20 Most Happy Countries in the world

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Guy Kawasaki pointed out a very interesting article – The World Map of Happiness, listing out 20 of the most happy country in the world. This article is produced by Adrian G. White, a psychologist at the University of Leicester.

What is the definition of happy here? One may asked. According to ScienceDaily:

Participants in the various studies were asked questions related to happiness and satisfaction with life. The meta-analysis is based on the findings of over 100 different studies around the world, which questioned 80,000 people worldwide. For this study data has also been analysed in relation to health, wealth and access to education.

And there you go, the 20 most happy countries in the world.

  1. Denmark
  2. Switzerland
  3. Austria
  4. Iceland
  5. The Bahamas
  6. Finland
  7. Sweden
  8. Bhutan
  9. Brunei
  10. Canada
  11. Ireland
  12. Luxembourg
  13. Costa Rica
  14. Malta
  15. The Netherlands
  16. Antigua and Barbuda
  17. Malaysia
  18. New Zealand
  19. Norway
  20. The Seychelles

Some notable countries you don’t see in the list falls respectively at USA (23), France (62), China (82) Japan (90), India (125)

And the least happy countries are: Democratic Republic of the Congo(176), Zimbabwe(177), Burundi(178)

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Posted by hongkiat in Interesting , at 02.19.07

Comments

  1. Shankar Ganesh February 19th, 2007

    Cool and Interesting!

    Reply
  2. Mary-Louise Boyd February 21st, 2007

    I work for Guy Kawasaki, and I would like to thank you for your comments about Guy and his recent blog posting!

    Mary-Louise

    Online Assistant

    http://blog.guykawasaki.com/
    Mary-Louise@garage.com

    Reply
  3. hongkiat February 22nd, 2007

    Guy’s articles is always inspiring to me. I guess its great working for him

    Reply
  4. Jørgen Larsen February 23rd, 2007

    It’s true, we are happy here in Denmark – although we always complaint about the goverment, weather, taxes, housing prices and ten thousand other things ;-)

    Could you imagine live in a country where the tax on a new car is 180% and where you pay 65% of each buck you earn in taxes?

    Reply
  5. vp March 29th, 2008

    what about Fiji?????

    Reply
  6. Carolina July 1st, 2008

    we actually also have to pay tax every year for out cars and pay 65% of tax every year, but in your country you do see the money working, in mine is on corrupted peoples pucket :(

    Reply
  7. Medo medo arabian August 6th, 2008

    Syria is the mist happy county all over the world !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

    Reply
  8. jappie October 21st, 2008

    ye itz some how correct we r living hapily here in new zealand though it has some complaints ..

    Reply
  9. amit January 26th, 2009

    im from india, honestly nobody is happy here neither me. everyone wants to leave this country, i am trying too. well i love inida but i accept ppl and country suck

    Reply
  10. Joprix Teoxon April 12th, 2009

    First of all, what is the defenition of happiness in this survey? Is it happiness when we all got the material things? Or is it happiness when love is always around? Although material things is a ingredient for satisfaction, it is not always a tool for people’s contenment in life. In this survey, look at Japan, I can say they are economically the powerhouse in Asia but it fails to be in top 20. Remarkable is Bhutan where as far as I know television and most electronically powered technology are rare to be seen or used by its people but they are in top 20. Dannish may pay high taxes but I guess they are peaceful and broed-minded people. If I’m not mistaken, there’s a legal prostitution there and using of marijuana. Unlike here in the Philippines, it is prohibited because of addiction and lack of discipline of many Filipino. Look at some survey specifically the Hong Kong survey, the Philippines rank first as the most happy nation of the world. In the survey of a specific question, let us always know the criteria of its content bacause I believe this interesting article and all the others vary on its purpose.

    Reply
  11. Michael April 25th, 2009

    Yes true being a Happy Country is not matter of things its all about peacefulness and understanding of each individual specially the government.Philippines was rank as being the most happy country in the world and thats before.So now it was changed because of our government here.Anyways happeness is your choise be happy and do something for your country and for sure people will do same too.

    Reply
  12. Michael April 25th, 2009

    I love my country and i love the Philippines.

    Reply
  13. Jonas Hammersholt April 29th, 2009

    quote “Dannish may pay high taxes but I guess they are peaceful and broed-minded people. If I’m not mistaken, there’s a legal prostitution there and using of marijuana”

    Almost true – prostitution is to some extend legal. But marijuana is not. I think you are confusing denmark with the netherlands where afaik both are legal

    Reply
  14. Freddy May 16th, 2009

    I thought that Colombia was in first place. Everytime I used to check for the world’s appiest country Colombia was always on the top three!

    Reply
  15. Denmark Sucks May 19th, 2009

    Being a prostitute in Denmark is legal, buying the “service,” however, is not. Pot is illegal, too.

    Danes suck. Danes are the most asocial bunch I’ve ever met (until they get a hold of a bottle of Vodka, that is). You can start talking to them on the street and they’ll act like they didn’t hear you. Their culture’s kinda rude.

    It seems they can only be happy when their brains are not fully functional (i.e. when drinking – which they do quite often).

    I would not recommend anyone to go to Denmark for a vacation. There’s absolutely nothing to see there. The innermost parts of Copenhagen are beautiful but you’ve seen it all in less than a day. The whole city is literally situated within 20 min on foot from Nyhavn. Stroget is just like any other major shopping street just less glamorous. I’d take 5th Avenue or Oxford street any day over Stroget.

    In short,

    Denmark sucks.

    Reply
  16. Ric May 29th, 2009

    I was born in the USA but live in Norway.The USA sucks,there is racism,hate,ignorance,jealousy,homelessness,poverty,for examle in New York City alone everyday around 500,000 people run the risk of going hungry,there is also illegal immigration and a huge problem with gangs.The good and happy countries are South Korea,Japan,Chile,Botswana in Africa,United Arab Emirates,Qatar,Australia,New Zealand,Canada,Iceland,Ireland,United Kingdom,Netherlands,Austria and here the Scandinavian countries.

    Reply
  17. Denmark Sucks May 30th, 2009

    Haha Ric, you obviously never got to experience living in the US. Judging by the scope of your knowledge my guess is that you moved to Norway with your parents at a time you don’t even remember due to you being so young.

    There’s racism, hate ignorance (and especially jealousy) everywhere in the world. I saw quite a bit of homelessness in Copenhagen despite their 63% marginal income tax rate.

    Unless you really wish to, you won’t be hungry in the US. There’s so many offerings from both private institutions and government.

    Living in Europe, I discovered, does something to you. The media, for instance, is one-sided and biased. You never get the other side. Scandinavian cultures are closed and inward-looking with only a few, successful capitalistic companies facing outward and progressing like Vestas or Novo Nordisk. Your “good and happy” country list only proves this inwardness and lack of knowledge. It’s reminiscent to people in Denmark really believing that poverty doesn’t exist in their country and that homeless people are so because they chooses to be so. They’re in a state of denial. But what can you expect from people living in a world of one-sided media?

    Reply
  18. JULiO August 19th, 2009

    this is so not true.

    Philippines is always on top 10.

    Reply
  19. Ashleigh (from AUS) August 19th, 2009

    Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi!
    Australia is Amazing.. We have many people from all of the “top 20″ – so how is it they we have not had a mention. Our Goverment is pretty good and every Australian you come across will hail a “G’Day Mate” at you. we are a very friendly country and that makes us really happy!
    Plus we are awesome at every sport in the world!
    Australia demands a recount!

    Reply
  20. JOPRIX September 5th, 2009

    thanks for the info…

    Reply
  21. Vipin September 22nd, 2009

    Austrelia is the most racist country in the world,they are of very limited n narrow minded thinking,how can they become in top 20 list,u can see ausies cricket team,there contineous attack on indian ppl.
    they are the worst

    Reply
  22. usa suck October 13th, 2009

    one way media? hahaha and it come from the US?
    You dont know what is going on beside in US and all the wars you start (but is too week to end)

    Homeless in denmark is a choice they make themself. we have a social system making sure EVERYONE have a home and get money enough to food IF they want. Free hospital, schools,high school, uni and so on..and if you are over 18 years you get paid for study (and no you NEVER have to pay that back to gouverment) where in the world do they have that? Answer: NO WHERE.

    So go home with you US-glasses…they are dirty and ugly and can only see us stuff.

    What is it your gouverment try to do right now? get helthcare for everyone…well we had that for 40 years now…but better late than never…just sad it is for loaned money you do it…pay China what you owen to them and you are totaly broke tomorrow.

    I know it border you that Russia and China is gonna be the world leader in less than 10 years.

    And our gouverment dont kill us and lie about it like 11th september!!

    Reply
  23. All countries suck and rock! October 24th, 2009

    it depends on way, in some ways your country may be the happiest, and in some other ways it is the least happy. I see every country has strengths and weaknesses so there is no any country is the best in every aspect of life.

    There are always criminals and crimes in every country, there are always allianations/collaborations between more than one country, countries basically depend on each other that is what God’s destiny.

    so I guess judging a country the happiest or the unhappiest is totally unfair.

    Reply
  24. Lara November 4th, 2009

    I do not agree a bit with this list.What show is rich Country are happier then poor. what is not true.You don’t need to be rich to be happy,of course you can not be miserable either.Explain me then why people that live in rich Country commit more suicide, that people that live in poor Country? Why people that live in cold place(rich people) are 80% more depression than warmer Country( poor people).I would die of sadness or commit a suicide living in those Country.

    Reply
  25. Marc November 5th, 2009

    I’m a dane myself and i also think that we are very inward. and are somewhat unfriendly to other people.
    I think why we are the number one happiest contry in the world, is that we dosn’t have a NEED for big and shiny marterial thing like some Armericans do.

    But we have (after all) the best word in the hole wide world: Hygge C;

    Reply
  26. bill November 7th, 2009

    Greece should be in this list! The best place on Earth!!

    Reply
  27. Vipin ka lund Chota November 16th, 2009

    Vipin,

    If Australia is so bad why do you desis just leave and go away?

    Reply
  28. he November 19th, 2009

    People who think that only rich people live in rich countries don’t bother to see what is swept under the carpet. Chances are that homeless people don’t get polled…

    I just have to say that saying every country has problems is no excuse. The countries in the top 20 dealt with these problems in their own way; that is why they are happy. They used substance to deal with problems rather than hiding them as often happens.

    Reply
  29. Lou Prado November 20th, 2009

    Note that the only G8 country to make the list is Canada and the US is next at 23 (France and Japan are also G8 and really low on the list). It goes to show that material possession isn’t what matters most. Once a persons basic needs are met (food, housing, protection, and health) then happiness is more a function of how good their personal relationships, are and not how much tangible property they own. Always trying to one-up your neighbor and high expectations are negative forces on happiness and this is a big part of US culture. But before one notices that Denmark #1 on list is a socialist country let me remind you that in the United States the Danish are also among the happiest people. And I would be too if I had a pretty Danish girlfriend/wife.

    Reply

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