By Clare M. Miranda
While many people can agree that happiness is a state of mind, why does it seem that some entire countries, in a general way, seem to be happier than others? We’re taking a quick look at the happiest countries on each continent around the globe to try and discover their secret and pick up some inspiration as a souvenir! Oh, and we will be bypassing Antarctica on this mental jaunt around the world, but we will assume that the penguins and seals that live there are happy and content. However, so that you don’t feel cheated, for the sake of this article, we will be dividing the massive continent of Asia into two subcategories – Middle East/ Central Asia and then East Asia. Let’s begin our travels!
North America – Canada. We’re starting close to home with our first continent. Representing North America, according to Visaspace.com, Canada consistently ranks as the happiest country for that continent. They have a higher life expectancy (81.5 years) than their neighbors to the south and it’s believed that over half of the adult population lead an active lifestyle. However, it’s believed that strong social ties and a strong sense of community is a key element in Canadians reporting higher levels of happiness.
South America – Chile. According to visualcapitalist.com, several South American countries, including Colombia, Peru, and Brazil, ranked very closely together in terms of levels of happiness. However, Chile was found to be a little ahead of the pack. Their life expectancy of 81 years is similar to that of Canada’s and their unique geography and topography result in a wide range of unique and beautiful climates and scenery. However, closer research found on sciencedirect.com found that there is a strong correlation between happiness and food amongst the Chilean population. If you want to incorporate some staples of Chilean cuisine, be sure to add in healthy and varied items such as legumes, fruits, vegetables, and fish to your diet and experiment with popular herbs such as cilantro and parsley.
Europe – Finland. Hopping across the pond, we come to the country that consistently ranks as #1 across various scales as being the happiest country in the world. While many Scandinavian countries rank high, Finland’s residents report feeling high levels of personal safety and a strong work-life balance contributes to the overall satisfaction as well. We can’t help but think that the practice of “hygge” is a contributing factor to this. Originally from Denmark, “hygge” is the practice of purposely making yourself cozy, comfortable and creating a warm atmosphere in your home and personal space. The
practice has spread to other Nordic countries, including Finland. Practitioners of hygge recommend setting aside at least one night a week in which you disconnect from your phone and tv. You then settle into a comfy chair or couch while bundled up in cozy clothing. Feel free to light a candle or your fireplace, enjoy a hot beverage and a small treat (perhaps chocolate or a small pastry) and then sit with a good book, or journal, or listen to music, or just daydream and do absolutely nothing!
Africa – Mauritius. While Libya and Nigeria are strong contenders for the happiest country on the continent of Africa, it is the small island nation of Mauritius that earns the title as the most happy of African nations. Nestled in the Indian Ocean and surrounded by coral reefs, it’s not hard to imagine the beauty and terrain as being factors in the happiness score. However, according to archglobalconsult.com, in addition to boasting a diverse economy, it seems that most Mauritians are content due to the perceived low levels of corruption and stability that is offered and similar to Canada, strong social support networks and a long life expectancy are believed to be leading contributors to overall happiness.
Middle East/Central Asia – Kazakhstan. Landlocked and divided by the Ural river, in this corner of the world, Kazakhstan ranked as the happiest country in the region. With territory consisting of two different continents, the history of the nation boasts a diverse history of nomadic tribes and the national parks protect the vast and unique collection of plants and animals that are diverse as well. However, in addition to a vibrant and social community and a strong sense of freedom, it seems that an attitude of generosity is strongly felt by citizens and its shows as self-reported levels of happiness have dramatically increased over the last few years.
East Asia – Taiwan. Resting at the junction of the East and South China seas, the island of Taiwan contains vast mountain ranges coupled with highly urbanized city centers. After many changes in control over a span of a couple of centuries, the 1960’s saw Taiwan experiencing a boom in growth and modernization creating an era known as the “Taiwan Miracle”. Highly ranked in civil liberties, healthcare, and human development, the United Nations World Happiness Report in March of 2023, cited that Taiwan’s respondents reported having a high ranking of positive emotions that are constantly felt and they are able to easily identify moments that are funny, enjoyable, and interesting throughout the day. It would seem that a certain level of mindfulness and self-awareness of one’s emotions is something we would all benefit from!
Oceania – New Zealand. While not necessarily a continent of its own, Oceania refers to the small group of island nations that make up their own island world, which includes Australia (it’s own country and continent), Micronesia, Polynesia, and of course New Zealand and it is indeed New Zealand who ranks the highest out of the group of lands that represent this part of the world. It is currently considered the 10th happiest country on the entire list put forth by the United Nations World Report. Considered to be the last large habitable piece of land inhabited by humans, it was the first country to introduce minimum wage and to grant the right to vote to women. Surrounded by sandy beaches, colored lakes, and majestic, towering mountains, New Zealanders, aka “kiwis”, reported high levels of happiness which they attributed to having access to quality healthcare, education, and housing. Considering that New Zealand has been at the forefront of other issues, it might help other nations to gain inspiration and insight from successes that the small, island nation has had.
