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Happyland: Believe it or not we're all feeling good... and nobody's happier than the Danes
Last updated at 23:57pm on 01.07.08
Content with their lot: A happy (and patriotic) Danish citizen
Forget rising fuel costs, falling house values, inflation, stagflation and the rest - because the world is getting happier.
It may not seem like it, but social scientists say we have never had it so good - and that's reflected in a global feeling of wellbeing.
According to their survey, Denmark's residents are the happiest in the world, thanks to its peaceful atmosphere, democracy and social equality, while Britain was placed 21st in the list.
Those polled were asked just two questions to assess their contentment.
1. 'Taking all things together, would you say you are very happy, rather happy, not very happy, or not at all happy?'
2. 'All things considered, how satisfied are you with your life as a whole these days?'
And overall, compared to a similar survey 20 years ago, the researchers say we're a lot happier.
Professor Ron Inglehart, of the University of Michigan, directed the study. He said: 'I strongly suspect that there is a strong correlation between peace and happiness.
'Ultimately, the most important determinant of happiness is the extent to which people have free choice in how to live their lives.'
Canada, which, as the Mail reported yesterday, is trying to woo British workers with fast-track immigration visas and promises of the good life, was placed ninth.
The US came 16th. But although Britain is lower down the scale, we are happier than many of our European neighbours. France came in at 36, Spain, 43, Italy, 45, and Portugal, 46.
Denmark's colourful capital Copenhagen
Germany was still divided by the researchers. The West came in at 34, and the former communist East at 48.
Professor Inglehart acknowledged that the simplicity of the questions made it possible to argue that the response would vary according to how a respondent felt on a particular day.
But he said so many people took part in so many countries that the research accurately reflected overall trends.
The most miserable place in the world was Zimbabwe, found the survey of 97 countries. Iraq was just seven places higher.
The survey seems to add weight to the opinion of Transport Minister Tom Harris, who last month asked why Britons were 'so bloody miserable'.
Mr Harris said the public had 'never been so wealthy' despite the credit crunch hitting the economy. He claimed we were spending money on food and clothes in sums that would have 'made our parents gasp'.
However, he then apologised if he had caused offence.
Mr Harris claimed that he had been trying to start a debate about why we found it hard to find 'contentment when we have so much material wealth'.
The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen - capital of the happiest country in the world
Reader views (17)
Hardy, I regret to tell you that we Danes do have cable and wacht and read news every single day. We also understand foreign languages most of us two besides Danish 
This in my opinion is in fact one of the reasons of us feeling happy and content with our lives. We know that we are blessed compared to so many people around the world, who struggle just to get food on the table, to provide education for their kids.
So our soccer team didn't make the World cup, we have a Caricature cartoonist, that was percieved offending. But in the bigger picture this is small problems.
With that said, this is not a survey of which Country is the best to live in - living in Denmark will not and do certaintly not bring happiness to all. All contries have good and bad sides. What is good to some will most of the times be bad for others. The coin always has two sides.
I wish you all well and hope you are happy and content in your life where ever you live.
- Maria M, Copenhagen, Denmark
Well...it doesn't surprise me. I'm after all a happy Dane. And what the Gumpy Dane forgets is, that the "sky-high taxes" pay our hospital bill, education etc. and overall is the foundation for our social care system, so that we can relax and be the happiest people in the world.
- Sascha, Odense, Denmark
Wow! Those 2 questions are so general! How could we interpret them? I guess the Danes don't watch cable news or any news. But there was some problem a while back with some anti-Islamic cartoons published in a Danish newspaper. And their soccer team doesn't make it to the championships like other European countries do, so what could it be?
- Hardy Harhar, Miami, Florida
Doug....maybe they should write the article in English...but they do mention that the US is 16th.
- John Knecht, Karlskrona Sweden
Doug from Seattle, this was not a poll on the dumbest people on the planet, otherwise you would be #1. If you read the whole article the US is 16th on the list, where it also lists; France @ 36, Spain @ 43, Italy @ 45 and Portugal @ 46.
- Mark, The 1st State
Yes, Danes are happier than Swede's because Denmark has something Sweden doesn't... Good Neighbors. Long Live the Vikings.
- John Knecht, Karlskrona Sweden
For Seattle Doug:
"The US came 16th." Para 11, first sentence.
- Don, Ottawa, Canada
I love all of the Americans commenting, how many of them have actually been outside the US (not including Mexico or Canada), but they still feel that they know everything about everywhere, classic.
- Sheila Bruce, Perth (the Oz one)
Seattle Doug. Have you ever been anywhere else?
You sure got the "for worse" these days.
You ain't seen nuthin' yet!
- Joseb Gonguadalupe, Puriscal, Costa Rica
Yeah, sure... happy happy joy joy. It's all fun and games here in the land of the little mermaid and sky-high taxes...
- Grumpy Dane, Somewhere, Denmark
No mention of where the US is on the list... 48th, 49th?
- Doug, Seattle USA
I'll take America - any day, any time, under any circumstances, - for better or worse. It's #1 with me.
- Kay, Missouri USA
"from the article: 'Ultimately, the most important determinant of happiness is the extent to which people have free choice in how to live their lives,' Inglehart said."
My plea to Americans... STOP the radical left from turning our country into a socialist state. The liberals do not care what you want. The liberals have their own needs, dreams, ideas about what is good for you and right for everyone else and they are ruining your chance to live your life in your short 80 years.
- Quasiquirky, Houston (home of rocket scientists)
These surveys are undermined by the principle of low expectations. The Danes, my antecedents, are always pleasantly surprised that their lives are turning out better than their melancholic expectations... likewise Puerto Rico and Columbia.
- El Duende, Laguna Beach, Ca.
I wonder how many of the Danes had frequented Copenhagen's open air soft drug market and had a decent buzz on when they were polled.
- Wild Billy And His Friend Gman, Seattle, Washington
Another pointless survey.
- Dandan, Huntsville, AL
Seeing that Denmark is the happiest country makes me unhappy....how come they can be happy when others are not! Clearly discrimination!
- R.L.Eaton, Chiang Mai, Thailand
