The Danes are the happiest people in the world, according to the 2013 World Happiness Report (from the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network).
The report combines six factors, including GDP per head, life expectancy, corruption, and ‘softer’ measures, such as ‘generosity’. Denmark topped the list partly due to the high levels of trust – three in four Danes believe they can trust most other people, compared to a global average of one in four.
The five happiest and five most miserable – all in sub-Saharan Africa – are shown in the map above.
Britain came 22nd (out of 156 countries).
| Most happy | Least happy |
|---|---|
| 1. Denmark | 156. Togo |
| 2. Norway | 155. Benin |
| 3. Switzerland | 154. Central African Republic |
| 4. The Netherlands | 153. Burundi |
| 5. Sweden | 152. Rwanda |