an American, but i can still say that Philippines is the happiest country!
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PHILIPPINES IS THE HAPPIEST COUNTRY!
you’re right jake.. i do agree with you 100%!
The criteria is western utopia. Buddhists, zenists & hindus are happier because they understand downsides of narcissism.
Narcissism only offers superficial happiness. The western way-too-narcissistic culture has badly productized everything, even people.
Sigmund Freud proves this scientificly, incase you can trust only western science.
I’ve been to Italy and the Mediterranean several times and I have to say it’s one of the happiest regions on our planet. Must be all the vino rosa, fresh sea breeze, and sunshine. Of course, it could just be their relationship to the land and the deep respect that runs across generations.