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 The Nordic nations are the most content, according to the
World Happiness Report 2017 produced by the Sustainable
Development Solutions Network (SDSN), a global initiative
launched by the United Nations in 2012.
Countries in sub-Saharan Africa, along with Syria and Yemen, are
the least happy of the 155 countries ranked in the fifth annual
report released at the United Nations.
"Happy countries are the ones that have a healthy balance of
prosperity, as conventionally measured, and social capital,
meaning a high degree of trust in a society, low inequality and
confidence in government," Jeffrey Sachs, the director of the
SDSN and a special advisor to the United Nations
Secretary-General, said in an interview.
The aim of the report, he added, is to provide another tool for
governments, business and civil society to help their countries
find a better way to wellbeing.
Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, Finland, Netherlands, Canada, New
Zealand, Australia and Sweden rounded out the top ten countries.
South Sudan, Liberia, Guinea, Togo, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi
and the Central African Republic were at the bottom.
Germany was ranked 16, followed by the United Kingdom (19) and
France (31). The United States dropped one spot to 14.
Sachs said the United States is falling in the ranking due to
inequality, distrust and corruption. Economic measures that the
administration of President Donald Trump is trying to pursue, he
added, will make things worse.
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"They are all aimed at increasing inequality – tax cuts at the top,
throwing people off the healthcare rolls, cutting Meals on Wheels in
order to raise military spending. I think everything that has been
proposed goes in the wrong direction," he explained.
The rankings are based on six factors -- per capita gross domestic
product, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, social
support and absence of corruption in government or business.
"The lowest countries are typically marked by low values in all six
variables," said the report, produced with the support of the
Ernesto Illy Foundation.
Sachs would like nations to follow United Arab Emirates and other
countries that have appointed Ministers of Happiness.
"I want governments to measure this, discuss it, analyze it and
understand when they have been off on the wrong direction," he said.
(Reporting by Patricia Reaney; Editing by Alistair Bell)
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