The So-Called Happy Planet Index 2012 Results Were Released. Here is a Full List of the World's Happiest Countries For 2012
The so-called Happy Planet Index released its 2012 results.
The organization released its 2012 list of happiest countries in the
world. The happiest country in the world for 2012? Costa Rica (Pura Vida!) Latin America features prominently in the top 10 with eight of the 10 happiest countries located in Central and South America.
The first 25 countries listed on the 2012 happiness scale are:1. Costa Rica
2 Vietnam
3 Colombia
4 Belize
5 El Salvador
6 Jamaica
7 Panama
8 Nicaragua
9 Venezuela
10 Guatemala
11 Bangladesh
12 Cuba
13 Honduras
14 Indonesia
15 Israel
16 Pakistan
17 Argentina
18 Albania
19 Chile
20 Thailand
21 Brazil
22 Mexico
23 Ecuador
24 Peru
25 Philippines
Not shoveling snow seems to be a constant in the above list.
ReplyDeleteHi Norm, Thanks for commenting. That gave me a chuckle. P
DeleteSo the people of Bangladesh (#11) and Pakistan (#16) are happier than those of the Canada (#65) and the U.S. (#105)? Somehow, I kind of doubt that.
DeleteActually, according to Happy Planet Index, the reason high income countries like the U.S. and Canada score lower is because of their large ecological footprints, one component used to rate the countries.
Experts say the Gallup World Poll, which was another component used to rate the countries by the Happy Planet Index, may have been skewed by a cultural proclivity to avoid negative statements regardless of how one actually feels.
"My immediate reaction is that this influenced by cultural biases," said Eduardo Lora, who studied the statistical measurement of happiness as the former chief economist of the Inter-American Development Bank
"What the empirical literature says is that some cultures tend to respond to any type of question in a more positive way," said Lora, a native of Colombia.
Yes, this scale takes into consideration the ecological footprint of the countries. So, of course the United States and Canada would be lowered because of this.... Thanks for commenting. P
DeleteIt's no wonder US and Canadian citizens move south!
ReplyDeleteHi Donna, Right you are...... Thanks for commenting. p
DeleteHi Patricia,
ReplyDeleteI had heard this before...when I was in Costa Rica, I saw a small sign in a garden that said they were #1in happiness! I don't know that I quite believe the list, but it makes you think about what makes you happy...and once basic necessities are met, extra "things" don't add much to happiness! Just my thoughts...
Karen in VA
Hi Karen, You are so right. And did you feel happy in that garden? Thanks for writing. P
DeleteHi - I have not looked up any of the scales mentioned above, but I thought one of the reasons these countries place higher on the scale is that when asked questions for the survey, the people rate themselves as "happy." I think in the countries north of the border, when asked if we are "happy" many would respond that they are not because they do not have the material wealth they would like, and therefore say "nope, not happy." Many other cultures rate themselves as "happy" because they have other less material things that they judge by.
ReplyDeletePat Y.
Hi Pat, Good to hear from you. Seems like every scale uses different ways of judging happiness. Some do call people at random. Others factor in health care, carbon footprint, weather and all sorts of other things. The one I mentioned factored in Carbon footprint and that is one reason why the United States rated so low. Also, lack of affordable health care may have contributed to it too..... P
Delete