The Netherlands is once again in the top 10 happiest countries in the world

Each year, the UN investigates the reported level of happiness in countries around the world. This year, in the sixth World Happiness Report, more than 150 countries were included in the study.

The UN report evaluates the happiness levels in a country by assessing the population by means of a survey in which individuals report their own life evaluations. The following variables are used to judge a country’s level of happiness:

• GDP per capita
• Social support
• Healthy life expectancy at birth
• Freedom to make life choices
• Generosity
• Absence of corruption

Social support refers to whether a person feels that they have relatives or friends who they can count on, should they find themselves in a troublesome situation. Freedom to make life choices is based on the binary response to the question “Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with your freedom to choose what you do with your life?” The generosity factor refers to whether individuals donate to charity.

The following countries make it into the top ten happiest in the world.

1. Finland
2. Norway
3. Denmark
4. Iceland
5. Switzerland
6. Netherlands
7. Canada
8. New Zealand
9. Sweden
10. Australia

When it comes to the happiness of foreign-born nationals compared to that of locals, Finland tops the list again. Denmark, Norway, Iceland and New Zealand make up the rest of the top five.

In this particular ranking, the Netherlands doesn’t hold onto its sixth place. Instead, it falls out of the top 10 to 11th place. Coming in just above the Netherlands is Mexico. The top 10 happiest countries for immigrants are as follows.

1. Finland
2. Denmark
3. Norway
4. Iceland
5. New Zealand
6. Australia
7. Canada
8. Sweden
9. Switzerland
10. Mexico

For more information, see the World Happiness Report 2018.

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