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WHO IS HAPPY?
When I ask you which Other countries that
country is the happiest in came out in the top 10
the world, would Denmark are Iceland,
pop in your mind? AccordingSwitzerland, Puerto
to many researches, Rico and Colombia. But
Denmark IS the happiest the real question is:
nation in the world! What makes a country
happy or sad?
The World Values Survey,
directed by University of This survey has found out
Michigan political scientist that freedom of choice,
Ronald Inglehart and gender equality and
Theadministered
First Published World
from
Map ofsocial tolerance have a
Happiness:
Stockholm,the US
hasranks 23rd, the
gathered UK
significant impact on the
41st, and Japan and France at 90th
data from 350,000 people inlevel of happiness. Also,
and97
62nd respectively
countries from 1981 untilreligion, solidarity and
2008, and found Denmark topatriotism play a big role
be the happiest country andin this.
Zimbabwe
However, the moststudy was conducted in 2006 at Britain’s University of Leicester by
a previous
miserable.
Adrian White who drew the first “World Map of Happiness,’’ and concluded that: Good health
care, education, and wealth are the keys to happiness. That explains why European countries
dominated the top ranks. White also found out that the smaller the country, the happier it is.

This study was based on the responses of 80,000 people worldwide along with data collected
from several organizations, including UNESCO, the CIA, and the World Health Organization to
draw up well-being in 178 countries.

On the other hand, back in 2002, some psychologists and experts had different theories; they
said that people who surround themselves with family and friends, and engage in activities
that make them lose track of time are found to be the happiest. Some scientists also believed
that a person’s cheerfulness is somehow related to genetics.

As for health, psychologist Ed Diener supposed that many healthy people take their health for
granted and aren’t that happy for it, whilst the sickly often appreciate their health more, and
are consequently happier than they’re healthy counterparts.
Psychologist Mihaly No one knows for sure
What about money? Csikszentmihalyi said, the true secrets of
“One of the happiest happiness.
“Materialism is toxic for happiness,” says people I ever met was a
Diener. Even wealthy materialists aren’t as 64-year-old Chicago In general,
happy as those who don’t care much about welder with a fourth- munificence and
money. grade education.’’ That expressions of
man felt really proud of gratefulness are easy
Ronald Inglehart agrees. “Money’s pretty his work, rejecting a but influential ways to
powerful, but it’s not the whole story,’’ he promotion to foreman bring happiness into
says; even though he doesn’t deny the fact that would have kept him one’s life and to
from doing what he extend it.
that high standards of living are strongly
related to happiness. loved.