[Vigilanteman]

Some years ago, National Geographic ran an issue on what they determined were the three happiest countries in the world (not necessarily in order) as Denmark, Costa Rica and Singapore.

The top ten countries according to Conde Nast Traveler are:

1. Finland
   
2. Denmark
   
3. Iceland
   
4. Switzerland
   
5. Netherlands
   
6. Luxemburg
   
7. Norway
   
8. Israel
   
9. New Zealand

   The two things this list has in common is (1)a near total lack of diversity and (2)Definitely first world with fairly strict immigration policies.

   The sole exceptions to (1)are Israel and Switizerland. The first is united by a common religion, the second carefully screens their immigrants.

[marktwain]

Notice Sweden no longer makes the cut.

[dfwgator]

Finland...Finland....Finland....The place where I want to be...

[SpaceBar]

Possibly relevant to the discussion...

Eat the Rich: A Treatise on Economics by P.J. O'Rourke, 1999

In the tradition of his contemporary classic Parliament of Whores, renowned political humorist P. J. O’Rourkeis back with Eat the Rich, in which he takes on the global economy. P. J. O'Rourke leads us on a hysterical whirlwind world tour from the “good capitalism” of Wall Street to the “bad socialism” of Cuba in search of the answer to an age-old question: “Why do some places prosper and thrive, while others just suck?” With stops in Albania, Sweden, Hong Kong, Moscow, and Tanzania, O’Rourke takes a look at the complexities of economics with a big dose of the incomparable wit that has made him one of today’s most refreshing commentators.

[EEGator]

I’ve been to three of them.
The clue, it’s white.
QED

[Alberta's Child]

The first thing that list has in common is that the countries are predominantly white.

[Sequoyah101]

If memory serves me correctly:

They are all almost exclusively White.
They are all amost exclusively homogeneous
They tend to be socialist but certainly not all

The US will never be on this list.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Around 1,000 people in each U.N. member state rate their quality of life on a scale from 0 to 10, while researchers cull data from six areas: GDP per capita, life expectancy, social support, trust and corruption, perceived freedom to make life decisions, and generosity.

All this information tells us is that the UN equates these things to happiness - we have no way of knowing if the people in those countries also equate these specific factors (and only these factors) to happiness, or even if the people in those countries are particularly happy.

I think this survey is pure BS. Given the weather of most of these northern nations, and the proven impact of weather on mood, I'd be more surprised if the people in these countries are not, in fact, more depressed than the world average.

[wildcard_redneck]

According to the UN a country’s happiness is due to being ruled over by purple-haired harpies, being molested by perverts, and murdered by third world scumbags.

[MNDude]

I was about to note no diversity also

[KevinB]

The two things this list has in common is (1)a near total lack of diversity and (2)Definitely first world with fairly strict immigration policies.

This!

[woodbutcher1963]

Luxemburg

Literally, one of the(if not the #1) richest countries in the world.

I have always been happiest when I was not stressed out on how I was going to pay my bills.

[devane617]

cold. not for me

[1956tbyrd]

Obviously racist. There’s no African countries on the list.

[DesertRhino]

New Zealand? Israel? Both of the most draconian Nazi style Covid policies of all. Both massively suppressed free-speech on the topic. Netherlands? They are running people off their farms all across the nation. No thanks.

[Candor7]

These are socialist happy cointries. The happiness is 1984 style happiness where people are to be “happy” or else !

NO one can tell me that Tahiti is not a happier place than Denmark

[Lizavetta]

The two things this list has in common is (1)a near total lack of diversity and (2)Definitely first world with fairly strict immigration policies.

Number three is that these countries are at the top of the list in antidepressant consumption.

[AppyPappy]

Denmark is driven by Hygge which denotes more contentment than happiness. Their income is eaten up by taxes(despite a small military budget) leaving them just enough money for blankets, books and candles. They ride bikes and trains everywhere so no car payment.