Here is the country in which we are happiest, according to a new ranking (France’s place is disappointing)

This Wednesday March 20 is International Day of Happiness and Well-being. This date was proclaimed in 2012 by the United Nations General Assembly. And as tradition dictates, the UN therefore revealed its ranking of countries where people are happiest. A ranking in which they stand out the Nordic countries! However, when we imagine leaving everything behind to live abroad, we tend to imagine a warm, tropical country.

But it is in the Nordic countries that the inhabitants are the happiest. And Finland was therefore voted the happiest country in the world, for the seventh year in a row! Then, Finland is closely followed by Denmark, Iceland and Sweden who occupy second, third and fourth places respectively in the ranking. Come next Israel And the Netherlands, Then Norway, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Australia.

And France in all this?

You would have understood it, France does not appear in the top 10 or even in the top 20. In fact, our country only manages to 27th place of the happiest countries in the world. It is therefore a fall of 6 places compared to the previous year. Without surprise, Afghanistan ranks 143rd and last place in the ranking, since the Taliban came to power in 2020.

More surprisingly, the United States and Germany do not shine in this ranking either. Indeed, for the first time in 10 years, these countries do not appear in the top 20. They occupy 23rd and 24th place in the ranking. And generally speaking, none of the world’s most populous countries make the top 20. “Among the top ten, only the Netherlands and Australia have more than 15 million inhabitants. Within the top twenty, only Canada and the United Kingdom have more than 30 million inhabitants,” analyzes the report.

How to measure the level of happiness of residents?

The level of happiness of a country’s inhabitants cannot be measured by the number of antidepressants sold. But rather thanks to six very precise indicators, namely: social support, income, health, freedom, generosity and finally the absence of corruption. For the Finns the recipe for happiness is as follows: “proximity to nature and a good work-life balance are the key to Finnish satisfaction”, notes Jennifer De Paola, researcher in social psychology at the University of Helsinki.

The Finns particularly appreciate the trust they have in their institutions, the low level of corruption but also the free access to healthcare and education. Better yet, residents would have “more accessible understanding of what a successful life is”, compared to other countries like the United States where success is often associated with money. A beautiful illustration of the proverb “money can not buy happiness”. So if you want to change your life, head to Finland?

Passionate about women’s news, Agathe has been deciphering the latest trends for aufeminin since 2022. Her favorite areas? Psychology, nutrition and well-being advice, without forgetting the tips…