Balihow – For the past several years, Finland has consistently held the title of the world’s happiest country, remaining seemingly unbeatable in this regard.
This Nordic nation has secured the top spot in the happiness index for an impressive eight consecutive years.
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According to the official World Happiness Report website, this esteemed body has been measuring and ranking countries based on happiness levels since 2002, employing statistical analysis to reach its conclusions.
As reported by Kompas.com, Jan Emmanuel De Neve, a Professor of Economics at the University of Oxford and editor of the World Happiness Report, explains that the well-being of Finnish society is supported by several key factors.
These factors include income and wealth distribution, access to healthcare, social trust, and governmental stability.
Finland also boasts a fair and equitable income system.
Outperforming numerous other nations, Finland consistently surpasses other countries in the Northern Hemisphere in happiness rankings.
Reasons Behind the Rankings: A Closer Look at the Happiest Nations
The World Happiness Report website details the reasons why these countries consistently achieve high scores on the happiness index.
Evidently, each nation has its own unique set of factors contributing to its high happiness ranking.
Here are the top 5 happiest countries, according to the World Happiness Report:
1. Finland
Securing the top position, Finland boasts a score of 7.741 out of a possible 10. The Finnish people, hailing from the former Scandinavian territory, exhibit a high degree of public trust.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Finland demonstrated resilience through a strong sense of community and mutual trust.
At that time, citizens felt empowered to make their own choices, coupled with a lack of suspicion regarding government corruption.
These two indicators solidify Finland’s position as the happiest country in 2024.
2. Denmark
Not unlike Finland, Denmark achieves a score of 7.583, comparable to the leading nation in several aspects.
However, Denmark excels in certain categories, including per capita income and levels of generosity.
Notably, elderly individuals over 60 in Denmark report the highest levels of happiness.
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3. Iceland
Iceland secures a score of 7.525 in 2024. Among the top seven nations, Iceland demonstrates a particularly strong sense of social support.
Just behind Denmark, Iceland ranks second in both social support and generosity.
Furthermore, young people in Iceland report higher levels of happiness compared to their counterparts in Finland and Denmark.
4. Sweden
Despite a score of 7.344, Sweden ranks only 18th in youth happiness among those under 30.
However, for adults and older individuals, the country ranks fourth in happiness.
Along with countries like Norway, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Spain, Sweden is a place where older people are significantly happier than younger people.
5. Israel
Following the attacks on October 7, 2023, Israel displayed remarkable emotional resilience, resulting in a happiness score of 7.341.
They rank second for youth happiness, while the happiness of older citizens ranks 18th.
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In addition to the top-scoring countries, the World Happiness Report gives special recognition to Bhutan.
While the country was not included in the 2021 report due to technical reasons preventing surveys from being conducted,
Bhutan has demonstrated an increase in its happiness index from 0.743 in 2010 to 0.781 in 2022.
Moreover, the fourth King of Bhutan stated in the 1970s that the happiness of the people is more important than the country’s financial gains.
Ringkasan
Finland has been ranked as the world’s happiest country for eight consecutive years, according to the World Happiness Report. The report uses statistical analysis to measure and rank countries based on happiness levels since 2002. Key factors contributing to Finland’s high ranking include income and wealth distribution, access to healthcare, social trust, and governmental stability.
A high degree of public trust and a lack of perceived government corruption are significant indicators of Finnish happiness. Other top-ranked countries include Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and Israel, each with their own strengths. Denmark excels in per capita income and generosity, while Iceland shows high social support. The report also highlights Bhutan’s increasing happiness index.