Tel Aviv – The annual World Happiness Report published on Thursday by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) has ranked Israel as the 11th happiest country in the world in 2014 for the second year in a row.
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Switzerland was the happiest country on earth in 2014, followed closely by Iceland, Norway, Denmark and Canada. Rounding out the top 10 are Finland, Netherlands, Sweden, New Zealand and Australia. The United States trailed behind, coming in at number 15.
The World Happiness Report is a survey of global societal well-being that ranks 158 countries by happiness levels using variables such as GDP per capita and healthy life expectancy. The report also includes extra factors such as social support, generosity, freedom to make life choices, and perceived absence of corruption.
When the publication first launched in 2012, Israel was ranked at number 14 our of 156 countries.
The goal of the report is to guide progress toward social, economic and environmental development.
“As the science of happiness advances, we are getting to the heart of what factors define quality of life for citizens,” said Professor John F. Helliwell of the University of British Columbia and editor of the report. “We are encouraged that more and more governments around the world are listening and responding with policies that put well-being first. Countries with strong social and institutional capital not only support greater well-being, but are more resilient to social and economic crises.”
The least happy countries are the Ivory Coast, Guinea and Chad. Afghanistan and Syria also have some of the lowest levels of happiness, according to the data.
Content is provided courtesy of the Jerusalem Post
Next year the top ten! If we all do one thing to be happier we will all be happier. On second thought do one for you and one for another. I have to go walk my dog now ok
the only people happy in israel are those on welfare those that work are nickle and dimmed and then sent to die “defending” the country.
”Mitzvah gedolah l’heos b’simcha tomid”. saying of the holy reb nachman of breslov.
Interesting ALL country’s in the top 10 have Social medicine (Obamacare)
Lived in US, now live in Israel for many many years. Much happier here than there, with much better life. Maybe not so much money, but my family enjoys life here much better and my children who moved to USA regret it, but feel stuck there.