World Happiness Report
how happy are you? That's what the UN asked thousands of people around the world recently for its annual happiness survey. We look at which countries are the happiest and more importantly, why.
There are a few things that make me feel happy, like popcorn, chocolate and cat videos. I'm also most happy when I'm left alone with those things.
JACK: Hey, I just need you to voice this script? Ah, I'll come back later.
So what makes you happy?
KID 1: What makes me happy is books, I really like reading them and it's like having a little adventure.
KID 2: Playing all my sport because I love sport.
KID 3: I feel happy about my friendships.
KID 4: Hanging out with my family and my friends and eating Italian food.
KID 5: Watching YouTube videos, going shopping, buying bubble gum and money makes me happy!
It's the kind of question the United Nations has been asking thousands of people around the world for its yearly Happiness Survey. It gets people to rate their happiness levels from a not-so-great zero to a very contented ten! That helps them to rank the happiest countries in the world: Australia came in at 9th just behind the Kiwis, which means we should probably all move to New Zealand. But the happiest countries of all were European ones like Denmark, Iceland and Norway which topped the list, now making it the happiest place on earth!
It might make sense being a country of Eurovision winners, brown cheese and frozen pizzas; apparently Norwegians love them so much they go through more than 20 million a year! But it also gets very cold and very dark in Norway. So what exactly is it that makes this country, and the others in the top ten, so darn happy?
Well, the UN says it comes down to a bunch of different factors like how long people expect to live for, how healthy their country's economy is, how much they trust their government, and how well the government looks after its citizens. Norway scored well in all of those areas and Norwegians say it makes sense.
HARALD EIA, NORWEGIAN COMEDIAN: The answer to why Norwegians are happy, it's a bit boring, it's well functioning institutions. The schools, healthcare, police, all the bureaucracy treat people with respect and that trickles down and makes us happy, makes us trust each other, makes us feel a part of the whole community.
One of the things all of the top ten countries share is universal healthcare. It means all citizens have the right to that care without having to pay lots of money for it. The survey also considers people's incomes, but it said happiness is definitely not all about money; it's about having time and freedom to do more than work, and Norwegians again, agree!
MARIN MAAL, RESEARCHER: I think it's the work/life balance. So we have a big safety net, so we get free education, free healthcare and it's really good. We're close to the nature.
But if there are super happy countries, then there are also less happy ones. Several African nations scored the lowest on the survey, along with Syria. That's because those countries have been affected by things like war, famine, or corrupt governments. There are also some happier, developed countries that have been dropping on the list, like the US.
Researchers say the happiness report is really important because it helps to show which policies are working, so governments around the world can help to make all of their people a little bit happier!
- Amelia Moseley | Reporter
- Ask A Reporter: Session | aar
- World Happiness Report 2017: United Nations | weblink
- United Nations releases list of world's happiest countries: SBS News | weblink
- Healthy Minds: BTN | history
- Happiness Survey Results: BTN | history
- Norway | Map
- World Happiness Report | Worksheet
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