In fact, the index of happiness is most directly related to the topic of the site, since it reflects the level of satisfaction of the population with their lives, which, in turn, is very closely related to their financial condition.

What is the Happiness Index?

Usually used and continue to apply, let's say, more economic indicators of the standard of living of the population, for example, GDP per capita or something similar. But scientists from the British Center for Scientific Research, New Economic Foundation, came to the conclusion that this cannot be considered correct, since the person himself does not have much to do with the size of the GDP that it accounts for; people have different criteria for satisfaction with their own lives. So, in 2006, NEF scientists developed a new indicator that would more accurately show the level of well-being of the population in the country, it received the resounding name of the World Happiness Index (or in the original The Happy Planet Index).

World (International) Happiness Index Is a combined indicator that reflects the ability of countries, individual districts, regions, cities and other territorial entities to provide their residents with a happy life. This indicator has been calculated, since 2006, once every 2-3 years; for its calculation, statistical data from the largest national and international institutions and organizations are used.

The exact method for calculating the happiness index is not indicated anywhere (perhaps it is kept secret), but it is known that 3 main criteria are taken into account:

  1. People's satisfaction with life;
  2. Average life expectancy;
  3. The ecological situation in the region.

It is these 3 points, according to the developers of the happiness index, that have a primary impact on how happy a person feels. Please note that no country economic metrics are used to calculate the happiness index. That is, no matter how strong and dynamically developing it is, this has no direct effect on the happiness index.

Thus, we can say that the index of happiness shows how competently a country uses its economic potential and natural resources to create good living conditions for the population. To put it simply, how much the state cares about its citizens, how satisfied citizens are with them.

Now let's look at which countries' residents feel the most and least happy, and which places in the international happiness ranking are assigned to our countries.

Ranking of countries according to the index of happiness.

So, according to the latest data, Denmark became the country with the highest happiness index, which was also noted as the country with the lowest level of social inequality. In addition to her, Switzerland (previously ranked 1st), Iceland, Norway and Finland entered the TOP-5 leaders. That is, we can state that the happiest people live in European countries.

Burundi (last, 156th place in the ranking), Syria, Togo, Afghanistan, Benin were recognized as the most unhappy this time.

The countries with the most positive dynamics of the happiness index for the period under study include Nicaragua, Sierra Leone, Ecuador, Moldova, Latvia, China, Slovakia, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Russia. And to the countries with the most negative dynamics - Venezuela, Botswana, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Greece.

If we take it in a regional context, then the countries of the European continent, North and Latin America, as well as the Caribbean countries feel the best.

Russia this time took the 56th position in the rating, having significantly improved its indicator. Interestingly, earlier the country was even below the 100 mark, and in recent years, the happiness index in Russia has grown significantly, despite the real drop in living standards and. Paradoxical, but true.

Kazakhstan is located a little higher - by 54 positions, Moldova also - by 55. Uzbekistan is the happiest country in the CIS this time - it takes 49th place in the rating. Belarus is on 61st position, Turkmenistan - on 65th, Kyrgyzstan - on 85th.

And Ukraine lags behind the leaders in the CIS by more than 2 times and is in 123 place in the ranking of countries according to the index of happiness, showed negative dynamics. The positions of Georgia turned out to be worse (126th place), Armenia is located nearby (121st place). Nearby in the ranking are African countries with a low level of development.

In conclusion, I would like to note that the international index of happiness is given more and more importance every year, it is given more and more attention. For many countries, the index of happiness has already become a key indicator of the standard of living of the population, taken as a basis, and the number of such countries is growing every year.

Now you know what the World Happiness Index is. It remains only to wish all of you to feel happy and to make your modest contribution to the calculation of the happiness index of your state, raising it in the world rankings.

Until next time! See you on the site pages!

Making a rating of the happiest countries is much harder than, say, the richest countries in the world. In the second case, the level of GDP per capita is used as the main criterion, and today the list of the richest includes regions with vast reserves of oil and gas - Qatar, Brunei, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. However, the level of happiness of ordinary people does not always correspond to the national wealth.

To determine the happiest countries in the world, research agencies and international organizations conduct public opinion polls and analyze various indicators, including average income, civil liberties, life expectancy, social protection, levels of corruption and crime, access to medicine, trust in government and some others. ... In recent years, the list of the 10 happiest states has remained practically unchanged.

The highest positions are invariably occupied by Scandinavia, whose representatives in full are also included in the list of the richest countries in Europe. That is, Finns, Norwegians, Danes, Icelanders and Swedes are mostly satisfied with their living conditions. Based on the official UN report of March 20 - World Happiness Report, which contains data on 156 states of the planet, we will single out the happiest countries in the world in 2019.

LIST OF THE HAPPINESS COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD 2019

№ THE COUNTRY
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

RATING TOP-10 HAPPINESS COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD

FINLAND

The happiest country in the world in 2019 is Finland (for the second year in a row). Despite the specific weather conditions, comfortable conditions have been created here for both local residents and numerous immigrants. Thousands of foreigners from all over the world seek to find a job in Finland, open their own business or obtain a diploma from a Finnish university. The country has a strong economy, low crime rate, beautiful nature and responsive citizens leading an active and healthy lifestyle.

DENMARK

The capital of Denmark, Copenhagen, is on a permanent basis in the ranking of the best cities to live in the world. In general, the state provides the population with a high level of income, quality medical care, prestigious education and comfortable working conditions. The average salary in Denmark before taxes exceeds 5 thousand euros per month, which is one of the highest rates in Europe. Numerous polls show that Danes are very happy people.

NORWAY

Norway was the happiest country in the world in 2017. Today this northern state is in third place, but the Norwegians are absolutely not worried about this, as they live in one of the most beautiful places in Europe with numerous mountains, waterfalls, green hills and fjords. Enormous natural wealth, high wages, a reliable social security system and the pace of economic development ensure a happy life for Norwegian citizens.

ICELAND

According to many authoritative publications, Iceland is considered the safest country in the world. Of course, this indicator increases the level of happiness of local residents. The Icelanders' solidarity and sense of pride was shown even at the last European Football Championship in France, when the fans of this country, after defeating the England national team, showed an incredible storm of emotions and joy. Iceland is a small but very prosperous European state.

NETHERLANDS

The Kingdom of the Netherlands is included in the list of the happiest countries in the world largely due to its large economy, liberal laws and a high standard of living. For example, the official minimum wage in Holland alone in 2019 is € 1,635.6 per month. For most Dutch people, cycling every day is not only an opportunity to improve their health and preserve the environment, but also an effective way to feel a little happier.

SWITZERLAND

The average life expectancy in Switzerland is 83 years. The country has a powerful economy and stunning nature, perfect infrastructure and clean air. Switzerland is not a member of the European Union, but maintains active trade relations with all members of this union. Swiss universities offer quality education and produce well-trained professionals. Polite, responsible and happy people live in this country.

SWEDEN

Sweden closes the five of the Scandinavian states with the happiest population. The country offers a high quality of life and an excellent welfare system known throughout the world. Health care and education are also at the highest level. Sweden is rich in forests and has access to clean drinking water everywhere. Working in Stockholm provides a net income of more than 3 thousand euros per month on average.

NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand is a great example of how people live very happily and comfortably even at such a distant distance from other continents. This is one of the most picturesque places on the planet. Official employment in New Zealand under the professional immigration program will provide a foreigner with a very decent income and give a chance to live in a calm, economically developed country, where there is practically no corruption and street crime.

CANADA

The happiest country in North America is Canada. One of the most popular immigration destinations on the planet. This place is especially liked by fans of hockey and winter sports in general. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Canadian citizens are most satisfied with their income, housing, environmental conditions and medical care.

AUSTRIA

The tenth position in the ranking of the happiest countries in the world is occupied by Austria, which ousted Australia, last year's TOP-10 participant in 2019. Largely thanks to its most beautiful capital - Vienna. According to many authoritative publications, this city is the most comfortable for life in the world. The average life expectancy of Austrians is 82 years. Immigration to Austria will allow you to live in a safe country with a developed economy, excellent infrastructure, friendly and happy people.

In conclusion, we note that the last places in the ranking of the happy countries belong to the poorest countries in the world, located mainly on the African continent, in particular, South Sudan and the Central African Republic. Unfortunately, many regions of the post-Soviet space also do not occupy the highest positions. For example, Russia is in 68th place, the Republic of Belarus is in 81st place, and Ukraine is in 133rd place.

The most balanced approach was chosen by the specialists of the American research center "Institute for the Earth", calculating for each country its own index of happiness.

Denmark

According to experts, the happiest people on the planet live in Denmark, a small state in northern Europe. The social sphere is quite developed here, taxes are not very high, the gap between the rich and the poor is almost not felt.

Survey results show that 89% of Danes receive more positive emotions than negative ones during the day. And the number of people who complain about being too busy at work is only 2%.

On the other hand, the researchers note that Denmark is too active in consuming resources, so happiness may not last long.

Norway

The Scandinavian country with a population of about 5 million people is characterized by a high level of security.

In addition, 93% of Norwegians are confident that they know who to turn to for help in difficult times. And 97% of those surveyed easily combine personal life and work life.

Taxes are high, but corruption does not flourish, and funds are returned to the population in the form of high-quality medicine, new roads, etc. There is no sharp division of professions according to the level of the patch - almost all of them are in demand and are well paid.

Three children in a Norwegian family are also considered a sign of well-being.

Switzerland

The inhabitants of a small alpine country can boast not only longevity, but also a high level of education.

In the international assessment program, Swiss participants scored more than the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average.

The Swiss are known for their healthy habits: many work from 7 am to go home early, exercise regularly, and are not wasteful. 79% of the country's population has a paid job.

Many are looking to relocate to Switzerland for increased security, low taxes and scenic landscapes.

Netherlands

Tulips, cyclists, "gingerbread" houses, a pleasant sea climate and green parks - all this has long become the hallmark of this developed European country.

The Dutch work just 1,379 hours a year, much less than the OECD average of 1,776 hours.

Property prices here have been falling for the past five years, in other words, Dutch happiness is getting cheaper. In addition, according to the latest research, the happiest children in the world live in the Netherlands.

The state pays good child benefits. It is also important that the Dutch are a very free nation.

Sweden

Sweden ranks high in terms of environmental characteristics - the level of pollution is much lower than in Europe as a whole, and 95% of the population is absolutely satisfied with the quality of the water. 87% of Swedes have a higher education, although it is accepted to enter a university at a more mature age - 20-25 years.

A measured lifestyle and love of sports make many Swedish citizens long-lived.

The local mentality is characterized by restraint, law-abidingness, friendliness. Trade unions in Sweden are very powerful, so if you get a job, it will not be easy to fire you without explanation.

Canada

Thousands of people are queuing up for a visa to the country of the maple leaf every year. It is no coincidence that Canada is called a country of immigrants.

There are a large number of different diasporas in Canada, and they are very loyal to visitors.

People are attracted by excellent living conditions: a favorable environmental situation, high-quality education, free medicine, a low crime rate, etc. Local residents are clean, friendly, most have higher education.

Finland

Beautiful northern nature, clean streets, high-quality road repairs, the popularity of bicycles - this delights Russians who come to Finland.

Finns are punctual, polite, respect other people's personal space, are proud of their history, lead a healthy lifestyle and adore small children.

The state takes care of its citizens at all levels, there is no corruption here. Officials and customs officers are friendly, many procedures are automated, the level of service is very high, the police are held in high esteem. The unemployed, disabled and young mothers receive financial support.

At the same time, living in Finland is quite expensive.

Austria

The birthplace of Mozart and one of the smallest European countries in terms of area is famous for a variety of not only natural landscapes, but also chic cultural programs. 82% of adults here have a university degree.

The Austrian education system is considered exemplary in Europe.

The economic and social security of Austria contributes to the longevity of its inhabitants. 94% of the population said they have someone to rely on in case of serious problems. The prices here are quite reasonable by European standards. Vienna has been ranked as one of the best cities to live in according to the latest research.

Australia

Its positions are also high in the spheres of education, industry and health care.

Experts explain the prosperity of Australia by the fact that the economic crisis in Europe practically did not affect it, at that time there were no problems with employment of the population here, and the demand for minerals that make up the wealth of the state increased.

When it comes to cost of living, Sydney is the most expensive city in the Southern Hemisphere.

Arrivo is an online travel guide and a new perspective on the world of travel.

), which assessed the happiness of residents of 156 countries and the happiness of immigrants in 117 countries. Particular attention in this year's report was given to migration within and between countries.

Source: facebook.com/HappinessRPT/

The happiest countries of 2018

In the ranking of the happiest countries in 2018, Finland came out on top. The top ten leaders have not changed for 2 years, they only change places. Following Finland are Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland. These countries have been at the top of the happiness rankings for the past four years.

The six criteria from which the authors of the report start: GDP per capita, life expectancy, social support, personal freedom, trust and generosity. All leading countries have high values ​​of these indicators.

World Happiness Ranking 2018

Who has changed positions in the happiness rating and how much

An analysis of changes from 2008–2010 to 2015–2017 showed that Togo rose the most in the ranking (by 17 positions), and Venezuela showed the largest drop - by 2.2 points on a scale from 0 to 10.

Changes in the happiness index of the countries of the world from 2008–2010 to 2015–2017

Source: World Happiness Report 2018

You can see how the happiness index has changed in individual countries on pages 10-15. (pdf).

Immigrant happiness rating

Perhaps the report's most striking finding is that countries ranked in terms of happiness for their immigrant populations almost the same as for the rest of the population. The ten happiest countries in the overall ranking also rank ten of the top eleven in the happiness rankings for immigrants. Finland is at the top of both rankings.

The closeness of these two rankings shows that happiness can and does change with the quality of the society in which people live. The happiness of immigrants, like local ones, depends on a range of social fabrics that go far beyond the higher incomes traditionally seen as a source of incentives for migration. The countries with the happiest immigrants are not the richest countries. These are countries with a more balanced set of social and institutional support for a better life. Nevertheless, the approximation of the happiness of the immigrant to the happiness of the local population is not complete, and the effect of the "footprint" of the country of origin of immigration remains. This effect ranges from 10–25%. This explains why the happiness of the immigrant is less than the happiness of the inhabitants of local countries.

The report also examined rural-to-urban migration based on the recent Chinese experience, which has been described as the greatest migration in history. The experience of such migration also demonstrates the approach of migrants to satisfaction with the life of city dwellers, as in international migration, but the feeling of happiness still remains less than the average for the city.

The importance of social factors

The report also examines the importance of social factors in the happiness of both migrants and non-migrants. The positions of the Latin American countries are due to the great warmth of family and other social relations. The final part of the World Happiness Report 2018 focuses on three health problems that threaten happiness: drug addiction and. Despite the global context, much of the evidence and discussion focuses on the United States, where the prevalence of all three issues is growing faster than most other countries.

History of the World Happiness Report

The World Happiness Report was first released in April 2012 by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN SDSN).

In July 2011, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution inviting member states to appreciate the happiness of their people and use it to guide their government policies. On April 2, 2012, the first UN High-Level Meeting “Happiness and Wellbeing: Defining a New Economic Paradigm” was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Jigme Tinley of Bhutan. It is the only country to have adopted gross national happiness instead of gross domestic product as its main indicator of development.

Six metrics are taken into account when calculating the level of happiness

1. GDP per capita (GDP per capita) adjusted for domestic prices (PPP) in USD 2011 (World Bank, September 2017). The equation uses the natural logarithm of GDP per capita, as this form fits the data significantly better than GDP per capita (pdf, rankings on pages 57-59).

2.Healthy life expectancy (healthy life expectancy) (World Health Organization, 2012, Human Development Indicators, 2017). Life expectancy in a given year * (Healthy life expectancy 2012 / Life expectancy 2012) (pdf, ranking on pages 63–65).

3. Social support (social support) - average national answer to the question (about or 1) of the Gallup World Poll (GWP) "If you had a problem, could you count on the help of relatives or friends if necessary?" (If you were in trouble, do you have relatives or friends you can count on to help you whenever you need them, or not?) (Pdf, ranked on pages 60–62).

4. Freedom of life choice(freedom to make life choices). Average National Response to Gallup World Poll (GWP) Question (0 or 1): Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the freedom to choose what you do with your life? (Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with your freedom to choose what you do with your life?) (Pdf, reviewed on pages 66-68).

5. Generosity (generosity): "Did you spend money on charity last month?" (Generosity is the residual of regressing national average of response to the GWP question “Have you donated money to a charity in the past month?” On GDP per capita.) (Pdf, ranking on pages 69-71).

6. Perceptions of corruption (perceptions of corruption) - average national response to the question (about or 1) of the Gallup World Poll (GWP): "Is government corruption widespread or not?" ("Is corruption widespread throughout the government or not?") And "Is corruption widespread in business or not?" ("Is corruption widespread within businesses or not?"). Where data on government corruption are lacking, perceptions of business corruption are used as a general measure of perceptions of corruption. (pdf, ranked on pp. 72–74).

In addition, the subjective feeling of happiness or unhappiness influenced the outcome. For example, the answers to the questions about the past day were taken into account: did you laugh? was there a feeling of happiness? experienced anxiety? anger? Each country is also compared to a hypothetical country called Dystopia. Dystopia presents the lowest national averages for each key variable.

In preparing the publication of TheWorldOnly, the following text was used:
Helliwell, J., Layard, R., & Sachs, J. (2018). World Happiness Report 2018, New York: Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

Read about Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index.

March 20 is approaching - International Day of Happiness. This date for the holiday was not chosen by the United Nations by chance. On almost the entire planet, March 20 is the day of the vernal equinox, when day equals night. This symbolizes the fact that every person on the planet has an equal right to happiness.

Just ahead of this date, a report on the level of happiness around the world (World Happiness Report Update 2016) was published at the request of the UN.

The report was prepared by an international team of experts including economists, psychologists and health experts.

According to the study, the happiest people are in Denmark. Last year, this northern European country ranked 3rd after Switzerland and Iceland.

People's happiness was assessed based on the following criteria:

  • Social security
  • Trust (opinion on the level of corruption in the country)
  • GDP per capita
  • Freedom to make decisions
  • Healthy life expectancy
  • Generosity (number of donations, charity)

Analysts at the Gallup Research Center surveyed 3,000 people in each of 157 countries. People were asked to imagine a staircase of 10 steps, the highest of which means a state of complete happiness, and the lowest means the worst living conditions. The respondents answered which of the steps they are on. These indicators formed the basis of the study.

The average level of happiness around the world is 5 points, that is, the world today is somewhere on the 5th step.

As can be seen from the report, the inhabitants of the Nordic countries are most satisfied with their lives.

The top five include Denmark (1), Switzerland (2), Iceland (3), Norway (4) and Finland (5). In all these countries, social support for the population is highly developed, and the level of pensions is quite high. People are more confident in their future, which is important.

The people of Denmark are the happiest in the world.

Despite the fact that Danish citizens pay high taxes, a large share of these payments are invested in the education system, health care and social support of the population. Danish students can receive good scholarships every month for 7 years. The healthcare system is at a high level, and it is free. Many Danes express confidence in the future. They are not so afraid of losing their jobs or getting sick, the state will support them at this time. Some Danes admit that they are worried about the weather.

Canada (6), Netherlands (7), New Zealand (8), Australia (9) and Sweden (10) round out the top ten.

The US is in 13th place (up from 15th), the UK is 23rd (21st a year ago), Australia and Canada are in the top.

In general, the most prosperous regions of the world are Europe (especially the northern part), North America, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Burundi is the last on the list. The people of this country suffer from unrest and the poverty level is extremely high.

The least favorable situation is observed in Asia (southern part) and Africa (sub-Saharan region). Mostly these regions include the countries at the very bottom of the list. Burundi is in 157th place. There are many riots in this country, which sometimes take a violent form. The poverty rate in Burundi is extremely high.

Former Union countries on the list of lucky nations

Russia in 2016 climbed 8 steps up - to 56th place from 64th.

Ukraine, on the contrary, dropped from 111th place to 121st.

  • Uzbekistan (49th place)
  • Kazakhstan (54)
  • Moldova (55)
  • Russia (56)
  • Lithuania (60)
  • Belarus (61)
  • Turkmenistan (65)
  • Latvia (68)
  • Estonia (72)
  • Azerbaijan (81)
  • Kyrgyzstan (85)
  • Tajikistan (100)
  • Armenia (121)
  • Ukraine (123)
  • Georgia (126)

The researchers also ranked the 10 countries with the most significant increase in happiness in the past year. Moldova, Uzbekistan, Russia, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan entered the top twenty regions where people became much happier in 2015 compared to 2014.

It is noteworthy that in this list Russia is in 10th place between Uzbekistan and Peru.

Nicaragua ranks first in terms of growth in life satisfaction.

Greece, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Ukraine are among the top 10 leaders in terms of the deterioration of this indicator (the level of happiness, on the contrary, has fallen sharply). Denmark is also the leader in the overall rating and is No. 20 in terms of the fall in the level of happiness (by 0.4 points), oddly enough.

Researchers' findings

After conducting the research, the experts came to interesting conclusions.

First, people's happiness largely depends on the level of social inequality in society. Countries with a more equitable distribution of wealth (smaller inequality gap) performed significantly better. Residents of these countries feel happier. Not surprisingly, Denmark has the lowest level of social inequality. In this country, the incomes of the richest people are only 5 times higher than the incomes of the poorest (the average for the countries of the world is 10). A competent tax policy plays a significant role in this.

Also, scientists noted that the level of happiness of citizens does not always correspond to the standard of living in the country. This gives rise to thinking about the need for a more equitable distribution of well-being, both between countries and within the country.

Life satisfaction is influenced by a combination of economic, social and other factors on which the study was based. If a country pursues a policy aimed only at achieving economic wealth, without concern for the social and environmental well-being of its inhabitants, then this often leads to a decrease in the level of life satisfaction.