NationStates Jolt Archive

A recent study has determined that the happiest countries in the world are:

Top 10

1. Denmark
2. Switzerland
3. Austria
4. Iceland
5. The Bahamas
6. Finland
7. Sweden
8. Bhutan
9. Brunei
10. Canada

Top 20

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

Finishing in the last three spots are...

176. Democratic Republic of the Congo
177. Zimbabwe
178. Burundi

Psychologist Produces The First-ever 'World Map Of Happiness' (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/11/061113093726.htm)

...when people are asked if they are happy with their lives, people in countries with good healthcare, a higher GDP per captia, and access to education were much more likely to report being happy.

While no study is perfect, it gives us a good idea of where we all stand and just how miserable we are compared to the rest of the world.

Nothing like a study to make us feel better by comparison.

Hell yeah, number 11!



On a semi related note about 2 years ago 2 "unrelated" studies were done, one found that Irish students were the happiest in Europe. The other found that Ireland imported more illegal drugs than any other country in Europe. Numerous jokes were made.

Hell yeah, number 11!
:) Heh.

I notice that a lot of the Top 10 (Sweden, Iceland, Canada, Finland) are frozen ass countries with bits inside the Arctic Circle. Maybe people around there are just happy on any day that the sun comes up and they don't have to venture out at 3 AM to start defrosting their bobsleds for the morning commute?

Nope, my country is filled with grumpy bastards

I notice that a lot of the Top 10 (Sweden, Iceland, Canada, Finland) are frozen ass countries with bits inside the Arctic Circle. Maybe people around there are just happy on any day that the sun comes up and they don't have to venture out at 3 AM to start defrosting their bobsleds for the morning commute?
Uh... you know that the southernmost point of Ontario is at the same latitude as Northern California, right? Canada is hardly a frozen wasteland in the arcitic circle.

Also, I would have thought that the Netherlands would have scored higher... pot's legal there and all... that should make for happier people, imo.

18th.



Hm..



Really? It's 4.22 on a thursday morning and I'm loaded. Should I be happy?

Rank 35 in happiness for Germany. Huh. Glad they didn't ask me. How low can you go?
(That might change, though. Depending on tonight's football match result and on how much beer I drink)

Uh... you know that the southernmost point of Ontario is at the same latitude as Northern California, right? Canada is hardly a frozen wasteland in the arcitic circle.
Uh... you know that I said "bits", right?
And I doubt that even the entire population of Finland gets around by bobsled, I was making a shot at the "humorous effect".

I don't know. Australia didn't get a mention :P

I don't know. Australia didn't get a mention :P

that is because you FAIL.



haha, john howard.

Uh... you know that I said "bits", right?
And I doubt that even the entire population of Finland gets around by bobsled, I was making a shot at the "humorous effect".Yeh. Has been abysmal bobsleighing weather couple last years.

that is because you FAIL.



haha, john howard.

I don't fail.

Everyone else in the country, however...

Finland, BIATCH! We're numbah 6!

Uh... you know that I said "bits", right?
And I doubt that even the entire population of Finland gets around by bobsled, I was making a shot at the "humorous effect".
Ah, I overlooked that word... my apologies.

Finland, BIATCH! We're numbah 6!
I thought you were american?!

apparently there is a town in co.Tyrone that is supose to be the best town in the world to live in.

Finland, BIATCH! We're numbah 6!

I thought you were from California :confused:

apparently there is a town in co.Tyrone that is supose to be the best town in the world to live in.

Best in what way?

I find it hard to believe that the USA is ranked so high. Seems to me most people here are miserable and always upset about something. That or we work too much, have too much privacy intrusion, have to protect ourselves from this or that, have to worry about catching t3h gay from our neighbors, and have to pull an A on that second-grade spelling test so we don't end up flipping burgers at McDonald's for the rest of our lives.

We're a nation that, collectively, has never been happy. Except once. And that ended badly.

Best in what way?

i dont have the article with me. i read it today then i recycled the paper. something community spirtit and the enviroment. i was surprised that the best of anything was in n-irl.:)

Not the first time such a list has been done. There was one (http://www.happyplanetindex.org/list.htm) recently correlating happiness and environmentalism.

1. Vanuatu
2. Columbia
3. Costa Rica
4. Dominica
5. Panama
6. Cuba
7. Honduras
8. Guatemala
9. El Salvador
10. St Vincent & the Grenadines

Least happy:

173. Estonia
173. Ukraine
175. D.R. Congo
176. Burundi
177. Swaziland
178. Zimbabwe

Any such studies are to be taken with a rather large pinch of salt, methinks...

i dont have the article with me. i read it today then i recycled the paper. something community spirtit and the enviroment. i was surprised that the best of anything was in n-irl.:)

George Best?

O and we have the best football supporters in Europe. Thats about all i've got

i do not know where the fack I am on the list.

Im from the US, and generally I've not really seen it as unhappy. I never really bought the news verion of what was going on, and I seem to always be happier as a result. I do think America has a feeling of being quite lonely sometimes. Not internationally, but just individually. There are also cities and towns that seem to have quiet aura of desperation about them.

Usa #23.

George Best?

O and we have the best football supporters in Europe. Thats about all i've got

true goerge best. i'll give you that.
i was very amused when n-irl beat england last year.

Not the first time such a list has been done. There was one (http://www.happyplanetindex.org/list.htm) recently correlating happiness and environmentalism.
So? Like that's going to stop me from posting a list! :p

Uh... you know that the southernmost point of Ontario is at the same latitude as Northern California, right? Canada is hardly a frozen wasteland in the arcitic circle.

Also, I would have thought that the Netherlands would have scored higher... pot's legal there and all... that should make for happier people, imo.

So are hookers.

I wonder how happy North Koreans are? I swear I am so curious about life in North Korea. They are so shut off from us and us from them that it makes me so curious. I bet it sucks yet I bet that many have a really screwed up worldview. I bet that North Koreans think that they have it bad but somehow it is worse in other places like South Korea. I bet they are fed so much BS it isnt even funny. You can read the North Korean news on their website. Every other article seems to call the US a gangster. The other half of the articles talk about laying wreaths and sending good will messages to dictators and leaders of obscure third world nations. It is surreal.

So? Like that's going to stop me from posting a list! :p

I'm not saying you shouldn't. They're fun. :p

George Best?


Didn't he have two liver transplants due to alcoholism? You'd think most people would learn their lesson after the first.

Also, I would have thought that the Netherlands would have scored higher... pot's legal there and all... that should make for happier people, imo.
Probably because they were too stoned to answer the question asked.

Didn't he have two liver transplants due to alcoholism? You'd think most people would learn their lesson after the first.

Yeah he wasnt the best at that

I bet North Korea might not beat Swaziland though. I do not think Swaziland is necessarily a human rights pariah but I think that like 30% to 40% of them have AIDS. That would suck. Everybody would be terrified to date anyone. If I was a Swazilander I would like marry someone at age 7 and she would wear a chastity belt all the time and I would bring her with me everywhere I went so I could not cheat on her and get the AIDS. Oh and I would be a total germ freak too because I bet that the Swaziland Medical System sucks and is a good place to get the AIDS from you know with dirty syringes and such.

Lucky number seven, apparently.

Well, aren't we a jolly bunch.

I would have thought that the Netherlands would have scored higher... pot's legal there and all... that should make for happier people, imo.

Except pot isn't legal. Most cities just choose not to enforce drugs laws when it comes to 'soft drugs'.

Still, 15th on the list... Whee! :D

Lucky number seven, apparently.

Well, aren't we a jolly bunch.

Keep tellin' ya.

But how on earth did the Finnish manage to get a happier spot than you lot?

I wonder how happy North Koreans are? I swear I am so curious about life in North Korea. They are so shut off from us and us from them that it makes me so curious. I bet it sucks yet I bet that many have a really screwed up worldview. I bet that North Koreans think that they have it bad but somehow it is worse in other places like South Korea. I bet they are fed so much BS it isnt even funny. You can read the North Korean news on their website. Every other article seems to call the US a gangster. The other half of the articles talk about laying wreaths and sending good will messages to dictators and leaders of obscure third world nations. It is surreal.

The People's Korea (http://www.korea-np.co.jp/pk/)? I browse through it sometimes for entertainment. And you're right; they really do seem to be locked away in some sort of alternate reality.

If you're so curious about North Korea, though, why don't you visit it? I intend to, once I've saved up the money. And South Korea too, while I'm in that area.


I do not think Swaziland is necessarily a human rights pariah but I think that like 30% to 40% of them have AIDS.

About a third of the population last time I checked, yes. Roughly the same as Botswana.


If I was a Swazilander I would like marry someone at age

Somehow, I doubt that would be legal...

As if the Scandinavian countries are super happy places.

All of the Scandinavians I know have seasonally affected depression and/or are alcoholics.

Doesn't sound that spiffing to me.

You know... for a country that often complains about the weather (especially where I live), I'm surprised Canada actually got 10th place overall.

Meh, who knows. Maybe it was maple syrup pancakes of yummy goodiness that puts the smiles on our faces. (And I guess healthcare and social stuff...) :)

I've heard about these statistics, many people say that it is very unreliable.

Huh. Glancing at the top twenty, it rather appears as if living in a small country is a good predictor of happiness. I wonder why that would be?

emo nation ftw

Bhutan measures its success not by its "Gross National Product" but by its "Gross National Happiness" :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_National_Happinesshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_National_Happiness

All of the Scandinavians I know have seasonally affected depression and/or are alcoholics.

You say that like those are bad things.

Uh... you know that the southernmost point of Ontario is at the same latitude as Northern California, right? Canada is hardly a frozen wasteland in the arcitic circle.
But that part hardly counts as Canada.

I figure if you live south of the 49th you shouldn't be allowed to vote (that excludes southern and eastern Ontario, southern Quebec, and the Maritimes).

I'm surprised Canada scores that well. Canadians are like vichyssoise: cold, white, and hard to stir.

Hell yeah, number 11!

:( Number 12!

Yeah he wasnt the best at that

ahahahah:D

Any such studies are to be taken with a rather large pinch of salt, methinks...

Any list, and/or study where I win is a darn good one in my opinion ;)

Hey, I think I participated in this study...

I was a student at Leicester University, and the Psychology department paid people to take part in their various experiments. It was a nice little earner. I see I contributed to the UK being 41st...maybe I'll move to Ireland.

Psychologist Produces The First-ever 'World Map Of Happiness' (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/11/061113093726.htm)Where is the map?
.

Also, I would have thought that the Netherlands would have scored higher... pot's legal there and all... that should make for happier people, imo.
I don't think a huge amount of people smoke it though, and they have a lot of other problems, like population density.

I find it hard to believe that the USA is ranked so high. Seems to me most people here are miserable and always upset about something.
#23 isn't that high for a developed country. Americans probably don't whine because they have more problems. They whine because they are whiny.

Keep tellin' ya.

But how on earth did the Finnish manage to get a happier spot than you lot?
Alcohol and snow.

You say that like those are bad things.
You know what depression is, don't you?

Finland, BIATCH! We're numbah 6!

Your not from Finland, remember? You only wish you were. At any rate the good 'ol US of A didn't get top 20. disappointing I know, but cheer up emo kid.

My country is number 23. I thought it would be lower due because of that Texas village missing its idiot. *shrug* But hey number 23 out of 178, sucks to be in Burundi eh? :p

You know what depression is, don't you?

You know what convalescent insight is, don't you?

I honesty don't see why Japan is so bummed out; if anything, I don't think the Republicans did very much good for our happiness rating since '03.

that is because you FAIL.



haha, john howard.

Do you want him, he's free to anyone who will take him? I sure as hell didn't vote for the wanker.

My country is number 23. I thought it would be lower due because of that Texas village missing its idiot. *shrug* But hey number 23 out of 178, sucks to be in Burundi eh? :pDon't send him back to Texas. I plan to move back there one day. Can Vietnam keep him?

Apparently Australia isn't worthy of note. :rolleyes:

Apparently Australia isn't worthy of note. :rolleyes:

Clearly the people making the list are unaware of your existence. Poor people.

Clearly the people making the list are unaware of your existence. Poor people.

Yes, more fool them, eh? ;) :fluffle:

Yes, more fool them, eh? ;) :fluffle:

Oh my yes. If they had found you I dare say Oz would top the list for happiness. :fluffle:

Oh my yes. If they had found you I dare say Oz would top the list for happiness. :fluffle:

You're being noticebly attentive today... You bored? :p

:fluffle:

You're being noticebly attentive today... You bored? :p

:fluffle:

NSG has my full attention, so no, I'm not bored.

Are you complaining about the attention?;)
:fluffle:

NSG has my full attention, so no, I'm not bored.

Are you complaining about the attention?;)
:fluffle:

Of course not, I'm bored, that's why I noticed. ;)

:fluffle:

Where is the map?
.

That seems to be missing...

Too bad they didn't list all nations...

And... :eek: I can't believe I started a thread that didn't die after 2 pages!

That seems to be missing...

Too bad they didn't list all nations...

And... :eek: I can't believe I started a thread that didn't die after 2 pages!

Five pages, well done. :)

Bump.

Rank 35 in happiness for Germany. Huh. Glad they didn't ask me. How low can you go?
(That might change, though. Depending on tonight's football match result and on how much beer I drink)

After all, it was a German who came up with this:

"There is only one innate error: that we are in this world in order to be happy."

Arthur Schopenhauer

Hell yeah, number 11!



On a semi related note about 2 years ago 2 "unrelated" studies were done, one found that Irish students were the happiest in Europe. The other found that Ireland imported more illegal drugs than any other country in Europe. Numerous jokes were made.
I was gonna say it is because you are bunch of drunk bastards but thats been taken away from me..

Oh well
Up your Arse Australia!
*Gives two finger salute*

I was gonna say it is because you are bunch of drunk bastards but thats been taken away from me..

Oh well
Up your Arse Australia!
*Gives two finger salute*

You love us really. :p

You know what convalescent insight is, don't you?
Answer my question, and I'll answer yours.

You love us really. :p
Yeah but i could never admit it in public...
What did it say in the link, 'other notable nations' (or ranks)
Quiet clearly Australia wasn't listed.:p

I notice that a lot of the Top 10 (Sweden, Iceland, Canada, Finland) are frozen ass countries with bits inside the Arctic Circle. Maybe people around there are just happy on any day that the sun comes up and they don't have to venture out at 3 AM to start defrosting their bobsleds for the morning commute?

Yeah, it's f.cking frozen here. Except for the 362 days a year when it's not.