This all started when AARP had an article in their magazine about happiness. They referred me to the World Database of Happiness. They have sponsored polls since 2005 and found that Denmark is the happiest place on earth.
According to polls taken from 2005 to 2011, these were the happiest countries:
- Denmark
- Finland
- Norway
- Netherlands
- Canada
- Switzerland
- Sweden
- New Zealand
- Australia
- Ireland
The United States ranks 11th, just after Ireland. The unhappiest country is Togo. It’s not hard to notice that the unhappiest countries are also some of the poorest.The four happiest countries have incomes that are 40 times higher than the four unhappiest countries, the report said. People can also expect to live 28 years longer in the happiest nations. Apparently cold weather is not a factor in determining happiness.
The questions seem to revolve around how you feel. An example are these questions:
“On the whole how satisfied are you with the life you lead?”
4 very satisfied
3 fairly satisfied
2 not very satisfied
1 not at all satisfied
“During the past few weeks, did you ever feel ….?” (yes/no)
A. Particularly exited or interested in something?
B. So restless that you couldn’t sit long in a chair?
C. Proud because someone complimented you on something you had done?
D. Very lonely or remote from other people?
E. Pleased about having accomplished something?
F. Bored?
G. On top of the world?
H. Depressed or very unhappy?
I. That things were going your way?
J. Upset because someone criticized you?
Answer options and scoring:
Yes = 1 No = 0
Twenty six categories or criteria entered into the conclusions. Yes, environment and climate are part of the evaluations.
Are the conclusions biased in favor of European nations? Perhaps.
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