Helsinki, Europe Brief News – The United Nations’ World Happiness Report has found Finland to be the happiest country in the world.
The report was released two days before the annual International Day of Happiness, issued annually by the UN’s Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
It ranks 150 countries (146 in 2022) on factors such as personal sense of well-being, levels of GDP, life expectancy etc.
The list, which is in its 10th year, assigns a score on a scale of 0-10, based on an average of data over a three-year-period.
In the latest rankings, among the countries which occupied the top 10 spots in 2021, only Austria dropped out; of the remaining nine, countries have moved up and down.
From the other end, Afghanistan was ranked as the unhappiest nation, followed by Lebanon, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Botswana, respectively.
India, meanwhile, saw a marginal improvement in its ranking, jumping three spots to 136, from 139 a year ago.
What makes Finland the happiest country in the world for the fifth consecutive year?
Beautiful landscape and nature
Finland is one of the best places on the planet for natural beauty. With masses of pristine forest and an abundance of crystal-clear lakes, and the wildlife they support, Finland is beautiful. When you also add low pollution levels and clean air, it is clear what Finland has to offer its citizens. Many believe that it is this natural beauty that makes it such a great place to be. Being surrounded by nature and getting out into it has long been known to help us feel happier. As there is so much to see and do outdoors in Finland, it is no wonder people here are so positive.
Chilled out way of life
One other major reason why Finland is such a happy place to live is the free, relaxed way of life. Compared to a lot of the Western world, Finland is more laid-back and more at peace with itself. Finnish culture is also very warm and focuses on co-operation, rather than competition. It is also clear that Finnish people feel secure and do not worry about the outside world in the same way. That gives them remarkable resilience to deal with life and not to let problems get them down.
Low crime levels, high standard of living, and superb education system
One critical measurement for happiness in the recent World Happiness Report was how safe people felt. Finland came out very well here due to its low crime levels. The net result of this low crime rate is a society where people feel safe, secure, and happier. Finland also radically overhauled its education system years ago, and that has also helped people feel more content.
The school system is one of the fairest in Europe and produces some of the best results, leading to more opportunities for young people. Finland also has a universal health care system which a significant factor in how happy its citizens feel. When all these factors are combined, it allows most Fins to have a high standard of living and to feel content in their daily lives.
One other factor which makes Finland different from most western countries is the equality, which translates into opportunities for everyone no matter what socio-economical background they are from. Finland has a very large middle class, and very little poverty. The rich in Finland have also traditionally been shy in showing of their wealth. The wealthiest people in Finland may drive an old Volvo or at most a bit more expensive Mercedes, but rarely a Lamborghini. Even the poorest people would get the best education and health care, and no one needs to be homeless. All these of course may not make people happy, but it sure makes them contempt and relaxed.
