The first world map of happiness:Lykkelig Kongeriget Danmark

According to a map built at the University of Leicester, UK, you have more chances to be happy if you're rich and in good health.

The map was built by aggregating the results of 100 studies from around the world, involving surveys of 80,000 people in 178 countries. This world map of happiness shows that it's better to live in Northern Europe than in Asia for example. In fact, you have more chances to be happy if you live in Denmark (rated #1) or Switzerland (#2) than in Zimbabwe (#177) or Burundi (#178).
Countries involved in conflicts, such as Iraq, were not included.

Adrian White, an analytical social psychologist at the University of Leicester: "Smaller countries tend to be a little happier because there is a stronger sense of collectivism and then you also have the aesthetic qualities of a country."

"We were surprised to see countries in Asia scoring so low, with China 82nd, Japan 90th, and India 125th. These are countries that are thought as having a strong sense of collective identity which other researchers have associated with well-being."

He admitted collecting data based on well-being was not an exact science, but said the measures used were very reliable in predicting health and welfare outcomes.

Regular studies by academics across the globe using the same tests would allow researchers to better understand what factors affected happiness and White said he hoped every country in the future would carry out bi-annual checks.


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