Happyland: The 10 happiest countries in 2015 revealed
updated the 6 October 2015 à 23:07
So who topped the list this year?
It is the third time that happiness has been quantified, following the initial report published by the United Nations in 2012. This year, Switzerland takes first place, a position occupied previously in 2013 by Denmark. To arrive at their conclusions, the researchers look at healthy life expectancy, levels of gross domestic product, social support, trust (measured by the lack of political or business corruption), the perception of freedom in the life choices, and generosity.
The 10 countries at the top of this prized list are the same as in 2013, albeit in a different order. All in all, 158 countries are referenced. The United States is ranked 15th, ahead of Belgium (19th), the United Kingdom (21th), Germany (26th) and Spain (36th). France has fallen from 25th to 29th, while Italy appears only in 50th position and Greece has sunk to 102nd.
All while Singapore ranked 24th, ahead of Asian countries sunch as Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Taiwan.
HAPPY COUNTRIES IN SPITE OF THE CRISIS
The authors of the report underline the importance of equity, honesty and trust in their “calculations”. Ireland and Iceland thus appear among countries that know how to remain happy thanks to strong social support, in spite of the financial crisis that struck them hard. In the region of Fukushima in Japan, the earthquake of 2011 also “led to an increase of the trust and the happiness”, because of the strengthening of the relationships, comments the study.
Afghanistan (153rd) and Syria (156th) join the least happy 10 countries: Togo (158th), Burundi (157th), Benin (155th), Rwanda (154th), Burkina Faso (152nd), Ivory Coast (151th), Guinea (150th) and Chad (149th). In spite of the conflict in Iraq, the country is classified 112th, ahead of South Africa and India.
Fabienne Broucaret
