The Top 10 Happiest Countries in the World

February 16th, 2021
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Image by Michelle Maria from Pixabay
10. Luxembourg
The small country of Luxembourg sneaks into the top 10 just ahead of the United States of America. Luxembourg is one of the smallest independent nations in the world, ranking 179th out of the 194 on the list, but the people of Luxembourg know that size doesn’t matter. The half a million Luxembourgers (yes, like hamburgers) enjoy the 2nd highest GDP per capita in the world as well as one of the highest quality of living ratings in the world. Maybe a large contributor to their happiness has to do with the fact that they sell the most alcohol per capita in all of Europe!

9. Netherlands
The Netherlands, also known as Holland, is a small country in Northern Europe (you’ll see that this will be a recurring theme on this list) that is home to about 17 million people. The Netherlands is 10th in per capita nominal GDP and has one of the strongest economies in the world. And who can forget about Amsterdam? They are known for being home to the oldest stock exchange in the world! Oh yeah, and their Red Light District. That, too.

8. Finland
Hey whadda ya know? Another Northern European country finds their way on the list. Finland is known for having the best educational system in Europe, as well as being extremely economically competitive. Finland is also ranked as one of the most peaceful countries in the world. Newsweek even ranked them as the best overall country in the world in 2010. It’s pretty scenic, too. I might have to move here.

Image by Patty Jansen from Pixabay
7. Australia
Surprise, surprise. Often the butt of many jokes as an insanely dangerous place, Aussies manage to STILL be happy. Pretty impressive. Obviously Australia must not be as scary as we think because they have the 4th highest life expectancy in the world. They also rank 2nd in the world when it comes to average wealth. Australia also has a plethora of tourist attractions, so it can’t be too bad of a place if people keep coming back to it!

6. Denmark
And we’re back in Northern Europe. Boasting a strong economy, free college education and universal healthcare, it’s easy to see why the Danes are so happy. The society emphasizes equality over everything else, which is another reason why the citizens are so happy. It’s also a beautiful and scenic place. Another reason why they’re so happy? They were the first country to legalize porn. The more you know…

5. New Zealand
Auckland ranked as the world’s 4th most livable city and New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, ranked 12th. Not bad when you consider that those are pretty much New Zealand’s only big cities. New Zealand is a big cultural hub, where many Europeans meshed with many Maori, Asian and other Pacific people. New Zealand is also a gorgeous place with amazing scenery and views.
4. Sweden
Ahh the Swedes. Where the weather is cold but the women are hot hot hot. Actually the weather really isn’t that cold, so that’s always a plus. Great healthcare, a strong economy and FREE LUNCHES AND BREAKFASTS AT SCHOOL. Those are also plusses, because who doesn’t love some breakfast? Sweden is also very liberal when it comes to acceptance, being one of the first countries to become accepting of the non-heterosexual community.

3. Canada
Oh Canada. The land of the bears, maple syrup, hockey, and polite people. Canada has one of the largest economies in the world as well as a government-paid health care system. They are also eighth when it comes to GDP per capita, and consistently rank high in education, civil liberties, equal rights and quality of life. Not bad, eh?

2. Switzerland
Switzerland has the highest wealth per adult in the world. I guess money can buy you happiness. Their largest city, Zurich, is ranked 2nd in quality of life and Geneva is ranked 8th in the entire world. Pretty impressive for such a small country. They also have a prosperous economy, a diverse education system, and an extremely advanced energy system. Their use of mainly hydropower and nuclear power leads to them also being one of the most environmentally healthy countries in the world.
1. Norway
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Is there any country happier than this? Nor-way! Okay that was lame, but you know what isn’t lame? That’s right. Norway. They are happier than you and don’t care what you have to say. Norway is the 4th richest country in the world, ranked first in the democracy index, and 3rd in quality of life. They are also really, really into social equality, being the first country to introduce women’s suffrage. They also have universal healthcare, a subsidized higher education system,  and a comprehensive social security system. Simply put, Norway’s people have A LOT to be happy about.