|
On the World Database of Happiness you will find a list of average happiness in 90 nations in the 1990s. You will then see a list that is based on average responses to a question about life-satisfaction as rated on a 0 to 10 scale.
The 10 highest averages are observed in:
8,0 Denmark
8,0 Malta
8,0 Switzerland
7,8 Iceland
7,8 Ireland
7,6 Canada
7,6 Luxembourgh
7,6 Netherlands
7,5 Mexico
7,5 Sweden
The lowest score was observed in:
3,3 Zimbabwe
There are four main classes of determinants of happiness:
- The quality of society: The above difference between Denmark and Zimbabwe shows how big that effect is. Research has shown system in these differences; average happiness varies with things as economic development, political democracy and a cultural climate of tolerence. Surprisingly there is no relation with income inequality in the country and with state welfare effort
- The individual’s position in society; not only the position on the social status ladder, but also embeddedness in social networks.
- Psychological strenght, and individualistic countries such as Denmark in particular assertiveness and self understanding
- Sheer good or bad luck: In well organized countries such as Denmark this accounts for about 10% of the differences in happiness among citizens. In developing countries this effect is probably greater
|