I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. - Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 (NIV)
A few years ago, I wrote about the happiest countries in the world. It's time for an update so here are the eight happiest countries for 2021 (which will not go down in history as one of the happiest years in most people's lives) according to The World Happiness Report:
Finland
Yet again, Finland ranks as the world's happiest country based on the Finn's “feelings of communal support and mutual trust” which helped the country deal well with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Denmark
The second-happiest country in the world is Denmark. Denmark outscored Finland in many categories, including GDP per capita, generosity, and perceived lack of corruption.
Switzerland
Along with Iceland and Denmark, Switzerland is one of the world's safest countries. Also, the Swiss are very healthy (as well as clean), and have a very high median salary - about 75% higher than that of the United States.
Iceland
Iceland has the highest feeling of social support (even higher than Finland, Norway, and Denmark, which all tied for second place).
Netherlands
The Netherlands scored higher in the generosity category than any other top-seven country and also enjoyed an impressive lack of perceived corruption.
Norway
Norwegians feel they are being well cared for by their government thanks to universal healthcare and free college tuition. The country has a low crime rate and a strong sense of community among its citizens—a quality it shares with many of the top seven.
Sweden
Sweden has a higher lack of corruption score than all but four countries worldwide (two of which are Finland and Denmark), the fourteenth-highest GDP per capita of all 149 countries measured, and the fourth-highest life expectancy in the top seven.
Honorable Mention: Bhutan
Here is what the report has to say about Bhutan: “Bhutan was excluded from the 2021 report due to a technicality: Each country's scores are based upon detailed Gallup polls, but Gallup did not conduct polling in Bhutan during the required timeframe. However, the report's writers made a special effort to pay tribute to Bhutan, saying it "once again provided an inspiring example for the world about how to combine health and happiness. They made explicit use of the principles of Gross National Happiness in mobilizing the whole population in collaborative efforts to avoid even a single COVID-19 death in 2020, despite having strong international travel links."
How have things changed since the previous year? The United States is still in the top 20, but we have dropped from 18th place to number 19. Here are the rankings for 2020:
1. Finland
2. Denmark
3. Switzerland
4. Iceland
5. Norway
6. The Netherlands
7. Sweden
8. New Zealand
9. Luxembourg
10. Austria
11. Canada
12. Australia
13. UK
14. Israel
15. Costa Rica
16. Ireland
17. Germany
18. US
19. Czech Republic
20. Belgium
You can see that the Nordic countries have maintained their lead in the happiness race. What can we learn from them? What can we incorporate into our lives as we move into what will probably prove to be yet another challenging year?
Hygge (pronounced "who-guh"), the "Danish art of coziness", has been getting a lot of attention lately. The Danish Tourist Bureau says that "hygge means creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people. The warm glow of candlelight is hygge. Cozying up with a loved one for a movie – that’s hygge, too. And there's nothing more hygge than sitting around with friends and family, discussing the big and small things in life. Perhaps hygge explains why the Danes are some of the happiest people in the world." I have been to Denmark four times now, and one thing that struck me was - you guessed it - how happy people were. Babies smiled and coo-ed. Children played. People were friendly and helpful. Of course things can't always be rosy - the "Nordic Noir" mysteries paint a darker picture - but the Scandinavian countries have something to teach us.
I call the newest photo accompanying this article "Happy Danes" - although only two of the group are Danish. This was taken in May of 2019, after a four hour lunch. Food and hospitality are a big part of life in Denmark. My father's cousin, Leif, served a smorrebrod - courses of open-faced sandwiches (while toasting each other with snaps (aquavit)), followed by a cheese board, followed by coffee and dessert. What a wonderful memory. During the time when we couldn't gather around a table with others (or shouldn't), I created times for my husband and myself centered around special meals - including smorrebrod. And last September, when we felt more confident about gathering safely, I treated the Library Committee to a smorrebrod in thanks for all that they do for Plymouth Library. The next two photos are also of happy Danes. My maternal grandmother is in the center of the huddle in a photo taken when my great-grandmother took her daughters back to Denmark in 1913 to visit her family. The photo of the boating expedition is one of my favorite pictures – note the hats! Did those pictures make you smile? The last photo is of the happy Library Committee.
On that last trip to Denmark, I picked up a book on hygge at a little free library in Copenhagen. The author, Bronte Aurell, wrote: "Hygge and food go together. Setting the scene for creating a hyggelig atmosphere usually involves some kind of food. When we give our time and our love and we share the moment, hygge magically appears between us and allows us to forget about the world outside. We remove the outside from the equation by ignoring it, putting the phone in a different room and not watching the news. In hygge, there are no politics, no dangers, no sadness. It may only be afternoon fika - but in those pockets of time, both bellies and hearts feel full." (Fika is the Swedish word for coffee break, but fika isn’t just a coffee break as we know it; it’s a moment to slow down and appreciate the good things in life. Very hyggelig.)
During these winter days, start a fire in your fireplace, light some candles, snuggle under a fluffy blanket, make a cup of tea or coffee or cocoa, and read a book that will comfort and cheer you. You might try The Finnish Way: Finding Courage, Wellness, and Happiness Through the Power of Sisu by Katja Pantzar (646.7 PAN). The author claims that "sisu" is one of the reasons why Finns are so happy. Sisu is "a unique Finnish form of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity". It sounds like a quality we might want to cultivate.
A Church member recommended Viking Economics: How the Scandinavians Got It Right-and How We Can, Too by George Lakey (330.948 LAK), and now the Library has a copy. The publisher's blurb explains that "in Viking Economics—perhaps the most fun economics book you’ve ever read—George Lakey... explores the inner-workings of the Nordic economies that boast the world’s happiest, most productive workers, and explains how, if we can enact some of the changes the Scandinavians fought for surprisingly recently, we, too, can embrace equality in our economic policy." Fun with economics!
I hope you will get some inspiration from the happy Nordic countries.