Switzerland - the happiest country in the world

(Baonghean) - According to a recent ranking published in New York, the Swiss are considered to have the happiest lives in the world. After Switzerland are Iceland, Denmark, Norway and Canada.

The ranking was conducted in 158 countries around the world. Accordingly, Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden, New Zealand and Australia ranked 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th respectively. In terms of happiness, Americans ranked only 15th, Belgians ranked 19th, British ranked 21st, Germans ranked 26th, French ranked 29th and Spanish ranked 36th. Italians were ranked 50th and Greeks even dropped to 102nd in the ranking.

A natural scene in Switzerland. Photo: AFP

Mr. Jeffrey Sach - Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University in New York, one of the researchers commented that the 13 countries ranked highest in 2015 are still the same as the 2014 rankings, but the positions of the countries have changed. It is known that since the United Nations published the first report on the happiness level of people in countries in 2012, this is the third assessment on this issue.

To reach these conclusions, researchers often rely on criteria such as average life expectancy, GDP per capita, level of social support, level of trust (considered based on the number of corruption cases in politics or in business), and perception of freedom in life choices.

If Western countries occupy the top positions of the rankings, it is not surprising that the countries at the bottom of the list are countries in the African and Middle Eastern regions. The ranking assesses the level of happiness of Chad at 149th place, Guinea at 150th place, Ivory Coast at 151st place, Buskina Fasco at 152nd place, Afghanistan at 153rd place. Despite the civil war and the terror of IS, Syria still ranked 156th place. What is more surprising is that Iraq won the 112th place ahead of South Africa, India, Kenya and Bulgaria. The last place of 158 was reserved for Togo.

The authors of the index highlight the importance of fairness, honesty, trustworthiness and health in their “calculations”. Despite the financial crisis that has hit Europe hard, Iceland and Ireland are among the top countries in the index for their positive social support. In the Fukushima region of Japan, the study also noted that the 2011 disaster “led to increased trust and happiness” by strengthening relationships.

Chu Thanh

(According to Le Monde 4/24)