Five Happiest And Saddest Countries In The World As Of 2016

A lot of travelers visit a country not just for its amazing tourist destinations, but also for the local culture and how friendly the locals are. Most tourists prefer to go to some of the happiest countries in the world where locals greet everybody and smile all the time. One country, on the other hand, is known revel in sad feelings as part of their culture.

According to BBC, in Portugal, nobody cares to wish each other a nice day. In fact, the most enthusiastic answer from Portuguese people when asked how their day is going is "mais ou menos", roughly equivalent to "so so" in English. (READ: The Walled-Off Town Of Obidos In Portugal)

Ranking 93^rd out of 157 countries in the UN's World Happiness Report, tourists attractions are missing the statues of typical muscly men and macho generals of most European countries. Most statues in Portugal are dedicated to moody artists like poets and musicians posed in portraits of sadness. This theme is ensconced in a word important to many Portuguese: "saudade". Although untranslatable, it means something like a longing or sadness for something that gives great pleasure. It is important to note that unlike nostalgia, saudade refers to impossibility or something that will likely never happen. (READ: Portugal, One Of The Most Googled Countries In 2016)

Despite the sadness that is part of Portugal's culture, many other countries focus on happiness and progress. These countries are the happiest according to the UN's Survey:

2. Denmark - Like Norway, this is also the 3^rd time Denmark ranks number two. Although a small country, opportunities for entrepreneurship and social equality are high with low start-up costs and high-quality connectivity.

5. Sweden - The 3^rd Scandinavian country in this list, its citizens are known to be highly aware and socio-political. A good level of social equality ensures that everybody gets access to communication services, making this happy country a tech-savvy nation.