In “Happiness the World Over” [abstract], countries enjoy individual and economic freedom, higher life expectancy, lower rates of infant mortality and greater wealth.
There were no significant happiness based on marriage rates, divorce rates, fertility rates, literacy rates, suicide rates and penal incarceration rates.
The 20 happiest nations are:
1. Denmark
2. Switzerland
3. Austria
4. Iceland
5. The Bahamas
6. Finland
7. Sweden
8. Bhutan
9. Brunei
10. Canada
11. Ireland
12. Luxembourg
13. Costa Rica
14. Malta
15. The Netherlands
16. Antigua and Barbuda
17. Malaysia
18. New Zealand
19. Norway
20. The Seychelles
23. USA
Summary of recent happiness research, BUT he observed that the amount of data and experimentation regarding happiness research is in its infancy…