This website takes a closer look at the top 20 happiest countries from the 2015 World Happiness Report. Using data collected from thousands of people across the world, each country was scored based on six key factors: economic prosperity (GDP per Capita), family support, health and life expectancy, personal freedom, trust in government, and generosity. Together, these factors paint a picture of what life is really like for the people living in these countries and help researchers identify what factors can contribute to a country's happiness.
| Country | Region |
|---|---|
| Switzerland | Western Europe |
| Iceland | Western Europe |
| Denmark | Western Europe |
| Norway | Western Europe |
| Canada | North America |
| Finland | Western Europe |
| Netherlands | Western Europe |
| Sweden | Western Europe |
| New Zealand | Australia and New Zealand |
| Australia | Australia and New Zealand |
| Israel | Middle East and Northern Africa |
| Costa Rica | Latin America and Caribbean |
| Austria | Western Europe |
| Mexico | Latin America and Caribbean |
| United States | North America |
| Brazil | Latin America and Caribbean |
| Luxembourg | Western Europe |
| Ireland | Western Europe |
| Belgium | Western Europe |
| United Arab Emirates | Middle East and Northern Africa |
Western Europe has 10 countries, Latin America and Caribbean has 3 (Costa Rica, Mexico, Brazil), North America has 2 (Canada, US), Australia and New Zealand has 2, and Middle East and Northern Africa has 2 (Israel, UAE). Western Europe completely dominates the list.
Western Europe dominates the top 20, claiming 10 of the 20 spots, and holds the top 4 positions entirely. This suggests that the region as a whole shares strong values in areas like family support, health, and trust that contribute to higher happiness. However, the list is not exclusive to wealthy Western nations. Latin America and the Caribbean has 3 countries in the top 20, including Costa Rica at #12, which has a notably lower GDP than most of the European countries but still ranks higher than the United States. This shows that happiness is not purely about economic wealth — culture, community, and personal freedom play a role too.