“保障人类生命和幸福……是良好政府唯一合法的目标。”
——托马斯·杰斐逊，1809年。
每个人都渴望幸福，世界各国也越来越将幸福视为衡量国民福祉的指标，并在政策制定中考虑幸福因素。正如今年的《世界幸福报告》所述，“幸福日益被视为衡量社会进步的恰当标准和公共政策的目标。” 但究竟是什么让人感到幸福？哪些国家的幸福指数最高？
在《世界幸福报告》中，研究人员根据健康预期寿命、社会支持、人均GDP、儿童幸福感、社会资本、公民经济、腐败程度以及主观幸福感等因素对各国进行排名。与经济合作与发展组织（OECD） “美好生活指数”的研究结果相比，我们发现，最幸福的国家往往拥有更紧密的社会联系、更完善的公共资源管理以及更强的社区意识。
1. 瑞士
照片：科萨拉·班达拉
瑞士是今年最幸福的国家，其主观幸福感、就业与收入、收入与财富、健康状况、社会关系、环境质量、教育与技能以及人身安全等方面的排名均高于平均水平。瑞士的社区意识也很强，96%的瑞士人认为在需要帮助时，他们身边总有可以依靠的人。这一比例在经合组织成员国中最高，与排名第二的冰岛并列。
2. 冰岛
照片：斯蒂格·尼加德
根据“美好生活指数”，冰岛在就业和收入方面名列前茅，在社会关系、主观幸福感、健康状况、环境质量、人身安全、公民参与以及教育和技能方面也高于平均水平。冰岛人的生活满意度也位居前列，在10分制中平均得分为7.5分，是经合组织成员国中得分最高的国家之一，而经合组织成员国的平均得分为6.6分。
3. 丹麦
照片：莫扬·布伦
去年最幸福的国家丹麦今年位列第三。丹麦在工作与生活平衡方面排名第一，只有2%的员工表示工作时间过长。此外，丹麦在环境质量、公民参与度、教育和技能、就业和收入、收入和财富以及人身安全等方面也均高于平均水平。
4. 挪威
照片：阿尔贝托·卡拉斯科·卡萨多
挪威是一个各方面都很均衡的国家，在几乎所有衡量指标上都表现出色，公民参与度高，社会关系良好，环境质量高，住房条件好，工作与生活平衡度高等等。25至64岁成年人中，完成高中教育的比例高达82%，高于平均水平。
5. 加拿大
照片：大卫·奥默
加拿大人健康快乐。89%的加拿大人表示身体健康，远高于经合组织69%的平均水平，加拿大位列全球最幸福的五个国家之列。此外，加拿大也是经合组织成员国中暴力犯罪率最低的国家，过去12个月中仅有1.3%的人报告曾遭受暴力侵害，而经合组织的平均水平为3.9%。
6. 芬兰
照片：Leo-setä
芬兰在主观幸福感、公民参与度、环境质量、住房、工作与生活平衡以及社会关系等方面均表现出色。该国也高度重视教育。在经合组织国际学生评估项目（PISA）中，芬兰学生的阅读、数学和科学平均得分为529分，远高于经合组织497分的平均水平。
7. 荷兰
照片：别名 0591
荷兰在工作与生活平衡、就业与收入、住房、收入与财富、教育、主观幸福感、健康以及社会关系等方面均高于平均水平。该国还拥有强烈的社区意识和较高的公民参与度。超过90%的人认为在需要帮助时可以依靠他人，而最近几次选举的投票率高达75%，远高于经合组织68%的平均水平。
8. 瑞典
照片：佩勒·斯滕
瑞典在环境质量方面排名世界第一，其教育、工作与生活平衡、健康状况、就业和住房等方面也均高于平均水平。在公民参与方面，瑞典不仅拥有高达86%的投票率，而且收入最高的20%人群与收入最低的20%人群之间的投票率差距也很小，这表明该国的民主制度具有广泛的社会包容性。
9. 新西兰
照片：环境保护部
新西兰在健康方面得分最高，其空气中微小污染物颗粒物浓度远低于平均水平（每立方米10.8微克，而经合组织平均水平为20.1微克），89%的新西兰公民对饮用水质量表示满意。新西兰在公民参与度、人身安全、教育、就业和主观幸福感方面也名列前茅。
10. 澳大利亚
照片：托马斯·德彭布施
澳大利亚在公民参与度方面名列前茅，环境质量也高于平均水平。92%的人认为在需要帮助时可以依靠自己认识的人。该国的主观幸福感、健康状况、教育水平和就业率也很高。在最近的选举中，澳大利亚的投票率高达93%，这主要归功于澳大利亚实行强制投票制度。
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23 PAST RESPONSES
These are happy countries because it's too cold to live there, and the colonist nations haven't exploited them for their mineral and forest wealth. Africa used to be happy, and certainly latin and South America.
I think there is a more fundamental definition of "happiness" which underpins all of these other measurements to a large degree. My favorite definition, since it is very useful (anyone can use it to improve their own happiness immediately) is:
“Happiness is the overcoming of not unknown obstacles toward a known goal.”
— L. Ron Hubbard
More ICE keeps them cool, probably... Nice research. Yes indeed, the findings are true and we have to learn from them some simple things, topmost being simplicity. Back to the basics, lesser expectations improves life expectancy. Sometimes I feel having lost all sense of life, purpose in life, realities of life and the very core of life within us, due to the clutter around, the rat-race. This study made me stop and think for a moment - there is more to life... :)
Culturally and racially biased,
No mention of Saudi Arabia where the people are closest to the centre of Islam
“The care of human life and happiness…is the only legitimate object of good government,”
—Thomas Jefferson, 1809.
Even though it's not perfect, Canadian government pays enough attention to our children's education, medical and social engagements. Many foreign students are studying at Canadian Universities, why don't you ask them why they chose Canada.
What really makes Canadians happy, though? We're not Americans!
You guys & gals are totally missing the point so you clearly don't even know what happiness is.
you seem to have based all your (assumptions) on a very skewed index of numbers and statistics and SAFETY and SECURITY and WEALTH and PHYSICAL COMFORT, all of which are NICE but have nothing to do with real happiness. What happened to laughter, dancing, dogs and children playing in the street, skinned knees and dirty faces, simplicity and tolerance, none of which are allowed (in the US anyway) for fear someone may get (DOG forbid) hurt.
So, my suggestion is you change your guidelines for happiness determiners, go do some travelling in places you've never been before, maybe, just maybe you'll see some real happiness.
GET EM BOYZZZ!!!!
ASSEMBLE!!!
ASIANS ASSEMBLE!!!!
WE WANT ASIA!
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GO GO ASIA!!!!
ASIA ASIA ASIA ASIA
ASIA IS HAPPY
ASIA IS HAPPPYYY
WHERES ASIA!!!!!!
DID U EVEN BOTHER TO RESEARCH ON ASIA?!?@!?!??!?!?@#!@312313123123123!@#@#!*@(#!(@*#&(!@*#(*!@&#(*!@$*&!@#&!(@#)!@*#(!@#
racist.....
This list makes the American in me sad. :(
Happiness is a valuable and honorable life goal. Studies show that by increasing the happiness and well being in convalescent homes, we reduce cost. We have found that the body's natural "Self Healing Relaxation Response" is more in gear in a state of happiness thus creating positive emotions. New business models embrace the Employee and Customer happiness as a more effective and ultimately efficient strategy. So, now that paradigms agree. Let us join together and create an abundant and happy world!!!!
What a glaringly white list.
how many countries are in the world? nothing seen from other parts of the world! what was the criteria for the evaluation?
I find this information about the happiest countries interesting and helpful. Also, it is important to emphasize what research shows about the relationships between economic inequities within countries and the well being of all of its citizens--both those with the greatest income and wealth and those with the least. Those countries with the greatest economic inequities have the lowest level of overall well being of all of its citizens. In the United States our internal economic inequities are the greatest among the so-called most advanced (i.e. economically richest countries) of the world. So it is no surprise that we don't rank at the top of citizen's well being and happiness.
Interesting that all the Scandinavian countries were in the top 10; having visited both Sweden and Denmark and having friends in all of those countries, I can tell you from a personal view, what is stated is true. They have much more security and their well being is seriously looked after. time we listened and learned more and then followed through with Action to replicate that they are doing regarding education, health care and taking care of each other. <3
Wondering where the US falls on this list, I would suspect a bit far down given that our education is cost prohibitive, our health care costs are absolutely out of control (both Clinton and Obama have tried hard to make a positive impact on this) and here in the US most employees receive only 2 weeks of vacation a year. Insane. Thank you other countries for showing us how it can be done and that Happiness is important and of value! hugs my my heart to yours