World's happiest countries

[loco]

The World's Happiest Countries:

1. Norway
2. Denmark
3. Sweden
4. Australia
5. New Zealand
6. Canada
7. Finland
8. The Netherlands
9. Switzerland
10. Ireland

Being small also seems to help. Big countries with heterogeneous populations are more unwieldy; disparate groups make it harder for a society to build social cohesion and trust.

So where does the United States rank? It's at 12th place this year, slipping from 10th. According to Legatum, the U.S. has slipped in the areas of governance, personal freedom, and most troubling, in entrepreneurship & opportunity. America is supposed to be the land of opportunity, but Legatum notes "a decline in citizens' perception that working hard gets you ahead."

http://travel.yahoo.com/ideas/world-s-happiest-countries-233204795.html

[WOOO]

The World's Happiest Countries:

1. Norway
2. Denmark
3. Sweden
4. Australia
5. New Zealand
6. Canada
7. Finland
8. The Netherlands
9. Switzerland
10. Ireland

Being small also seems to help. Big countries with heterogeneous populations are more unwieldy; disparate groups make it harder for a society to build social cohesion and trust.

So where does the United States rank? It's at 12th place this year, slipping from 10th. According to Legatum, the U.S. has slipped in the areas of governance, personal freedom, and most troubling, in entrepreneurship & opportunity. America is supposed to be the land of opportunity, but Legatum notes "a decline in citizens' perception that working hard gets you ahead."

http://travel.yahoo.com/ideas/world-s-happiest-countries-233204795.html

List is hooey

Happiest people in the world are in South America. I'm on my phone right now but I'll post the link when I get home.

[loco]

List is hooey

Happiest people in the world are in South America. I'm on my phone right now but I'll post the link when I get home.

Ecuador maybe.  Venezuela, most definitely not.   

[Slapper]

List is hooey

Happiest people in the world are in South America. I'm on my phone right now but I'll post the link when I get home.

Plus all the northern European countries have suicidal rates that are hard to match by all western standards. Which is a telltale sign that the "how happy are you" surveys over there are bullshit.

[Roger Bacon]

Plus all the northern European countries have suicidal rates that are hard to match by all western standards. Which is a telltale sign that the "how happy are you" surveys over there are bullshit.

They're too intelligent for their own good...

[LurkerNoMore]

I don't know about happiness, but Norway and Sweden would have top prize for women with the most natural beauty.

[WOOO]

"The U.K. settled at 41st, ahead of all other G8 nations. The U.S. came in 105th."

USA USA USA USA USA USA   


http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/life/denmark-ousted-100-latest-worlds-happiest-country-561826

Happiest countries on the planet (score):

1. Costa Rica (64.0)

2. Vietnam (60.4)

3. Colombia (59.

4. Belize (59.3)

5. El Salvador (58.9)

6. Jamaica (58.5)

7. Panama (57.

8. Nicaragua (57.1)

9. Venezuela (56.9)

9. Guatemala (56.9)

11. Bangladesh (56.3)

12. Cuba (56.2)

13. Honduras (56.0)

14. Indonesia (55.5)

15. Israel (55.2)

16. Pakistan (54.1)

16. Argentina (54.1)

16. Albania (54.1)

19. Chile (53.9)

20. Thailand (53.5)


Denmark ousted from top 100: World's new happiest country is ...

By CNNGo staff 3 October, 2012

Denmark is no longer the happiest country in the world.

Actually, the Danes are far from being happy, according to a new global happiness measurement, the Happy Planet Index (HPI).

Instead, Costa Ricans are now the merriest in a list of 151 countries.

The index, compiled by the London-based New Economics Foundation (NEF), is different from the more well-known happiness index issued by the United Nations.

In addition to life expectancy and happiness, the HPI takes environmental sustainability into consideration.

“The Happy Planet Index measures what really matters -- long and happy lives now and the potential for good lives in the future,” said Nic Marks, creator of the index, in a press release.

“For too long we have relied on incomplete measures of progress that focus only on economic activity, such as GDP.”

Central America and Caribbean rule the chart

Costa Ricans are the happiest, live the longest and produce only one-third the ecological footprint of their U.S. counterparts.

Seven of the top 10 countries are in Central America or the Caribbean. The exceptions are Vietnam, which came in second, and Colombia and Venezuela, which ranked third and ninth respectively.

Surprisingly, typical happy frontrunner Denmark ranked 110th.

Despite scoring high in life expectancy and overall well-being, the Scandinavian country is also home to some of the biggest ecological footprint producers on the planet.

The U.K. settled at 41st, ahead of all other G8 nations. The U.S. came in 105th.

With poor performance in all three criteria, Botswana was named the saddest country in the world.

[Irongrip400]

I have a buddy who moved to Belize about three months ago. He just opened a bar, and says he loves it. Just does enough to "get by". Quit his job in LA and moved there. Says its awesome.

[WOOO]

I have a buddy who moved to Belize about three months ago. He just opened a bar, and says he loves it. Just does enough to "get by". Quit his job in LA and moved there. Says its awesome.

sounds like a good life