Happiest countries of the world

THE United States National Science Foundation recently published a happiness survey involving 97 countries. Two simple questions were asked.

These were, “Taking all things together, would you say you are happy, rather happy, not very happy, not at all happy?” and “All things considered how satisfied are you with your life as a whole these days?” In total 350,000 people were surveyed, and this was done under the direction of Prof Ronald Inglehart of the University of Michigan, USA.

The survey showed that the top 10 happiest countries were: Denmark, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Northern Ireland, Iceland, Switzerland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Canada and Sweden. The lowest rating went to Zimbabwe. The US ranked 16th on the list.

The University of Cambridge conducted a happiness survey in 2007 of 15 European nations. Again Denmark topped the list with Portugal and Italy at the bottom. The UK ranked 9th.

The University of Leicester under the direction of Dr Adrian White, a social psychologist, conducted a large happiness survey involving 178 countries in 2006. They rated the top 10 in the following order: Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, Iceland, The Bahamas, Finland, Sweden, Bhutan, Brunei and Canada. Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi were at the bottom of the list.

If we co-relate these findings, most countries on the top of the happiness list are the so-called welfare states, with Denmark being the unanimous first choice. However, Denmark also has a high suicide rate and it is difficult to explain this contradiction.

What are the ‘welfare states’? The Encyclopaedia Britannica defines them as countries in which the government plays a key role in the protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens. This role is based on providing citizens equal opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public responsibility for those unable to avail themselves of the minimal provisions for a satisfactory life. In specific terms this means free or subsidised education and health, government housing where needed, old-age pensions and unemployment benefits.

Surprisingly, an early version of the welfare state appeared in China during the Song Dynasty in the 11th century. Wang Anshi (1021-1086), chancellor of the imperial court, believed that the state was responsible for providing its citizens the essentials for a decent living which covered agricultural loans, proper wages and pensions for the aged and unemployed.

It is important to realise that in the welfare state these benefits are not provided as an act of charity but are regarded as the legitimate right of the citizens of those countries. Islam also upholds the concept of the welfare state and places the responsibility of looking after the people on the rulers. In fact this is true of all major religions which emphasise the importance of social welfare rather than personal enrichment.

A few other general conclusions can be drawn from the surveys. One is that wealth per se does not confer happiness and people are prepared to pay high taxes, as in Denmark, if they are certain that their money would be properly spent. Freedom is more highly rated than money, and it is freedom in all kinds of ways. Political freedom as in a democracy and freedom of choice and movement. Equality is also an indicator of happiness, along with social and religious tolerance.

The University of Cambridge survey points out that the countries with high levels of happiness also report high levels of trust in their government, the police and the justice system. Something which is clearly lacking in Pakistan.

A recent BBC survey found that 81 per cent of the UK’s population think that the government should focus on making the people happier rather than wealthier. The feeling of contentment that comes in a society which looks after the basic needs of its citizens, rather then leaving them to fend for themselves against the vicissitudes of life, is what people generally want.

A leading American psychologist, Prof Ed Diener of the University of Illinois, suggests that richer countries do tend to be happier than the poor ones, but once you have food, clothes and a home then extra money does not seem to bring greater happiness.


Courtesy: Daily Dawn Lahore / By Dr Viqar Zaman