[News] World’s happiest countries

[Icy Gull]

I don’t cope very well with less sunlight in the winter, am I right in thinking the further North you go, the less sunlight you get? If so, f*** that!,

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

I don’t cope very well with less sunlight in the winter, am I right in thinking the further North you go, the less sunlight you get? If so, f*** that!,

The summer's make up for it IMO.

 

[Swansman]

I don’t cope very well with less sunlight in the winter, am I right in thinking the further North you go, the less sunlight you get? If so, f*** that!,

Same. Much higher suicide rates in the northern parts of the Nordic countries than further south.

And yes, the further north you go, the more darkness you have. In Kiruna up in northenest (?) part of Sweden, you have about 20 minutes of daylight for a few weeks in December/January. On the bright side, in the midsummer it is daylight for 24 hours.
The further south in the nordic countries you go, the less difference from "normal conditions" but we still have more daylight in the summers than almost anywhere in the world, which is rather nice.

 

[Worried Man Blues]

High suicide rates means only the happy one's are left!

 

[Swansman]

High suicide rates means only the happy one's are left!

High standards of living and suicide are quite often connected. Struggle is not the main way of living, unlike many countries on the planet, so if you do, you're often a bit disconnected from the majority. And since the countries on this list are also quite education heavy and you'll often struggle without an academic degree, it means if you fall to the bottom it is a long, long way up - too long in some cases unfortunately . despite the safety nets in these countries.

 

[BadFish]

Sow as in the pig. The world wide mispronounciation seems to really irk my sister in law.

The pronunciation of course comes from the fact that the Sow na (as in pig) was invested by a gentleman from West Bromwich (believed to be an ancestor of one of the members of Judas Priest) holidaying in Finland.

True story.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

The pronunciation of course comes from the fact that the Sow na (as in pig) was invested by a gentleman from West Bromwich (believed to be an ancestor of one of the members of Judas Priest) holidaying in Finland.

True story.

Which reminds me of the Black Country gent who went to a local fancy dress shop as he was going to a 70s party. The shop keeper asked if he wanted a kipper tie. '2 sugars plaise' was the response.

 

[A1X]

Should be beating Teams Like Luxembourg

 

[Ali_rrr]

High taxes here indeed, which you do see get reinvested into society reasonably well. Like everywhere though, there's crime, poverty and government incompetence which dominate the media. Like @Swansman said easier to live here so less misery.


Think that is changing, however. Rent prices, inflation and lack of space is really starting to hurt The Netherlands. No chance of ever owning a house unless your parents help you too.

 

[Badger]

It's good to see Canada a couple of places above the US.

Universal healthcare and not shooting up schools for the win.

 

[dannyboy]

New Zealand happier since they got rid of that hateful woman PM.

rubbish

 

[NooBHA]

Israel on the list. Yet havin a laff !

1. Fundamentalists hate the Palestinians

2. Liberals hate the Fundamentalists.

3. Palestinians hate the Fundamentalists.

4. Liberals can't get anything through Parliament to support the Palestinians because of the Fundamentalists.

5. No one trusts anyone else except anyone in their own sphere of Beliefs.

But hey ho. The sun shines a lot. There's lots of olive groves and lemon trees. And despite being a fairly wealthy Nation, the Government has to offer massive financial incentives and tax breaks in order to get people to move there so that their elderly population doesn't outweigh the youths.

The place is absolutely idyllic and it's geographical location should be one of the best places on earth to live but in no way are they one of the top 10 happiest Nations in the world.

Me thinks someone wants us to think that's the case. I have worked with hundreds of people over the years of either Jewish or Israeli Heritage. And 95% of them are lovely beautiful nice people. But only about 5% of them would ever even contemplate going to live there.

 

[Swansman]

Israel on the list. Yet havin a laff !

1. Fundamentalists hate the Palestinians

2. Liberals hate the Fundamentalists.

3. Palestinians hate the Fundamentalists.

4. Liberals can't get anything through Parliament to support the Palestinians because of the Fundamentalists.

5. No one trusts anyone else except anyone in their own sphere of Beliefs.

But hey ho. The sun shines a lot. There's lots of olive groves and lemon trees. And despite being a fairly wealthy Nation, the Government has to offer massive financial incentives and tax breaks in order to get people to move there so that their elderly population doesn't outweigh the youths.

The place is absolutely idyllic and it's geographical location should be one of the best places on earth to live but in no way are they one of the top 10 happiest Nations in the world.

Me thinks someone wants us to think that's the case. I have worked with hundreds of people over the years of either Jewish or Israeli Heritage. And 95% of them are lovely beautiful nice people. But only about 5% of them would ever even contemplate going to live there.

I think while all of you say may well be true, the Palestina situation probably just don't affect everday life in the happiness definition here.

Looking at Wikipedia now, apparently this is what they base their rankings on:

• real GDP per capita
• social support
• healthy life expectancy
• freedom to make life choices
• generosity
• perceptions of corruption

Other than having a fair bit of corruption, I think they rank quite highly and are up there with the usual suspects (Nordic countries, Benelux) on these rankings.

If the "wolds happiest countries" was based on the number of laughters per day or intensity of positive feelings or something, I think the list would be a lot different, so it is a bit misleading.

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

Great if you like high taxes, even higher than ours. Personally I prefer to keep more of my money so that I can decide what to spend it on. Hunt and Sunak please note. As an aside, was just reading the Reform Party website and I think that will be where my vote goes next time. A whole raft of very sensible policies.

Tax is our way of helping other people.
Does this mean you don’t like helping other people?
Or do you believe in the almost universally discredited trickle-down theory?

 

[Bakero]

Tax is our way of helping other people.
Does this mean you don’t like helping other people?
Or do you believe in the almost universally discredited trickle-down theory?

Even from a selfish pov paying a reasonable amount of tax is a good idea. Who wants to live in a castle surrounded by shanty towns?

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Israel would be number 1 if the hardline Palestinians would allow their people to live in peace

Or if Israel gave back illegally taken lands and stopped killing civilians .... or stopped breaking international law ... lovely nation .... not.

 

[BadFish]

Even from a selfish pov paying a reasonable amount of tax is a good idea. Who wants to live in a castle surrounded by shanty towns?

Tories?

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

It's because they have small populations. Much easier to keep up a decent standard of living when you have much smaller populations to look after.

1. Finland - 5.5 million

2. Denmark - 5.8

3. Iceland - 347,000

4. Israel - 9.3

5. Netherlands - 17.5

6. Sweden - 10.4

7. Norway - 5.4

8. Switzerland - 8.7

9. Luxembourg - 640,000

10. New Zealand - 5.1

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Tax is our way of helping other people.
Does this mean you don’t like helping other people?
Or do you believe in the almost universally discredited trickle-down theory?

Why penalise people who work hard to improve their own lives?

If someone works 60 hours a week then gets taxed insane amounts for doing so it discourages people from working hard and being rewarded for their hard work.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Australia in at number 12. New Zealand is happier because the Wallabies always end up under All Black boots.

13% of New Zealanders live in Australia. A rather large number.