Meet the happiest countries in times of pandemic

The International Day of Happiness has arrived and with it the World Happiness Report. Metro highlights the most interesting facts and figures from this year’s research results and talks to the report’s editor, Professor John Helliwell, of the University of British Columbia and the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research.

The happiest countries are:

1. Finland
2. Denmark
3. Swiss
4. Iceland
5. Netherlands
6. Norway
7. Sweden
8. Luxembourg
9. New Zealand
10. Austria

The first 10 positions are held by the same countries as in 2017-2019. There has been no decrease in well-being when measured by people’s own assessment of life. 149 countries are evaluated for the report.

The report is produced each year by the United Nations Network for Sustainable Development Solutions.

The variables that support health are:

• entry
• Healthy life expectancy
• Social support
• freedom
• Trust
• Generosity

Impact of COVID-19 on the study

• Greater economic insecurity
• Anxiety
• Changing all aspects of life
• Stress
• Challenges for mental and physical health
• Being unemployed during the pandemic is associated with a 12% decrease in life satisfaction

Social connections

People whose sense of connection declined had less happiness, as did people whose sense of loneliness increased and their social support decreased. Many positive features of a person’s life have helped to protect the sense of connection. These include:

• Gratitude
• Value
• Previous connections
• Volunteering
• Do exercises
• Have a pet

The least happy countries are:

• 140. Burundi
• 141. Yemen
• 142. Tanzania
• 143. Haiti
• 144. Malawi
• 145. Lesotho
• 146. Botswana
• 147. Rwanda
• 148. Zimbabwe
• 149. Afghanistan

7 QUESTIONS TO … John Helliwell, report editor and professor at the University of British Columbia and the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research

1. Tell us about the subject of this year’s report.
—This year’s report is about life during COVID-19. This is done from two perspectives, the first assesses life and emotion assessments in 2020, and the second asks what factors, and especially those that support happiness, have allowed countries to choose effective strategies to control infections and deaths. The key factor linking these two parts of the report is trust, which continues to be a strong support for happiness and has been particularly important in explaining the success in the fight against COVID-19. Trust in public institutions and trust in others are just as important.

2. How did people find happiness during the pandemic?
—People who have not been able to travel the world for business or vacation have discovered or rediscovered their neighbors and neighborhoods, which are a key support for a happier life. Helping others in times of need in the face of a common threat has provided both purpose and happiness. Older people over the age of 60, although they are the highest risk age group, have found themselves more often supported and have connections with their physically distant friends and family. Of course, the surveys could not reach the care centers for the elderly, prisons and refugee camps, where the difficulties are greatest.

3. Which country ranks first this year and why?
“Finland returns in first place by the largest margin in its history.” The country has very high levels of social and institutional trust, which have served to sustain its happiness and make possible a public health strategy that has achieved very low death rates due to COVID-19. The first places, as well as the general classification, are very similar to last year.

4. What are the main changes you have noticed?
—The most important changes were the upward movements in two very large countries: China and India. In the case of China, the increase is likely to reflect a successful combination in reducing COVID-19 deaths, coupled with a strong economy and the possibility that this year’s mobile phone surveys due to COVID-19 may have a different mix of respondents. In the case of India, growth was a partial reversal of a long decline. The fact that the two largest countries are performing well in these times helps to support population-weighted global happiness.

5. Tell us about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on happiness around the world.
Life assessments were quite resilient during the pandemic. The biggest changes were fairly widespread increases in sadness and worry. Due to the magnitude of the second wave, the full effects are still growing.

6. What other factors have had a major impact on the happiness of people around the world?
—People’s lives have changed in almost every way: income, social connection, public trust, unemployment and the nature of work and family life have changed. And these consequences were felt unevenly. This year’s report pays particular attention to how the different sexes and age groups feel the consequences.

7. Will the world be happier in 2021?
—This is the main question, which will be answered in the 10th issue of the 2022 World Happiness Report.

Here you can read the report:

WHR + 21 Metro Puerto Rico on Scribd

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