Posted on 04/12/2025 8:37:31 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
FOR A COUNTRY known for long winters and high taxes, Finland appears remarkably chipper. On March 20th it came top of the World Happiness Report, an annual UN-backed study, notching its eighth consecutive win ahead of 146 other countries. Not far behind it were Denmark, Iceland and Sweden. What makes the Nordics so happy?
The World Happiness Report is more a study of life satisfaction than smiles and laughter. It is based on a survey by Gallup, a pollster, where participants are asked to rate their lives out of ten. Finns are not known to gloat (or, for that matter, smile much). But in the latest survey they said their lives were a solid 7.7 on average—well above the global country average of 5.6. At the very bottom of the ranking, people in war-torn Afghanistan rated their lives just 1.4 out of ten.
Various other organisations have found the Nordics to be some of the most stable, progressive and safe countries in the world. They dominate the high positions in The Economist’s glass-ceiling index , which measures the role and influence of women in the workforce. Deaths of despair, including suicides and unintentional overdoses, are quickly decreasing in the region, albeit from a historically high baseline (life-evaluation scores alone do not capture all of the factors that can lead to deaths of despair).
The Nordics are also some of the wealthiest countries in the world per person, which typically has a significant effect on life satisfaction (see chart 2).
On this measure countries in Latin America also stand out, reporting happier lives than their incomes would otherwise suggest. These countries have also outperformed the Nordics in other studies of happiness, such as how often people laugh or feel a sense of enjoyment. The researchers offer a possible explanation. They found that eating with people, compared with eating alone, was a surprisingly strong indicator of subjective wellbeing—as statistically significant as income and employment status. That holds true even when accounting for other factors, such as age and education.
Latin America is a “global leader” in meal-sharing, say the authors. People across the region reportedly eat around nine meals per week with friends or family. (In South Asia it is fewer than half of that.) This might mean they are better connected and less lonely than their peers elsewhere. Indeed, across the world the study found that measures of social support are more closely linked to how people rate their lives than GDP per person.
This might also explain why happiness in America and some other rich countries is falling (see chart 3). Americans increasingly eat alone, live alone and—when given the choice—work alone. In one survey 18% of young adults in America reported that they did not have anyone that they felt close to (although there are signs that the relentless increase in mental-health problems among young Americans has stalled or even gone into reverse ).
In many other countries, too, an erosion of meaningful connections is leaving people feeling lonely and glum. But in Finland, alone time is actually cherished. Finns retreat to their mökki (country cottages) for deliberate solitude—often in a sauna.■
“What is their secret?”
Pickled herring and Aquavit?
RE: The late Fr. Benedict Groeschel said once a large study had a result showing that the happiest people in the US are “low income black women over age 50
Does he or anybody have a link to this study at all?
If you look at the latest study from the economist ( see chart above ), you will notice a surprising country that ranks in the TOP 10, way above the USA. And that country is none other than MEXICO !
Which makes one wonder — If people are so happy in Mexico, why are hundreds of thousands of them risking their lives to cross the border to come here?
Another surprise — ISRAEL is ranked way above the USA too.
With terrorism and rocket attacks and enemies surrounding them, including countries around the world that hate them, they still manage to be satisfied and content with their lives!
RE: A homogeneous nation, one that shares a national, cultural and demographic identity is going to be far happier than one with divisive, diverse immigrants causing chaos and friction.
Depends on the immigrants. If the immigrants are willing to assimilate ( I’m not talking about the Muslims ), there could be a difference. So, CHOOSE THE KIND OF IMMIGRANTS YOU WELCOME TO YOUR COUNTRY!
Sorry. It was discussed for about 5 minutes on one of the DVDs of the complete 12 program Ten Commandments commentary shows he did in 2000. In the section on religious people ending up happier despite rules than the pagan types.
He spent more time actually denouncing the ACLU by name for defending the worst enemies of the US. Followed by put downs of what we called “woke” politicians years later. Great guy.
As a New Yorker, long before he died at 81 he said:
“As an inhabitant of New York City, the 20th Century candidate for Babylon, I am perfectly delighted with the prospect of it all ending soon, even next week.”
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
This may help: Wall Street Journal in 2023—older, female, believe in God.
https://www.facebook.com/story.php/?story_fbid=663285638991370&id=100059298201442&_rdr
Fr. Benedict Groeschel Blasts American Psychological Association
From the September 6-12, 2009 issue of National Catholic Register:
As a member of the American Psychological Association for 36 years, I am filled with indignation at the recent statement of the APA that deems it “inappropriate” for therapists to treat homosexual clients.
Such therapy is called reparative therapy and has as its goal the establishment of a heterosexual orientation in place of a homosexual one.
Looks like the absence of an under-class species wallowing in grievance is a hint
It’s because HOA’s are outlawed in Finland and Sweden. S/
Each is one race. Each has a state religion.
Ignorance is bliss, it is said.
We have too much diversity shoved down our throats..we have to put up with people we would never do normally..
This whole article is BS. Happiness is not bought with money and prosperity.
Maybe in Scandinavia they are just too stunned to realize what a hell-hole this world has turned into. ;)
These studies sometimes include strange assumptions, such as progressive politics being an indicator of happiness.
Not to me...Nordic countries are being overrun with “immigrants” many of whom are terrorizing the populations...such as in Sweden.
So “polls” like these don’t seem to relate well to a harsher reality.
A land of stuned Bieber’s!
Notice how the top nations have no multiculturalism.
Mexico is one of the “happiest” countries.? BS. I am not buying it.
The Northern Europeans embody that, which wins the favor of the Lord;( 1 Thes 4:1–2) “ and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”
That’s basically a summary of the Book of Proverbs
Because their lives match with what the Economist declares the factors of happiness? Ofen these “best of” lists appear scientific, but if you dig into the weird factors used in the calculation it looks like the study’s originator had a desired result list (Scandanavian countries on top with the US not at the top) along with a big stack of economic and social measurements. The computer is then told to pick the weighting factors on the input values to come up with the desired results. Then the final list is published with odd formula ( why is happiness average GDP minus 30 times number of billboards per square mile plus number of caribou squared, or something similar?).
Finland is among the countries with the highest suicide rates. But it’s the happiest country in the solar system, said the fakenews media.
What to believe, your lying eyes or one survey?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.