Denmark is happiest place in the world, report says

[a kennedy]

(The United States came in at 23rd, Britain was in 41st place, Germany 35th and France 62nd.)


LONDON, England (Reuters) -- If you're looking for happiness, move to Denmark.

It's the happiest country in the world while Burundi in Africa is the most unhappy, according to a new report by a British scientist released on Friday.

Adrian White, an analytical social psychologist at the University of Leicester in central England, based his study on data from 178 countries and 100 global studies from the likes of the United Nations and the World Health Organization.

"We're looking much more at whether you are satisfied with your life in general," White told Reuters. "Whether you are satisfied with your situation and environment."

The main factors that affected happiness were health provision, wealth and education, according to White who said his research had produced the "first world map of happiness."

http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/07/27/happy.world.reut/index.html

[TallahasseeGrannie]

1. Hmmm. I wonder if we moved folks from

Burundi to Denmark if they'd be any happier? Probably not.

Well, of course they are happy in Denmark. They have all those Legos!

I personally couldn't be happy in a place that cold and dark.

[sgxnk]

2. unless

denmark is the happiest place on earth unless you are Theo Van Gogh

also, clearly this study has poor methodology

EVERYBODY knows the happiest place on earth is DISNEYLAND

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. Though Van Gogh was Dutch, not Danish (n/t)

[sgxnk]

9. oops

lol. my bad

that is not the first time i have confused dutch (and danish)

darnit

[fasttense]

3. Interesting article

I immediately thought well I could move to Denmark. But reading the article indicates that smaller countries did well because smaller countries have a stronger sense of collectivism. If you are a foreigner you may not get included in that sense of collectivism. So looking at larger countries:

"The United States came in at 23rd, Britain was in 41st place, Germany 35th and France 62nd."

Guess I will stay in the US for now.

[sweetheart]

7. be interesting to see it by region

I doubt that wales, england and scotland are the same, or the 50 states.

[malaise]

10. My American born

oldest sister has lived there for over 38 years. My mother lived with her in her last years. Denmark is a lovely place to live - they have welcomed lots of Sri Lankans and have more than a few people from other countries.
Danes do have a sense of collectivism and prefer if you speak their language. That said when they realize you are a visitor, they speak English. On one occasion, my youngest nephew and I were in a store speaking Englsh and the owner (who knew him) asked him why he wasn't speaking Danish. He told him that his aunt didn't speak it and the man apologized and the three of us had a very pleasant conversation.

My sister is a radiologist and her husband still practices medicine but she quit hospital work two decades ago and has her own quilting business. I met all sorts of people in her shop which is on their property. Her husband (who I adore)is Danish and like me, adores museums so he took me all over the country visiting them. It was easy to see where Leggo came from when you tour their musuems.

I was able to jog through the woods, ride a bike all over the place and go anywhere on my own without worrying about crime or racism. My sister and her husband don't even close doors or windows. My nephew and would lie in the strawberry fields on their small farm and eat until we were sick of strawberries.

Danes live simple lives and seem to have more problems with the Germans who come over in droves to the beaches in summer than with anyone else.

The only time my sister visits the US is for family reunions or quilting exhibitions. She gave up her US citizenship during the Vietnam War.

If I had to leave the Caribbean, I would live there. Not only is Denmark beautiful, it is also complete relaxation for me.

[LiberalEsto]

4. Denmark will be under water

if the oceans keep rising with global warming.

[ugarte]

5. Impossible. They don't even have nukes or an an aircraft carrier...nt

[Marie26]

6. Unless you're a Muslim immigrant. nt

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

11. Not being a Super Power has it;'s benefits.

They have a standing military of about 30,000. We get to support the military industrial complex and the politicans who accept their bribes...uh...campaign donations.

[Bjornsdotter]

12. I believe it

Copenhagen is my favorite city in the world...hands down.

Having spent most of my summers in Sweden (Malmo) as a child and teen, I also spent a lot of time in Denmark. I could move there in a heartbeat and never look back.

Cheers