The most important thing in life is to be happy (obviously) and there are plenty of criteria that come into play for that. Each year, the Gallup polling institute polls hundreds of thousands of people in more than 140 countries to find out if they are happy. These answers are then combined with sociological and economic data such as GDP per capita and life expectancy at birth to determine which populations are the happiest. This year, for the fifth year in a row, Finland is at the top of the ranking.
1. Finland
Why we would like to live there: To spend the day in a sauna and meet Santa Claus.
Why we don’t really want to live there: Because we peel our ass eleven months a year.
2. Denmark
Why we would like to live there: For the pretty colors on the port of Copenhagen and the legal drugs in Christiania.
Why we don’t really want to live there: Because the language is really too complicated.
3. Iceland
Why we would like to live there: For the aurora borealis, glaciers and volcanoes in style.
Why we don’t really want to live there: Because the country is the size of New Aquitaine (but in the middle of the ocean).
4. Suisse
Why we would like to live there: For chocolate, the mountains and the Smic at 3800€.
Why we don’t really want to live there: Because it’s a bit boring to always be neutral.
5. Netherlands
Why we would like to live there: For museums, cute streets and joints in cafes.
Why we don’t really want to live there: Because cycling is really tiring.
6. Luxembourg
Why we would like to live there: Because people are super rich and can pay you for dinner.
Why we don’t really want to live there: Lazy to rub shoulders with bankers every day.
7. Sweden
Why we would like to live there: For traditions and parties like Midsommar (I promise, it’s less scary than in the movie).
Why we don’t really want to live there: Swedes eat pizza with bananas on it.
8. Norway
Why we would like to live there: To see the midnight sun and the far too beautiful fjords.
Why we don’t really want to live there: Because it’s just as cold as in Finland.
9. Israel
Why we would like to live there: For exceptional cuisine and very mild winters.
Why we don’t really want to live there: Because we are still talking about a place at war for more than 50 years where people are dying under the bombs. Not sure that everyone is very happy there.
10. New Zealand
Why we would like to live there: The landscapes are breathtaking and it never drops below 10°C.
Why we don’t really want to live there: Spiders are the size of a child’s arm.
In this ranking, France is ranked in 20th position, well after the United States and just after Belgium (they beat us this time).
Sources : World Happiness Report – Global Citizen
