Finland has been selected as the world´s happiest country. This is the fourth year in a row that Finland tops the list of the annual World Happiness Report. It ranks the happiest nations annually based on several aspects that impact quality of life and human wellbeing.
20 March is the International Day of Happiness. The resolution to establish this international UN day was initiated by Bhutan, a country which recognized the value of national happiness over national income since the early 1970s. Buhtan famously adopted the goal of Gross National Happiness over Gross National Product.
Nordics are a happy lot
The World Happiness Report ranks the happiest nations worldwide by looking at several aspects of life that have to do with human experience and wellbeing. On top of GDP per capita, which is correlated with higher quality of life, the report places value on other things the measurement may not directly reflect on.
The report was based on the experiences of around 1000 participants from each participating country. It listed 149 countries in total of which all Nordic countries were, and often are, placed in the top 10 of the happiest nations. This year second place went to Iceland, and third place to Denmark. The least happy country on the list was Zimbabwe. People find happiness in different things, but it seems that feelings of happiness can be found more easily in societies where people feel safe, included, and free.
