The happiest countries in the world include people that are satisfied with the lives, health, jobs, money and more. According to the latest Better Life Index report, which was released by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) this week, Switzerland is the happiest country in the world.
According to 24/7Wall Street, the Better Life Index rates the 36 OECD countries based on 11 life factors including housing, income, jobs, education, community, the environment, civic engagement, health, safety, work-life balance and life satisfaction. 24/7 Wall Street looked at these stats and ranked the happiest countries based on life satisfction only so these countries are those with people who are the most satisfied with their lives.
Conal Smith, the head statistics directorate for OECD explained some of the factors to 24/7. There may be a connection between jobs and life satisfaction as eight of the 10 most satisfied countries have a high employment rate and those with low employment rates rank low in life satisfaction like Greece, Portugal and Italy.
"For life satisfaction, it is pretty clear that unemployment drives the relationship," explained Smith. "Not having a job when you're willing and able to work affects life satisfaction more than anything else."
Good health also seems to be a factor connected to high life satisfaction. In seven of the 10 top countries, there was a better-than-average proportion of residents reporting good health. These countries also have a high life expectancy.
The United States did not make the top 10 for life satisfaction. Instead it tied for 14th even though it has the highest disposable income of any country measured and a high rate of self-reported good health
These are the happiest countries in the world.
10. Mexico
> Life satisfaction score: 7.3
> Self-reported good health: 66% (14th lowest)
> Employees working long hours: 28.6% (3rd highest)
> Disposable income: $12,732 (3rd lowest)
> Life expectancy: 74.2 years
9. Finland
> Life satisfaction score: 7.4 (tied for 7th highest)
> Self-reported good health: 69% (18th highest)
> Employees working long hours: 3.9% (8th lowest)
> Disposable income: $25,739 (13th highest)
> Life expectancy: 80.6 years
8. Canada
> Life satisfaction score: 7.4 (tied for 7th highest)
> Self-reported good health: 88% (3rd highest)
> Employees working long hours: 3.9% (9th lowest)
> Disposable income: $28,194 (9th highest)
> Life expectancy: 81 years
7. Austria
> Life satisfaction score: 7.4 (tied for 7th highest)
> Self-reported good health: 69% (18th highest)
> Employees working long hours: 8.8% (14th highest)
> Disposable income: $28,852 (6th highest)
> Life expectancy: 81.1 years
6. Netherlands
> Life satisfaction score: 7.5 (tied for 5th highest)
> Self-reported good health: 76% (11th highest)
> Employees working long hours: 0.7% (2nd lowest)
> Disposable income: $25,493 (14th highest)
> Life expectancy: 81.3 years
5. Denmark
> Life satisfaction score: 7.5 (tied for 5th highest)
> Self-reported good health: 70% (17th highest)
> Employees working long hours: 2.0% (4th lowest)
> Disposable income: $24,682 (15th highest)
> Life expectancy: 79.9 years (12th lowest)
4. Sweden
> Life satisfaction score: 7.6 (tied for 3rd highest)
> Self-reported good health: 80% (8th highest)
> Employees working long hours: 1.2% (3rd lowest)
> Disposable income: $26,242 (12th highest)
> Life expectancy: 81.9 years
3. Iceland
> Life satisfaction score: 7.6 (tied for 3rd highest)
> Self-reported good health: 77% (9th highest)
> Employees working long hours: 13.5% (8th highest)
> Disposable income: $21,201 (16th lowest)
> Life expectancy: 82.4 years
2. Norway
> Life satisfaction score: 7.7
> Self-reported good health: 73% (14th highest)
> Employees working long hours: 2.8% (6th lowest)
> Disposable income: $31,459 (3rd highest)
> Life expectancy: 81.4 years
1. Switzerland
> Life satisfaction score: 7.8
> Self-reported good health: 81% (7th highest)
> Employees working long hours: 5.9% (17th lowest)
> Disposable income: $30,060 (4th highest)
> Life expectancy: 82.8 years
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
