The United States is rated 14th in overall happiness in relation to the other countries of the world. What can we learn from other countries with much higher happiness ratings? Researchers have found the six economic and social factors that contribute to happiness are: health, freedom, generosity, social support, income and trustworthy government.
According to the “World’s Happiness Report”, an annual study of reported life satisfaction around the world, Norway is the happiest country. This annual report evaluates 3000 responses from 155 countries and has done so for the past five years. Following Norway are Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland and Finland.
Money isn’t able to buy happiness in the U.S. according to the report. “The United States can and should raise happiness by addressing America’s multifaceted social crisis-rising inequality, corruption, isolation and distrust-rather than focusing exclusively on economic growth” writes Jeffrey D. Sachs, director of the Center for Sustainable Development at the Earth Institute, Columbus University. Sachs goes on to say that the highest-ranking happy countries have much lower economic indicators such as GDP per capita, but they outpace the U.S. on personal freedom, social support and perceived corruption.
Interesting and surprising facts from the leading happy countries. Nearly half of all residents in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, commute to work daily by bike. There are more bicycles in Copenhagen than people. Iceland has no standing army and its police do not carry guns. According to a 2012 study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development more than half of Canadians have earned a college degree. There are an estimated 3 million saunas in Finland and about 99% of people visit a sauna once a week. Norway was the first country to introduce compulsory paternity leave, giving fathers up to 14 weeks of parental leave.
The key indicators of happiness, especially in Western countries, include a work-life balance, mental health, having a partner and getting an education. The biggest causes of unhappiness are poverty, low education, unemployment, living alone and physical or mental illness.
Make a checklist for yourself and see where you rank in your life satisfaction against the world happiness report. If you find your ranking is low join a social group, take a bike ride, volunteer for a cause to help our community, find a therapist or find a support group. For any further questions or suggestions email me at Barbara@wellnessbasedtherapy.com
-Barbara Allyn Barry, M.S.Ed.,LFMT