Who’s the happiest country in the world? Apparently it’s Finland, although the Finns themselves don’t quite believe it
Finns have an efficient health care system, flexible working hours and generous parental leave, making it possible to balance work and family life
Finns have long been perceived as taciturn and introverted people in a country known for its dark, cold winters and high suicide rate. Today, they are also considered the world’s happiest.
In the just released 2018 UN World Happiness Report, Finland took the top spot followed by its Scandinavian neighbours and Switzerland, the Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.
“When we heard about it, we thought it was a mistake,” said Ulla-Maija Rouhiainen, a 64-year-old retiree living in Helsinki.
The UN report found that Finland and the other countries at the top of the rankings all performed well on key issues that support well-being: income, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom, trust and generosity.
Finns’ happiness, as often seen in acclaimed Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki’s emotionless films, is based on the fact that their basic needs are being met.
When you’re in a sauna, you feel really happy
For philosopher Frank Martela, life satisfaction depends on how well a country’s institutions function, social equality, freedom, lack of corruption, trust in government and in each other.