The Gallup World Poll collects data from various sources each year to determine which countries are the happiest in the world. The world happiness report for 2023 reveals changes in the top 10, while the top spot has remained the same for six editions.
The World Happiness Report measures general happiness by assigning scores to each country using data collected on life evaluations. The Cantril ladder survey asks individuals to score their life on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 as the worst and 10 as the best. Approximately 1,000 survey responses are used for each country.
To calculate a country’s individual score, known as the Life Expectancy Rating, the Happiness Report takes an average of numbers from people surveyed in each country over the past three years.
Among the countries surveyed, Afghanistan was once again named the world’s unhappiest country with a score of 1.859. Meanwhile, the UK ranks 19th in happiness with a score of 6.796, while the US ranks 15th with a score of 6.894.
10. New Zealand
According to the World Happiness Report, New Zealand will be the 10th happiest country in the world in 2023, with a score of 7.123. This is the second year in a row that New Zealand has ranked 10th.
New Zealand, the first of only two non-European countries on this list, is famous for being a film location for the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies.
9. Luxembourg
The ninth happiest country in the world in 2023 was Luxembourg, with a World Happiness Report score of 7.228. The small European nation was ranked sixth in 2022, dropping three places this year.
Luxembourg is a landlocked country, bordering Germany, Belgium, and France.
8. Switzerland
Switzerland ranks 8th in the 2023 World Happiness Report with a score of 7.240. This represents the biggest decline in happiness in the top 10, following fourth place in 2022.
Switzerland, the second landlocked country after Luxembourg, is famous for its mountains, ski resorts, chocolate, and banks.
7. Norway
The seventh happiest country in the world in 2023 was Norway, with a score of 7.315. In this year’s World Happiness Report, the country moved up one place from 8th place in 2022.
Norway, the first Scandinavian country on this list, shares a long border with Sweden and is famous for its fjords and the Northern Lights.
6. Sweden
Sweden is the 6th happiest country on earth with a World Happiness Report score of 7.395. The Scandinavian country moved up one place from her seventh place in 2022.
Sweden is known for its forests, lakes, and as the birthplace of ABBA, IKEA, and many of the world’s greatest metal bands.
5. Netherlands
The fifth happiest country in the world is the Netherlands, with a score of 7.403 according to the World Happiness Report. In 2023, it ranked in the top five for the second year in a row.
The Netherlands is famous for its windmills, clogs, colorful poppies, and as the home of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.
4. Israel
With a score of 7.473, Israel will be the fourth happiest country in the world in 2023. Since the 2022 World Happiness Report, the country has risen from 9th to 4th place in the top 10.
Israel faces many diplomatic issues and is only one of two non-European countries on the list.
3. Iceland
According to the World Happiness Report, the third happiest country in the world in 2023 is Iceland, with a score of 7.530. This is the second year in a row that Iceland has been ranked third.
Iceland is the country with the smallest population on this list, with just 375,436 inhabitants.
2. Denmark
Denmark is the second happiest country on earth, with a score of 7.586 in the World Happiness Report. Denmark has been named the second happiest country in the world for four years in a row.
Denmark was a founding member of NATO, the United Nations, the Nordic Council, the OECD, and the OSCE.
1. Finland
According to the 2023 World Happiness Report, Finland is the happiest country in the world. Finland has been named the happiest country on Earth for six years in a row.
In the report, Finland achieved an overall score of 7.804. Finland is known as the home of Santa Claus, reindeer, and its love of saunas. Approximately 74% of Finland is covered in forest.
Source: www.sciencefocus.com
