Australia is the 9th happiest country in the world, according to the World Happiness Report 2016, which is compiled by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network for the United Nations. That’s a solid effort, but our mates in New Zealnd across the Tasman are one step ahead, coming in at 8th.
The Happiness Survey, according to the U.N. is often a better measure of human welfare than analysing health, poverty, income and good government as separate units. “Human well-being should be nurtured through a holistic approach that combines economic, social and environmental objectives,” said Jeffrey Sachs, the paper’s co-editor.
We pulled in ahead of the United States and the United Kingdom, but fell behind some other big hitters with big grins, like Denmark, which retook the throne of happiest country in the world from Switzerland. The two often fight for the top spot. Europeans!
On the other end of the spectrum, many developing nations who lack proper infrastructure, national income and social programs to aid happiness have not improved their lot. As you might imagine, Syria is at rock bottom this year.
Smile! You’re the ninth best in the world at doing it.
Source: CNN
Image: Getty / Gareth Copley
