Finland, Denmark, and Iceland top happiness rankings

The United Nations designated March 20 as the International Day of Happiness in 2012. This annual event aims to promote a fair and balanced approach to economic growth that enhances the well-being of everyone. A new World Happiness Report has ranked countries based on people’s satisfaction with their lives. This year, 147 countries were surveyed. Residents were asked to rate their satisfaction on a ten-point scale. Finland was rated the happiest country, scoring 7.736, followed by Denmark at 7.521 and Iceland at 7.515. On the other end of the scale, Lebanon, Sierra Leone, and Afghanistan had the lowest scores, with 3.19, 3.00, and 1.36 respectively. The United States ranked 24th in this year’s report. The report found that unemployment negatively affects people's life satisfaction. Anticipation of mental health issues and experiences with violent crime also lower happiness ratings. Interestingly, an increase in income does improve happiness, but not as much as actions like donating to charity or helping others. Additionally, feeling confident in retrieving lost belongings can significantly boost life ratings. It's essential to note that this ranking is not purely based on economic measures like GDP or life expectancy. Instead, those factors are considered secondary and do not directly influence the scores.