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Belgium ranks 18th in list of happiest countries

11:15 18/03/2016

Denmark is the happiest country in the world, according to the UN's 2016 World Happiness Report update. Belgium comes in 18th place in the study, writes Het Laatste Nieuws.

The fourth edition of the World Happiness Report, which ranks 156 countries by their inhabitants' overall sense of well-being, again indicated Denmark as the world's happiest country (as in 2013), followed by Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia and Sweden.

The US ranks 13th in the list, Germany 16th, Belgium 18th, the UK 23rd and France 32nd. Burundi comes in at the bottom of the list due to severe political unrest there, preceded by Syria, Togo, Afghanistan, Benin and Rwanda.

The participants in the survey were asked to evaluate their lives on a ladder scale of zero to 10. The researchers were able to define six key categories: gross domestic product per capita, social support, health and life expectancy, personal freedom, charitable giving and perceived corruption.

The report reveals, among other findings, that inequality is strongly associated with unhappiness.

 

Written by Robyn Boyle

Comments

Mikek1300gt

I wonder how happy Americans would be if they realised that when they shout FREEDOM to the rest of us, we laugh at them. Well, those who understand what the USA has become and what it enforces on the rest of the world. An American, free? I don't think so!

Mar 17, 2016 17:13
Mikek1300gt

Oh boy, take a look at the people producing this report!

Mar 17, 2016 18:18
Anon2

Imo, these reports are virtually meaningless. However they do provide some employment for sociologists and similar professions. I would love to know how they compile data and arrive at their facts and figures. And I'd like to know how the categories listed can indicate 'happiness' levels.

Mar 18, 2016 08:26