Norway (and Scandinavian too), the world’s happiest country

Norway, the Scandinavian nation of 5 million, known for its spectacular fjords, reindeer and "Midnight Sun," ranks No. 1 among 155 countries rated for happiness in a United Nations report out Monday.

The country rocketed from 4th place to the top of the list, on the basis of several key calculations for measuring social happiness, among them levels of caring, freedom to make life decisions, generosity, good governance, honesty, health and income. Notably, on The Children’s Worlds index of material deprivation, Norwegian children lacked the least in the world.

A cold climate also seems to correlate with happiness: the top seven countries all are in northern locations, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, Finland, Netherlands and Canada, according to the ranking in the fifth annual World Happiness Report, issued on Monday, March 20, which is World Happiness Day. The United States, meanwhile, has slid in the rankings, from 13th place last year to 14.

Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and a co-author of the report, says attention must be drawn to the importance of creating sound policy for what matters most to people: their well-being.  

“As demonstrated by many countries, this report gives evidence that happiness is a result of creating strong social foundations,” Sachs said. “It’s time to build social trust and healthy lives, not guns or walls. Let’s hold our leaders to this fact.”

The five lowest ranked were Central African Republic, Burundi, Tanzania, Syria and Rwanda.

"Countries at the bottom end of the rankings typically have low values of all six of the key variables — income, health, social support, freedom, generosity and absence of corruption," Helliwell said. "They also include countries afflicted by internal and external conflicts or still trying to recover from past economic, political and civil disruptions."

The aim of the report, he added, is to provide another tool for governments, business and civil society to help their countries find a better way to wellbeing. 

Top 20 – Ranking of Happiness

1. Norway
2. Denmark
3. Iceland
4. Switzerland
5. Finland
6. Netherlands
7. Canada
8. New Zealand
9. Australia
10. Sweden
11. Israel
12. Costa Rica
13. Austria
14. United States
15. Ireland
16. Germany
17. Belgium
18. Luxembourg
19. United Kingdom
20. Chile