The latest World Happiness Report ranks all the world’s countries by happiness, based on polling of residents plus levels of GDP, life expectancy, generosity, social support, freedom, and corruption. This survey finds among 157 nations the happiest are Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia, and Sweden among the top 10. The USA ranks 13th, behind Israel and Austria.
Started in 2012, the surveys have pretty consistently put the same countries on top. And they almost all tend to be historically Protestant. In fact, all the world’s historically Protestant countries are near the top, with Great Britain being the lowest, at 23rd. Beyond their hymn sings and after church coffee hours (!), what would elevate Protestant cultures to higher elevations of happiness? Just within Christendom, the Catholic cultures generally have better cuisine, better parties, better dancing, better appreciation of relaxation and leisure, and probably better regard for aesthetics through art, music, and architecture. Catholics typically seem more fun!
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