The world's 10 happiest countries

[Finnish Swede]

Finally Finland beats both Norway & Denmark (at the same time) :thumb001: !

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/galleries/worlds-happiest-countries/finland0/

So is this now ''a victory'' of Eastern Europe & Eastern Europeans over Western Europe & Western Europeans
(a thread here some time ago ... where somebodies kept Finland as Eastern European country)?
LOL!

[Maintenance]

How can finns be happy?

Did they lower the prices of vodka? xD

[Finnish Swede]

How can finns be happy?

Did they lower the prices of vodka? xD

LOL. Bitter now? Don't be. And I fully understand that Swedes needs to do something after that article .... as Sweden is now going down in every possible listings/rankings. Sad but true.

So yes ... I have already seen Swedes jokes about this (even if this is a new article/ranking). Still right now? Not very wise .... as that is the last thing Finns will take. Oh, they might go and buy new fighters directly from USA (without even negotiating with Swedes). LOL.

[ioan assen]

I love Finland, so peaceful, organized, clean, modern and European in the best possible way. Too bad the language is hard to learn. I was happy Swedish is official too and the signs were in both languages and I know a bit of German so I managed to find my way round Helsinki. But even the name of the streets were too long. It felt Scandinavian with huge Russian influence. I know some people don't classify it as Scandinavian, but it felt exactly as this. Having been there, I could understand why its classified as the happiest. One of the best countries have visited. Probably the best to live in.

[Finnish Swede]

I love Finland, so peaceful, organized, clean, modern and European in the best possible way. Too bad the language is hard to learn. I was happy Swedish is official too and the signs were in both languages and I know a bit of German so I managed to find my way round Helsinki. But even the name of the streets were too long. It felt Scandinavian with huge Russian influence. I know some people don't classify it as Scandinavian, but it felt exactly as this. Having been there, I could understand why its classified as the happiest. One of the best countries have visited. Probably the best to live in.

Yes, Swedish is also official language in Finland ... but in reality .... except Åland and Finland's coast areas ... normal Finns are not very good on it. Or they are not good enough that you could really discuss with them by using swedish. The good point is that all Finns can talk english (enough).

Finnish hard? Oh, I know that pretty well. And it seems to be hard not only to Indo Europeans but also non-europeans (these muslim refugees) .... as some of those would like to get living exactly in the coast areas of Finland (where they could learn Swedish). Very scary idea as population of Finnish Swedes is already very small. For example idyllic small town Närpes
http://www.rcinet.ca/eye-on-the-arctic/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2017/09/100-years-of-finnish-independence-celebrated-in-sweden-2-960x600.jpg

... today their 6. most common family name is Nguyen ... or something.

[Sokoli]

Happiness is a sign of stupidity. As Dostoyevsky said: "Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men must, I think, have great sadness on earth.”
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/66336-pain-and-suffering-are-always-inevitable-for-a-large-intelligence

[Carpatz]

ignorance is bliss :p

[Finnish Swede]

Happiness is a sign of stupidity. As Dostoyevsky said: "Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men must, I think, have great sadness on earth.”
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/66336-pain-and-suffering-are-always-inevitable-for-a-large-intelligence

Believe me ... Finns history contains those just enough. And more than their Nordic neighbours.

And if ones are facing those all the time ... knowing that nothing will still change ... I doubt how happy those people can be ... no matter are they stupid or not stupid.

[Sokoli]

Believe me ... Finns history contains those just enough. And more than their Nordic neighbours.

And if ones are facing those all the time ... knowing that nothing will still change ... I doubt how happy those people can be ... no matter are they stupid or not stupid.

I was joking, obviously. Of course there are objective reasons to be happy / sad other than the subjectivity of the perceiver.

[Finnish Swede]

Wasn't there already a thread about this?

If so...I apology that.

I have been ''out'' for short period (and have not checked all the threads here).

Anyway...they published that couple of days ago.

[Lek]

If so...I apology that.

I have been ''out'' for short period (and have not checked all the threads here).

Anyway...they published that couple of days ago.

I deleted my comment. It doesn't matter. Threads get duplicated here all the time.

[Dandelion]

Finland is awesome. It's good for them to get that honour. No idea how they measure it, though. :)

Belgium ranks 16th on the list and the Netherlands 6th. I tend to agree. Belgium is alright, but when I cross the Dutch border, the atmosphere becomes nicer. At least, I perceive it such. This is not in the least because of the higher degree of order (some Belgians perceive the order to be too orderly, though, and yes some residential areas are very unnaturally bourgeois-like). Dutch culture is also more extroverted than Belgian culture and their cultural output is larger.

However it's way too simple this list. A great deal of people prefer Belgium to the Netherlands, including some Dutch and also the Flemish Region, Brussels Capital Region and the Walloon Region differ quite a bit. Also, Southern European countries score relatively low, probably due to lower wages and higher corruption (not to mention mediocre education). Still, many Northern Europeans prefer living there in the end because those countries are more vibrant.

[Sebastianus Rex]

It should be called "perception of happiness" instead, they have been brainswashed by their socialist governments to think they are the most prosperous nations in the world while in reality some Nordic countries have high suicide rates and drink until alcoholic coma.

[Finnish Swede]

It should be called "perception of happiness" instead, they have been brainswashed by their socialist governments to think they are the most prosperous nations in the world while in reality some Nordic countries have high suicide rates and drink until alcoholic coma.

What can be said to this. One can not value/classify Nordic people (their action) via Southern Europeans culture bases/ideas/morals/values. Same actions/outcome here and there? The backrounds, reasons or targets can be quite different.

And what comes to Finns...they are simple people who likes their very sparsely populated country (clean nature, real forests, silence/not noises everywhere, saunas and lakes etc.)....and they can enjoy those small things of lifes. Probable many others would not feel as good in that same cold distant country. Doen't matter here. Nope...Finns don't need ''Lamborghines'' to be happy. Plus they have created (just in 100years time) a country which basic structures are in very good level (without any oil etc. natural resources). That is something.

[Magnolia]

They claim the human happiness depends on these factors:
http://i63.tinypic.com/34dosxt.jpg

It gives these results, yes:
http://i68.tinypic.com/opuyc3.jpg


It is not easy to say which factors people's happiness depends on, right... but yes it makes sense that people from countries with a good living standard and social supports people should be happy.

[Dandelion]

They claim the human happiness depends on these factors:
http://i63.tinypic.com/34dosxt.jpg

It gives these results, yes:
http://i68.tinypic.com/opuyc3.jpg


It is not easy to say which factors people's happiness depends on, right... but yes it makes sense that people from countries with a good living standard and social supports people should be happy.

Czech happiness would rise considerably if they built a concrete wall at the Polish border and if they expelled or jailed all Western perverts. It's still higher than Poland and Poles hate it.

Iceland, which is at the fourth position, outlawed the production and sale of porn recently by the way. Something to consider.

[Antimage]

They claim the human happiness depends on these factors:
http://i63.tinypic.com/34dosxt.jpg

It gives these results, yes:
http://i68.tinypic.com/opuyc3.jpg


It is not easy to say which factors people's happiness depends on, right... but yes it makes sense that people from countries with a good living standard and social supports people should be happy.

Some of those "happy countries" also rank highest in antidepressant consumption. That doesn't add up in my head. Why take antidepressants if life is that amazing in those countries?
https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/styles/story_medium/public/indy100/WJvJPf5WFx/18137-1jy5ep.jpg
https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SF0UVsN7SdG5RRdKDDX5KL9SynQ=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3441242/Larger_antidepressants_Screen_Shot_2015-02-24_at_11.27.40_AM.0.png

[Magnolia]

Some of those "happy countries" also rank highest in antidepressant consumption. That doesn't add up in my head. Why take antidepressants if life is that amazing in those countries?
https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/styles/story_medium/public/indy100/WJvJPf5WFx/18137-1jy5ep.jpg
https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SF0UVsN7SdG5RRdKDDX5KL9SynQ=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3441242/Larger_antidepressants_Screen_Shot_2015-02-24_at_11.27.40_AM.0.png

Well - the study says more people in those countries have "everything to be happy" than that people are happy there. It speaks more about potential to be happy than a real state.
It wouldn't be accurate judge only on antidepressant consumption either. Mainly in developed countries where the health care is widely available + people are not ashamed of going to a psychiatrist - antidepressant tends to be unnecessarily used ... but it is well known how it looks like with suicides around world, yes.

There are many studies that claim people are the most happy in poor countries were they are "connected to nature".

[Dandelion]

Well - the study says more people in those countries has "everything to be happy" than that people are happy there. It speaks more about potential to be happy than a real state.
It wouldn't be accurate judge only on antidepressant consumption either. Mainly in developed countries where the health care is widely available + people are not ashamed of going to a psychiatrist - antidepressant tends to be unnecessarily used ... but it is well known how it looks like with suicides around world, yes.

There are many studies that claim people are the most happy in poor countries were they are "connected to nature".

To quote you again. The country flag you're using is Bhutan, a country most known for its 'gross national happiness' alternative for the 'gross national product' to use as an indicator.

[Voskos]

Happiness is very subjective. Donkeys are happier than human beings for example...

[Magnolia]

To quote you again. The country flag you're using is Bhutan, a country most known for its 'gross national happiness' alternative for the 'gross national product' to use an indicator.

Everybody is happy in Bhutan! Bhutan is a great country, I agree.

[uptheantee]

Happiness is very subjective. Donkeys are happier than human beings for example...

Agreed. I'm used to the fast paced, exciting lifestyle of the USA where there's fierce competition in business and other areas. In a country like Finland I'd be bored out of my ass, and might not be very happy.

[Finnish Swede]

As I mentioned earlier... that's simply how Finns feels about Finland. It doesn't make much of sense to think how some American, Albanian etc. would feel in Finland, does it? Just because they are not living there.


Even if Finland doesn't have any bigger cities (Helsinki together with Esbo and Vanda... 3 together closely to 1 million people) .... at weekends Finns still wants to ''escape'' their cities to country sides .... totally middle of nowhere. Many have log cabins/summer houses closely to the lakes. And what a farher the nearlest neighbours are, the better.

http://loma.mbnet.fi/images/DSC04346%20Copy.jpg


I just think that Finns relationship with nature differs quite alot from somebodies who lives their whole lifes in big betone cities....

[ioan assen]

Yes, Swedish is also official language in Finland ... but in reality .... except Åland and Finland's coast areas ... normal Finns are not very good on it. Or they are not good enough that you could really discuss with them by using swedish. The good point is that all Finns can talk english (enough).

Finnish hard? Oh, I know that pretty well. And it seems to be hard not only to Indo Europeans but also non-europeans (these muslim refugees) .... as some of those would like to get living exactly in the coast areas of Finland (where they could learn Swedish). Very scary idea as population of Finnish Swedes is already very small. For example idyllic small town Närpes
http://www.rcinet.ca/eye-on-the-arctic/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2017/09/100-years-of-finnish-independence-celebrated-in-sweden-2-960x600.jpg

... today their 6. most common family name is Nguyen ... or something.
No, the Finns do know English perfectly so it was no problem at all. But I mean the streets, the beaches, the sightseeings - if you want to go there without external help its better that you have them in Swedish too. That's what I meant. Otherwise, if you ask anyone, you have 0 problems, cause all were fluent in English, at least in Helsinki (I ve been only there). But generally you don't want to rely on others for all things like going on foot around Helsinki.

[ioan assen]

Happiness is a sign of stupidity. As Dostoyevsky said: "Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men must, I think, have great sadness on earth.”
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/66336-pain-and-suffering-are-always-inevitable-for-a-large-intelligence
I do not agree. I found Finns were very intelligent. I think the Balkan states tend to mix the law abiding people with unintelligent, which is absolutely wrong. Simply, the Finns are law abiding and very intelligent and very HELPFUL. Some ppl (especially Eastern Europeans) tend to say that they are "cold" while the Southerns/Easterns are "warm". I totally disagree with this. Southerns are intrusive/don't respect your privacy (exclusing Portugal/Spain) while Finns/ Nordics respect your privacy, but they will help you whenever they can. Unconditionally. Its no surprise they have invented the social state that functions well. I think the Nordic countries should be a model for all Europeans.

[Westbrook]

They claim the human happiness depends on these factors:
http://i63.tinypic.com/34dosxt.jpg

It gives these results, yes:
http://i68.tinypic.com/opuyc3.jpg


It is not easy to say which factors people's happiness depends on, right... but yes it makes sense that people from countries with a good living standard and social supports people should be happy.

I can't believe Slovenia is so low

[Lightshade25]

I already opened a thread about this :p

https://www.theapricity.com/forum/showthread.php?238332-Happiness-report-Finland-is-world-s-happiest-country

[Wrong]

Finally Finland beats both Norway & Denmark (at the same time) :thumb001: !

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/galleries/worlds-happiest-countries/finland0/

So is this now ''a victory'' of Eastern Europe & Eastern Europeans over Western Europe & Western Europeans
(a thread here some time ago ... where somebodies kept Finland as Eastern European country)?
LOL!
This map does not agree:

https://jakubmarian.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/suicides-europe.jpg

Finns in general are depressed people. It's a Finno-Ugric, Balto-Slavic thing.

[Wrong]

Anti-depressant consumption

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SF0UVsN7SdG5RRdKDDX5KL9SynQ=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3441242/Larger_antidepressants_Screen_Shot_2015-02-24_at_11.27.40_AM.0.png

[Vožd]

6/10 are North European countries...

[Finnish Swede]

This map does not agree:

Finns in general are depressed people. It's a Finno-Ugric, Balto-Slavic thing.

Yes. Finno Ugrics and Slavics shares something common...both likes (more than others) melancholy music. They have created music in minor keys and not only major keys (like most of western music).

Still those groups are not the same.

More than anything....Finns are realistic. For sure they are not a crying babies ... asking immediately help here and there (if you know what I mean)? Their acts can be hard and quick (sometimes), but that is a culture thing. That still does not mean that big part of them could not be happy.

[Dick]

Anti-depressant consumption

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SF0UVsN7SdG5RRdKDDX5KL9SynQ=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3441242/Larger_antidepressants_Screen_Shot_2015-02-24_at_11.27.40_AM.0.png

Portugal surprises me. They should get more sun/D than the other countries.