Since it was first published in 2012, the World Happiness Report demonstrated that well-being and happiness are critical indicators of a nation’s economic and social development, and should be a key aim of policy. This year’s report looks at the changes in happiness levels in 158 countries, and examines the reasons behind the statistics.
Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute, Columbia University was quoted saying that the report provides evidence on how to achieve societal well-being. It’s not by money alone, but also by fairness, honesty, trust, and good health.
The first World Happiness Report, released in 2012 ahead of the UN high-level meeting on Happiness and Well-being, drew international attention as a landmark first survey of the state of global happiness. This latest report digs even deeper into the data looking at country trends since the first report, regional indicators, factors in gender and age, and the importance of investing in social capital.
The happiest countries in 2015 are:
- Switzerland
- Iceland
- Denmark
- Norway
- Canada
